Georgia
Guardsmen begin returning home;
Nearly 3,000 Remain Mobilized Georgia
Guardsmen are beginning to return home after deployments in
support of the War on Terrorism. Many still remain
deployed.
Some 64 members of Headquarters Company,
221st Military Intelligence Battalion returned to loved
ones in August (see story below). Members of the battalion's Company
H, 121st Infantry (LRSC) are expected to return in
coming months.
Nearly 3,000 Georgia Army and Air
Guardsmen remain mobilized with close to two-thirds of them
deployed to the Persian Gulf. Highlights from units include:
 --
Members of the 878th Engineer Battalion have the key
responsibility to maintain the major Main Supply Route (MSR)
throughout Iraq. In addition, the unit is supporting civil
affairs units to renovate schools. LTC John Heath, the
battalion's commander, reports that the temperature
and dust is playing havoc on electronic equipment, but the unit
is adjusting.
 Members
of the 227 Maintenance Company got some unusual support from
Atlanta radio station The Fish. The station sent the troops
t-shirts and posted their photos on the station's website. The
unit has soldiers stationed in Iraq, at Camp Doha, and
throughout the region.
List
of Mobilized
Georgia Guard Units
 Sixty-four members of
Headquarters Company, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion of
the Georgia Army National Guard returned to a heroes welcome at
Fort Gillem on Friday, August 15, 2003. While most soldiers had
previously been reunited with family members when the unit
returned to Fort Stewart on Friday, August 8, 2003, several
soldiers met with their families for the first time at the Fort
Gillem homecoming.
The 221st Military Intelligence
Battalion was one of the first Georgia Army National Guard units
to be mobilized and the first to deploy for Operation Iraqi
Freedom. In February, more than 300 members of the Fort Gillem-based
unit received their mobilization orders. Full
Story
More
Photos on the Web
4th CST
Trains With Coast Guard
By Sgt. Jeff Lowry
The Georgia
National Guard’s 4th Civil Support Team can go just about
anywhere on land to check for biological, chemical, and
nuclear weapons. Now, with the help of the Coast Guard, they
can even get to boats at sea.
The 4th’s survey
team members are currently training with the Coast Guard to
land on ships should an accident or attack happen with one of
the nefarious agents. Full Story.
More Photos On The Web
Two
116th ACW Airmen Earn Bronze Star
 The Macon Telegraph reported recently that two
members of the 116th Air Control Wing were awarded Bronze
Stars in late August for their role last year in transforming
a dilapidated, former Soviet Union air base into a logistics
hub for special operations units helping to liberate
Afghanistan.
Col. Thomas Moore and Maj. Mark Weber, both
Georgia Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 116th at
Robins, were credited with rebuilding an Uzbekistan
installation located just north of the Afghanistan border.
Both Moore and Weber were assigned to the base from August to
September of 2002.
The Bronze Star is awarded for meritorious
service or achievement against an armed enemy of the United
States
Full Story: http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/6572314.htm
 Georgia's
Military Institute (GMI) graduated 30 new second lieutenants
Saturday during a ceremony in Atlanta.
Georgia Army National Guard
commander, Brig. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, was guest speaker and
administered the oath of office to the graduates of Class 42 and
the summer accelerated OCS graduates. He reminded
the new lieutenants to follow the leadership principles, but
also to "embrace change."
"We have to be ready for the
war on terrorism," he added.
Story
and photos on the Web
YCA
Graduates 139;
Plans 10 Year Reunion
 One
hundred thirty nine teens took a giant step toward success when they
graduated from the Youth Challenge Academy on August 24 at graduation
ceremonies held at the Macon Civic Auditorium.
These YCA graduates join more than 600
youth from throughout Georgia to graduate from Georgia's second Youth
Challenge Academy campus located at Fort Gordon.
State Representative Ann Purcell of
Rincon was the commencement speaker and challenged the youth to grasp
this unique opportunity to excel. Representative Purcell has been an
avid supporter of Georgia's Youth Challenge Academy in her position in
the state legislature.
