Fall 2008 - PNG Military Museum

Governor
Edward G. Rendell
The Adjutant General
Maj. Gen.
Jessica L. Wright
Features:
Defeating IEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
National Guard road trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Training for training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Governor
Edward G. Rendell
The Adjutant General
Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright
Executive Editor/State Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Col. Christopher Cleaver
2-112th sharpens knife at Shelby
The accidental author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Healing waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Scotland School for veterans’ children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Weird and wonderful tales of deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Managing Editor
1st Lt. Jay Ostrich
State Public Affairs Staff
Joan Nissley
Kevin Cramsey
Capt. Cory Angell
Sgt. Damian Smith
Sgt. Matt Jones
State Public Affairs Office
Pennsylvania National Guard
Fort Indiantown Gap
Building 8-41
Annville, PA 17003
www.dmva.state.pa.us
Departments:
Letters From the Field, Thoughts From the Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Final Roll Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Guardians on Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Army Newsmakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Air Newsmakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Curator’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ON THE COVER:
So what happens when man
and machine are combined to
make the ultimate battlefield
weapon? You get the 56th
Stryker Brigade, of course.
To make that combination
successful, increased training
prior to deployment takes
place at locations like Camp
Shelby, Miss.
Bob Ulin, Publisher
Susan Harrington, Editor
Gloria Schein, Art Director
Darrell George, Advertising Sales
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published by the Pennsylvania National Guard
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copyrighted to the Pennsylvania National
Guard, unless otherwise indicated.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 1
Letters From the Field, Thoughts From the Heart
Dear fellow Soldiers and friends,
I write this letter to you with a heart filled with profound sense of duty and patriotism. My heart races lightly and the tears of
pride well up in my eyes. I look back at the road that brought me to Afghanistan and glance with hope at the long road ahead of me.
The war has become the pivotal point on which so many countries hang hopes for the future. This is especially true of my own
country, so far away. If we fail here, then all of the sacrifices that have been made will be for nothing. We cannot allow that to
happen. The memory of the fallen is much too precious a gift to allow to be sacrificed.
We all need to understand the importance and willingness of those sacrifices. We all must be grateful for all the sacrifices that
each of us here are willing to make at any given moment in time. Those gifts of courage must never be taken for granted, nor held
in complacent thought, as they are all too valuable to do without. I stand here in Afghanistan, so far from home, and I have
come to understand.
I look into the sad, tired and worn faces of the many Afghan people. Both the young and old faces hold the scars of a lifetime
filled with fear and violence. Deep in each of their eyes, I can see the clear uncertainty of an unknown future. A look of life without dreams or hope for tomorrow’s youth. A simple life filled only with what is happening now, not with what the future holds.
Here, so far away from home, I finally feel as though I am able to make a difference. I am able to stand up for more than
what only matters directly to me. I get the chance to stand up for a people that cannot fight for themselves. I can stand against
tyranny, injustice and terror. I am able to help in providing freedom to those who thought that they could
never have it. For once, my life has more meaning to it than the “nine-to-five” existence could ever provide.
I know that it is possible I could die here, but I cannot let that keep me in fear or control my actions.
God has a purpose for me and if that purpose is to come here and die while providing a future for
impoverished kids here, or protecting the future of kids everywhere from terrorism, it is a fate I accept. I must
meet that fate with squared shoulders and a brave face, for I firmly believe I am here to make a difference.
Patriot by birth, Soldier by choice,
Sgt. Aaron R. Litwhiler
Co. A(–) 3/103rd Armor
Pennsylvania National Guard
Final Roll Call
1st Lt. Jeffrey F. Deprimo of Delta Company,
1-109th Infantry, West Pittston, Pa.
Two Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Soldiers were killed in action by improvised
explosive devices in two separate attacks
in Afghanistan on May 20 and June 3.