Full
Story
More
Photos on the Web
Family
Readiness, Leadership Conference held
Wheless, 224th JCCSS Take Top Family
Support Awards
More than 400 family members representing
family support groups  of Army and Air Guard units across the
state and their Army and Air Guard counterparts attended the
Georgia National Guard’s annual Family Readiness Conference in
mid-August at Atlanta’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The Guard’s annual leadership conference,
attended by more than 200 full-time Army and Air Guardsmen took
place at the same time. Many of those participating in the
Family Readiness Conference spent their time going between the
two events taking part in leadership-related workshops. Full
Story
Dobbins’
Airman is Georgia's Air Guard NCO of Year
Colbert
selected from 2,600 Georgia Airmen
Georgia Air
National Guard Tech.Sgt. Danyal Colbert of Atlanta was selected
that service’s Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the
Year from among more than 2,600 fellow airmen. She was honored
during award ceremonies held in mid-August at the annual Georgia
Department of Defense Family Readiness Conference in Atlanta.
Colbert, a seven-year Air Guard veteran, is a
military personnel technician at Headquarters, Georgia Air
National Guard at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. She was recognized
for her superior professional performance and leadership
abilities. Full Story.
 Alpha A. Fowler Jr., who served as Georgia's Adjutant General in the late 1940s, died Sunday, Aug. 10, of complications from a heart attack suffered on Aug. 2. He was
83.
General Fowler was appointed the Adjutant General of Georgia in March 1947 and served through November 1948. He also served as director of the state selective service system and was instrumental in the post-war reorganization of the Georgia National Guard.
Full
Story
Historical
Society to Hold October Conference
The Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard invites
Georgia Army and Air Guardsmen to attend the 2003 conference,
Saturday, Oct. 25, in Forsyth.
Cost of the half-day conference is $10. This year’s theme
is "The Georgia Guard and World War II." The meeting,
to be held in the Forsyth City Council chamber in downtown
Forsyth, gets underway at 9:30 a.m.
Speakers include John W. Meeler who joined the Georgia Guard
in 1936 and served with the 179th Field Artillery in Europe as
its chief of the firing sections, Charles Shepherd Jr., who
experienced combat in France with the 121st Infantry, and BG
(ret.) James "Dutch" McLendon, who began his military
career as a member of the Georgia Guard and served in the
Pacific with the Army Air Corps.
Forsyth Mayor Paul Jossey, former Army Guard chief of staff,
and the city of Forsyth are hosting the event. Lunch, which
follows the meeting, is available, on your own, at the Farm
House Restaurant, a short walk from the meeting site.
For further information call John Hardwick at 404-624-6451
(E-Mail: john.hardwick@ga.ngb.army.mil)
or B. I. Diamond at 404-624-6065 (E-Mail: beryl.diamond@ga.ngb.army.mil).
In other Historical Society news,
Robert Burton of Athens has donated letters, papers, photos and
other memorabilia belonging to his late father. Burton’s
father served with the Georgia Guard during the Mexican Border
operation and later in World War I with the 151st Machine Gun
Battalion. The elder Burton served in combat at the Marne and in
other battles. The "Burton Collection" will be
cataloged and indexed, and it will eventually made available to
the public.
SDF Stayed Busy During Summer Drill
Members of Georgia’s State Defense Force were busy during
the summer staying involved in several events that placed them
at the forefront of missions such homeland security and
assisting with the Peachtree Road Race.
To learn more about the SDF, its people and its missions,
click on the link to the Georgia State Defense Force Web site: www.gasdf.com
Guardsmen Challenged
Awards Offered for Recruiting Leads
Georgia Army National Guardsmen have been issued a challenge
by the National Guard Bureau in Washington…help build the
National Guard team and be rewarded for the effort.
All soldiers have to do to accept the bureau’s
"Victory Challenge" is to log onto the virtual armory
Web site ( www.virtualarmory.com/challenge)
Once on the site they’ll find a quick and easy registration
form to fill out and the challenge begins.
Guardsmen are asked to "target the best and brightest
from within their communities. Talk with them about the Guard.
Those who take up the challenge have until Nov. 30 to complete
their mission. Soldiers who refer three to five leads are
eligible for rewards to…well take a look at the challenge
advertisement and find out. Guardsmen make the best recruiters,
so step out and step up to Victory Challenge.
Army Guard Recruiters
Recognized
Members of the Georgia Army National Guard’s
Recruiting and Retention Division were honored Mid-August during
the annual Family Readiness, Leadership conference awards
banquet for their efforts to bring new enlistments to the
organization’s ranks while retaining those already in uniform.
Full Story.