Killed were 1st Lt. Jeffrey F. Deprimo,
35, Pittston, Pa., of Delta Company, 1-109th
Infantry, West Pittston, Pa., and Spc. Derek
Holland, 20, Wind Gap, Pa., of Alpha Company, 228th Brigade
Support Battalion, Bethlehem, Pa.
Deprimo’s Humvee was struck by an improvised explosive
device near the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan, while on a mission
to assess medical facility construction for the Afghan people.
Holland died when an improvised explosive device struck his
Humvee near the town of Zormat, Afghanistan.
Both were serving as security for Provincial Reconstruction
Teams that build up Afghanistan’s infrastructure for essential
services.
Deprimo, a reconditioning technician at Barber Ford, Exeter,
Pa., was serving as the security force platoon leader for a PRT
near Ghazni and had been commander of the lead convoy vehicle
during the attack. He was a 1996 honors graduate from Marywood
University, Scranton, Pa., with a bachelor’s degree in music.
Spc. Derek Holland of Alpha Company, 228th
Brigade Support Battalion, Bethlehem, Pa.
“Jeff was a tremendously energetic
officer and leader who always reached for
excellence and cared deeply about his
Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright,
state adjutant general. “Our thoughts and
prayers go out to his family and friends as
our entire Pennsylvania National Guard
family and the commonwealth mourn his loss.
Holland was a 2006 graduate of Pen Argyl High School and
he enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard during his
senior year.
“Derek was an energetic young man who was admired by his
fellow Soldiers for his work ethic and devotion to duty,” said
Wright. “This is a tragic loss and we keep his family in our
thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Thirty-two Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers have been
killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deprimo was the fourth
and Holland was the fifth Pennsylvania National Guard Soldier
to lose his life in Afghanistan. Deprimo was also the third
Pennsylvania National Guard officer to be killed in action during
the Global War on Terror. Both Soldiers will be posthumously
awarded a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 3
Guardians on Guard
Editor’s note: Graphics
represent just some of the
recent PA Guard
deployments worldwide.
Williamsport, PA
3rd Civil Support
Members of 3rd Civil Support Team proudly stand below the
statue of “Casey at the Bat” after they helped secure another
successful Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Capt. John Anthony Bilski, TF Pacesetter’s information officer, along with an interpreter, hands out fliers
and newspapers to the local population.
4 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
Kuwait
Egypt
126th Aviation
1/104th Cavalry
Master Sgt. Scott LaRue from the 171st Medical Group tends to a
wound on a patient at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. He is assigned to an
active duty medical unit there.
Afghanistan
3/103rd Armor
111th FW
Iraq
55th BCT GLO Team
271 CBCS
193rd SOW
Lt. Col. Chris Dutton, deputy commander, 586th Air Expeditionary Group, spent the July 4 weekend at Camp
Bucca, Iraq, with the Scorpion 1-3 Patrol from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Dutton is
standing in the back row, third from the left.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 5
By Airman 1st Class Claire Behney
No longer will the clash of striking swords be heard on the
Martinez, whose course centered around two days in the
battlefield. No longer will plumes of white gun smoke rise from
classroom and a one-day culminating field exercise.
a volley of muskets, making the line of troops barely visible.
Soldiers learned how important it was to recall minuscule
Gone are the days of the massive linear battlefields that forged
changes in their surroundings and the latest methods of
our country’s history.
IED markers, such as Iraqi females, including men dressed
And while it is true the new nonlinear battlefield is not as
as females.
cluttered, that doesn’t make it any less deadly.
“We were taught to look for anything that was unnatural
Enter the world of the improvised explosive device – today’s within the environment,” said Sgt. Corey Hatton, of
biggest tactical threat to U.S. troops in the Global War on Terror; Bravo Troop, 2/104th Cavalry. “This is probably the most
IEDs have claimed the lives of more than 2,000 servicemembers. vital class I’ve had so far. I believe it should be taught
But since any good
to every Soldier.”
offense requires a great
Their classroom time
defense, more than 50
was also spent learning
– Henry Martinez
members of the Pennsylvania
about the various types of
Army National Guard’s 56th
IEDs (package type, vehicleStryker Brigade Combat Team recently participated
borne and suicide bomb), driving techniques and various
in an intense, three-day IED defeat training course at
other tactical skills involved in facing the improvised devices,
Fort Indiantown Gap, aimed at turning the tide against this
said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Deal, of Bravo Company,
tactical weapon.
1/112th Infantry.
“This training is going to save lives,” said Henry Martinez,
“We are being placed in three different scenarios to implethe class instructor from the Counter Explosive Hazard Center,
ment what we learned in the classroom,” said Deal.
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
The Soldiers were broken into three groups; each was given
Martinez is a medically retired combat engineer who served
the task of camouflaging false missiles, buried mines, pressure
in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
plates and mortars into the training field, simulating live IEDs.
With the 56th SBCT scheduled to depart for Iraq soon,
Once hidden, each group challenged the other to perform fiveMartinez knows he needs to train the Soldiers so they are able
meter scans of their field area in search of their devices.
to teach the rest of their units in preparation for their tour.
“IEDs are the number one choice working for the enemy
“I’m glad this (training) was done early so the Soldiers have
and that’s why this class is the most important before going to
more time to train their units and be more prepared,” said
Iraq,” said Martinez. O
“This training is going to save lives.”
Instructor Henry Martinez, of the Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Counter
Explosive Hazard Center, explains to Soldiers the significance
of knowing what you’re looking for when scouting for IEDs.
Martinez is a medically retired combat engineer and
served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
Simulation IEDs waiting to be placed
as part of training for the 56th SBCT,
with a Stryker vehicle in the background. The three-day training was
part of the preparation for the 56th
SBCT upcoming tour in Iraq.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 7
ARMY NEWSMAKERS
Stryker Soldiers hit
‘777’ artillery jackpot
By Lt. Col. Kevin M. O'Neill
Although they could not agree on
their favorite feature of their new
M777A2 towed howitzers, the Soldiers
of the 56th Stryker Brigade’s 108th Field
Artillery did agree on one thing – they’re
thrilled to have them.
Their new capabilities will soon be
put to the test as the brigade, along
with their field artillery unit, prepares
to deploy to Iraq later this year, along
with their newest weapons system, the
‘Triple 7.’
The Triple 7 has been in the Army’s
inventory since 2006 and although
they’ve seen combat in both Iraq and
Afghanistan, only a few Army units have
them, none till now Guard units. The
108th Field Artillery is the first.
The 108th Field Artillery, along
with the rest of their brigade, has been
spending the summer preparing for
their upcoming deployment at Camp
Shelby, Miss. Their 10-day training
program started with an orientation
to the new weapon and ended with a
validation firing of nine rounds through
each gun.
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Field Artillery fire their new gun, the M777A2
howitzer. Photo: Lt. Col. Kevin O'Neill
During the first day of firing the new
guns, Sgt. Maj. Robert Lighty, the operations sergeant for the battalion, was
impressed with the remarkable accuracy
even while using standard shells.
“All day long, and with all these guns,
the rounds have been hitting within 300
Two lucky 56th Stryker Brigade Soldiers were recently given heartfelt gifts from a local school.
Sgt. Anthony Costa and Spc. Christopher Otto were each given keys to late model vehicles rebuilt
by Swenson Arts and Technology High School in Philadelphia. The Soldiers participated in an
essay contest and the winners were decided by the family action center. Pictured above are
(left to right) Mr. David Kipphut, principal of Swenson Arts and Technology High School; Spc.
Christopher Otto; students Benjamin Kim and Timothy Beattie; and Mr. Dave Phillips, State Farm
Insurance. Costa will receive his vehicle in the fall.
meters of each other,” said Lighty.
“That’s impressive.”
Others, like Staff Sgt. John Oros, the
section chief of the first gun to fire,
reported that their favorite feature of
the new weapon was its light weight.
“This gun is dramatically different
from the M198. It is so much easier to
work with,” said Oros.