Candidates for Next OCS Class Start
Training Soon
Georgia National Guardsmen who have been accepted into the
upcoming Winter Accelerated OCS course are about to start the
road toward earning their commissions as second lieutenants. The
course will be conducted at the Alabama Army National Guard’s
Regional Training Institute situated at the state’s National
Guard Training Center on Fort McClellan in Anniston.
Before they go, Georgia’s OCS candidates will be involved
in "pre-phase training October through December. Pre-phase
involves instruction and training in land navigation, small unit
operations and tactics, and leadership.
Dates for training that begins next year are:
- Phase – Alabama RTI 31 Jan. 2004 - 14 Feb. 2004
- Phase – 15 Feb. 2004 - 12 March 2004
- Phase 3 – 13 March 2004 - 27 March 2004
Former Aviation Commander Receives
Legion of Merit
G eorgia Army National Guard Chief Warrant
Officer 5 Robert Edger Maynard, former commander of Marietta’s
Detachment 9 Operations Support Airlift Command, received the
Legion of Merit in August for outstanding military service.
Maynard retired from service with the Guard
in mid-April after 37 years of service. Detachment 9’s new
commander is Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom McNamara.
According to the citation he received,
Maynard distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious
conduct from 12 January 1967 to 28 February 2003, while serving
in positions of increasing responsibility, which culminated with
his job as Det 9’s commander. Full
Story.
Colonel Davis Goes
to Washington
Georgia HRO Appointed Deputy Director of HR for Bureau
Georgia’s Col. Jimmy Davis, director of
human resources for the Georgia National Guard, has been
appointed the National Guard Bureau’s deputy director for
human resources. He is expected to report to Washington this
month.
Many of Davis’ friends and colleagues
recently honored him during a luncheon at Fort McPherson. Among
the many accolades he received was the Georgia Meritorious
Service Medal presented by Col (ret) Ed Chamberlain, director of
workforce development.
Full Story
Burson,
Mobley: Two Retire from Air Guard
Georgia Air Guardsmen Col. Lou Burson and
Chief Master Sgt. Bobby L. Mobley decided that it was time to
hang up their uniforms and just take it easy.
Burson retired in mid-August as executive
staff support officer of Headquarters, Georgia Air National
Guard. His retirement comes after a career of more than 37 years
of military service, more than 25 years of that has been with
the National Guard. Full Story.
Vehicle Inspections are Guardsman’s
Specialty
For decades, the ports at Brunswick had
little growth or significant tonnage to mark it as an important
point of entry for foreign goods coming into Georgia and the
United States. Then in 1987 the ports status changed with the
weekly arrival of the Yugoslavian manufactured "Yugo"
sedan on Colonel’s Island.
From that point on, the ports grew
exponentially. In fiscal year 2003, alone, more than 3,000
vehicles arrived.
With the world situation being what it is
today, someone has to inspect the vehicles, or as many of them
as possible, that come into the ports for illegal drugs and
other contraband. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ralph McCarthy
of Georgia’s Counterdrug Task Force handles that job.
McCarther said his assignment at Brunswick is
the best he’s ever had. "My U.S. Customs counterparts are
a true team," he said. "They make my job much more
interesting and professional."
McCarthy said it’s a motorized tidal wave
that requires his constant attention. He accomplishes this task,
he explained, by getting advance copies of manifest that layout
ship’s cargoes. McCarthy said he studies each document for
possible problems well before a ship arrives at Brunswick.
Privately owned vehicles (POVs), that may be
stolen, carrying contraband or even weapons, get the most
attention, he said. "It’s an ever changing battle to find
the ‘dirty cars’ or shippers out there," he said,
"but with more than 200,000 stolen cars being shipped out
of America each year, and he’s the last stop before they go
"foreign" and are then probably gone from their
rightful owners forever.
Meanwhile, thousands of cars come into the
ports from possible "problematic countries" such as
new Volkswagens from Mexico, McCarthy said. Even through no
narcotics have ever been found in the new VW’s it is still a
category of vehicle that he spot-checks regularly. He is also mindful, he said, of the changing trends in international
narcotic trafficking in illicit products such as today’s club
drugs, including ecstasy and MDMA, which are prone to being
shipped in vehicles coming from European ports in Holland and
Belgium. Used vehicles coming in from those regions, McCarthy
said, are looked at closer for separate fuel tanks or new welds
on their bodies and frames or even inside a vehicle’s tires.
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