The M777A2 was jointly developed
for the Army and Marine Corps as a
lightweight, air-mobile artillery piece
that is perfect for Marine ship-to-shore
operations and fast moving Army
operations in challenging terrain.
Weighing in at less than 10,000 pounds,
the M777A2 is about half the weight of
its predecessor, the M198 howitzer. The
gun can be delivered by the Army’s
medium and heavy lift helicopters, the
Marine Corps’ MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey
or air dropped from an Air Force
C-130 Hercules.
Some, like Command Sgt. Maj.
Stephen Klunk, felt the best feature of
the M777 was the ability to emplace the
weapon in less than two minutes.
“It’s all done by the computer and it
is so much faster and more accurate,”
said Klunk.
More stories on page 21.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 9
AIR NEWSMAKERS
Lithuanian soldiers tap into
Air Guard water system
By Sgt. Matthew E. Jones
Air National Guard Master Sgt. Troy Shindel, a utilities instructor,
explains how to use the 1500 Rowpu to Lithuanian water purification officer, 1st Lt. Romas Vainius. Photo: Staff Sgt. Dan Palermo
Soldiers from Lithuania’s Water Purification Company visited the
Regional Equipment Operators Training School at Fort Indiantown
Gap to get a taste of our military’s newest purification equipment.
They were interested in upgrading from their previous systems,
which they acquired from the German military.
The system they were testing out, the 1500 Rowpu, can purify
water from virtually any source and is much easier to deploy, said
1st Lt. Romas Vainius, Lithuanian Water Purification Company,
General Support Logistics Battalion.
“Rowpu is a smaller and more powerful unit and requires less
vehicular assistance to be deployed than anything we have used,”
said Vainius.
It can be airlifted easily or moved by forklift and flatbed.
The WP Company, which is part of Lithuania’s rapid-reaction
brigade, expects to have the ability to purify more than 500,000
gallons of water per day using the new machines.
Each NATO country is assigned a niche capability and Lithuania’s
niche happens to be water purification. They have been called on at
least twice to practice their specialty in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Leaving it better than we found it
By Staff Sgt. Stacy Gault
Every deployment’s mission is important to the
overall work of the Air Force, but during a recent
counter-drug mission in Ecuador, members of the 171st
Operations Group seized an opportunity to help others
less fortunate than themselves.
Before leaving Pittsburgh, Lt. Col. Bill Nixon
contacted the chaplain’s office in Ecuador to find out
how our wing could support the community relations
mission there.
The response was succinct and to the point:
“Backpacks!”
Upon arrival, it was obvious that children in three
different orphanages could use a backpack full of school Children in an Ecuadoran orphanage wait to receive a backpack from deployed
supplies, clothes, toys and personal hygiene products
171st unit members.
that they didn’t have.
Nixon said Tech. Sgt. Andrea Henry took over the organization and planning of the project. After creating a list of
children’s names, volunteers were assigned a specific child and stuffed the backpack with items meant for that child.
“In two days every child had a sponsor, and volunteers were able
to build extra bags, 40 in all, due to the overwhelming response
“You’re an ambassador for the United States
from the unit,” said Nixon.
“You’re an ambassador for the United States no matter what you
no matter what you do down there.
do down there. It’s a great opportunity for our people to go out and
It’s a great opportunity for our people
serve the local community and act as ambassadors,” said Lt. Col.
to go out and serve the local community
Ray Hyland, one of two deployed detachment commanders.
In addition to the backpacks project, unit members painted
and act as ambassadors.”
schools, taught English to the children and played soccer
– Lt. Col. Ray Hyland
and basketball.
“They just want someone to love them,” said Hyland.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 11
Sgt. Noel Watson and Sgt. Dennis Palmer discuss the best and safest convoy route with
the civilian contractor.
By 2nd Lt. Caroline Krystopolski and Spc. Gabrielle Andrews
Eleven states, four time zones, 25 military vehicles and
2,580 miles equals one successful convoy for the Medium
Truck Company whose motto is “Drive like Hell!”
Two weeks later, they did it all over again, driving the
Camouflage Freightliners – M915A3s – from California
back to Pennsylvania.
“The success of the 5,200 mile round trip convoy and the Combat
Logistics Patrols at the National Training Center stems around the mission
capability of our trucks,” said company 1st Sgt. Michael I. McGinty. “Our
maintenance section had our trucks in tip-top shape. Not a single vehicle
had to be towed the entire AT.”
After convoying across the continental U.S. in early July, the 1067th
Transportation Company, with armories in Phoenixville and Lehighton,
immediately began running combat logistics patrols at the National Training
Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., providing food, water, ice, construction material
and repair parts to active duty Soldiers training for a deployment to Iraq.
During this three-week Annual Training, the 1067th provided life
support for the 1/25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright,
Alaska. The Pennsylvania Guardsmen spent their time at NTC transporting
more than 1,800 tons of supplies through the desert to six separate forward
operating bases, amidst reconstruction and hostile activity in a theater of
operations resembling the finest details of Iraq.
Nearly every day of the supply missions, each driver performed the
duties of the convoy commander. Moreover, active duty observer/controllers
who shadowed supply runs and monitored company operations assessed the
unit as excellent and ready for any mission.
“This is one fine company and I am honored to be associated with NCOs
and Soldiers of the 1067th,” said Capt. Samuel A. Kieffer, company commander. “We are not aware of any other Guard or Reserve unit who has
done anything like this. The metrics of what these Soldiers have accomplished is simply astonishing.”
This was the third NTC training rotation for the 1067th Transportation
Company since 2005. O
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 13
By Sgt. Matthew E. Jones and Spc. Shawn Miller
As the military saying goes, “If it ain’t raining, you ain’t
training.” But don’t tell that to the Soldiers of the 2-112th
Infantry, 56th Stryker Brigade, who withstood three weeks
of cloudless skies and temperatures topping 100 degrees
during annual training at Camp Shelby, Miss.
This was a bit of a preview for the work to come.
These Soldiers, in addition to the rest of the
commonwealth’s unique 56th Stryker Brigade,
will be heading back down to Camp Shelby
for their mobilization training prior to being
deployed to Iraq by the end of the year.
A point of contact
Much time has been put into finalizing the sweeping transition to becoming a fully operational
Stryker unit and familiarizing the Soldiers with the new weapons systems and their capabilities.
The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team is currently the only National Guard Stryker unit, and
it has become a point of pride for the Keystone State.
“The Soldiers in my battalion really understand that it is a privilege to be chosen to be a Stryker
battalion,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, 2-112th Infantry battalion sergeant major.
“They take that very seriously and they’re honored and they understand the extra commitment that
is required.”
“We can go anywhere with Strykers,” said Spc. Joshua McConaughey, a Stryker vehicle
commander with Company A. “They’re made to get things done.”
Upping the op-tempo
The vehicles aren’t the only ones getting it done. As soon as the unit’s transition was nearing
completion and the brigade approached operational readiness, they were alerted for deployment
where the pace picked up even further.
Spc. Lance McGee, who had served in the active duty Army for four years, and is now an
infantryman in the 2-112th’s Company C, said being in the National Guard can make it hard to
develop the type of cohesion that these men desperately need to perform their duty.
The unit’s leadership recognized that from the start and began extending drill weekends and
annual training since the 56th Stryker Brigade was placed on alert in the fall of 2007.
14 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade
practice reflexive fire drills at Camp Shelby. These drills test a Soldier’s
ability to distinguish combatants from civilians.
Photo: Sgt. Matthew E. Jones
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 15
Playing it cool in
the heat
Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade’s 2-112th Infantry mount their Stryker vehicle following a
rigorous training exercise at Camp Shelby during their annual training period.
Photo: Sgt. Matthew E. Jones
“Having long drills and a long annual training gives you the time you need to learn
to work together,” said McGee. “Doing drills hundreds of times together teaches
muscle memory.”
After enough repetition, you can begin to predict exactly how the rest of your
team will react to certain situations, said McGee. This is a must because an infantry
team is designed to be much greater than the sum of its parts.
Kepner pointed out that although the training schedule is tough and the troops
are undeniably being pushed harder, the maximization of training time is exactly what
is needed for this deployment.
“We’ve had a robust training schedule and it’s pushing the troops a little bit,” said
Kepner. “But they’re getting plenty of opportunities for live-fire, which is exactly the
kind of training the battalion needs to prepare for deployment.”
The guys with the boots on the ground agree with those sentiments.
“The more training you get, the more you can put in your pocket and take with
you and have a better chance of coming back,” said Pfc. Eric Fuller of the 2nd
Battalion’s Headquarters Company. “But it’s not just how much training you do, it’s
how well you’re prepared for it and how much you absorb that really counts.”
In addition to getting familiar with
Camp Shelby, which at 136,000 acres is a
tough task in itself, the deploying
Soldiers must also become familiar with
the environment.
Hot and humid is the norm in southern Mississippi and these Pennsylvanians
said it took some getting used to. During
their annual training, the average
temperature at Shelby was more than 10
degrees hotter than at the battalion’s
headquarters in Lewistown, Pa. And this
doesn’t account for the humidity.
One morning, Company A was waiting for their dismount training to begin
and the heat was particularly oppressive.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but with
the thick humidity, it felt like they were
in one, said Spc. Dave Smith.
Staff Sgt. John Gibbons, a squad
leader in Company C, played it cool for
his troops.
“Well, yeah, I guess the heat is a
little rough, but it’s good acclimation,
that’s all,” said Gibbons. “Plus it’s
probably worse here than over there
(in Iraq).” The average temperature in
Baghdad during the unit’s time at
Shelby was 113 degrees, but it’s hard
to make an argument against the
Mississippi humidity.
The home front
As the deployment date draws closer,
stresses on the home front start to
surface; but the men of the 2-112th once
again show their ability to adapt and
overcome any obstacle in their path.
Training for training
Although the battalion was completing much of the training it needs to conduct
prior to deployment, most of their troops expect to repeat the training when they
mobilize in September.
Pfc. Justin Roland of 2-112th’s Company C said getting familiar with Shelby was
as important as getting familiar with the training. “After a couple of weeks here
everyone really gets comfortable with the surroundings and that makes it easier to
focus on the training, making it more effective.”
Focusing in is exactly what the leadership wants from the Soldiers, and being at
Shelby truly allows them to do just that.
“We’ve really been able to maximize training time down here,” said Kepner. “The
ranges have been run with 1st Army personnel, so for range support requirements, we
haven’t had to take that from within our own battalion as we normally do at home.”
His Soldiers agreed.
“This is a taste of the training we’ll be getting for deployment, and it tastes good,”
said Fuller.
16 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
An Infantry squad with Alpha Company, 2-112th
Infantry, practices live-fire house raid exercises
during their annual training at Camp Shelby. The
2-112th is using the training to prepare for
mobilization and an upcoming deployment to Iraq.
Photo: Spc. Shawn Miller
Being open and honest with family
about deployments is key, said 1st Lt. Sam
Coover of 2-112th Headquarters, a single
father with three young children at home.
“I made it no secret whatsoever,”
said Coover. “We watch the news and I
say ‘Hey, this is where Daddy is going.’
I don’t want it to be a shock to them.”
In the age of the all-volunteer Army,
there is a strong sense of duty from the
Soldiers of the 2-112th. They note that
though it will be hard to leave loved
ones behind, it is their choice and part
of the job.
“It’s always going to be a mixed
feeling,” said Fuller. “I actually have a kid
on the way in November, and we mobilize
in September, so leaving at that time is
a little rough, but I signed up for it, so it
is what it is.”
The command is on the same page.
“I sort of equate [deployment] to
asking an auto mechanic how he feels
about fixing cars,” said Kepner. “It is part
of this profession.”
For any apprehension on the home
front that the deployment may cause,
there is still the bright side that the
Soldiers of the 2-112th find through realizing the importance of spending time
with friends and family.
“As it gets closer to the deployment,
it gets a lot more surreal,” said Coover.
“We start cherishing the moments more
and more.”
A Stryker driver and his crew eagerly zoom to the
firing line during .50-caliber machine gun training
at Camp Shelby. Photo: Sgt. Matthew E. Jones
“Roll On”
Throughout the three weeks of heat, lack of sleep and constant training, the men
of the 2-112th lived up to the 28th Division motto of “Roll On.” As members of the
sole National Guard Stryker brigade, they hope to make a large impact and a good
impression on the rest of the Army.
If they make the same impression as they did on their sergeant major, they will
have nothing to worry about.
“I am very, very impressed,” Kepner said proudly of them. “The Soldiers never
cease to impress me with their motivation and what they can do.” O
Spc. Joshua McConaughey, Alpha
Company, 2-112th Infantry, engages
targets remotely with a .50-caliber
machine gun mounted on his Stryker
vehicle during annual training at
Camp Shelby. Photo: Spc. Shawn Miller
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 17
By Kevin Cramsey
You’ve heard of the accidental tourist. Well, Charlie Oellig is
the accidental author.
Oellig, curator of the Pennsylvania National Guard Military
Museum at Fort Indiantown Gap and historian extraordinaire,
says it wasn’t his intention to become a published writer.
But when you’ve been doing research for as long as Oellig
has, you’re bound to end up with your name on a history book at
some point in time.
That time happens to be now, and the title of the book is
“Marksmanship Awards of the National Guard of Pennsylvania,
1878-1921.”
Published earlier this year, Oellig’s involvement came about
when his co-author, Peter J. Eisert, approached him with the
idea. Eisert, a nurse at York Hospital, had met his future
collaborator several years ago during a military insignia swap
meet at the Gap. Needless to say, they had a lot in common.
“Peter had written a book on American Legion badges and
had written some other articles, so he had experience with
getting a book published,” Oellig said. “I had about 30 years’
worth of accumulated research on medals, so he came and
looked through it. He did a terrific job of turning it into
understandable, readable text.”
The 190-page book goes far beyond simply listing names
and recounting dates. It is chock full of historical photographs
reproduced in surprisingly high quality. Some of the photos are
from Oellig’s personal collection of historical artifacts, a
collection that includes 200 vintage military uniforms.
The book chronicles the beginning of marksmanship in the
Pennsylvania Guard to the Scranton-based 13th Regiment in
1878, according to Oellig.
“Today, everyone has to shoot,” he said, “but not back then.”
A retired military policeman with the Pennsylvania Guard
and a 12-year former employee with the state Historical and
Museum Commission, Oellig has been the curator of the museum
since it opened nearly 20 years ago. He is a Civil War enthusiast
and spent many years participating in Civil War re-enactments.
Published by the Orders and Medals Society of America, the
book is being sold in the museum for $45. It is also for sale
through the Orders and Medals Society at a cost of $56. Society
members can buy it at a discounted rate of $33.
Charlie B. Oellig, curator of the Pennsylvania National Guard Military
Museum, leafs through a copy of a book he co-authored recently on the
history of marksmanship awards in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Oellig said he does not expect to make money off the
book. His goal was much more altruistic: To present a
thorough and historically accurate account of marksmanship
within the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Indeed, the book is a treasure trove of information on
the subject.
And that’s no accident. O
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 19
ARMY NEWSMAKERS
Continued from page 9
Gap team earns environmental honors
By Sgt. Matthew E. Jones
The Pennsylvania National Guard natural resources conservation team was scheduled to be presented an award at the
Pentagon courtyard on June 4, but ironically, Mother Nature
would not cooperate with as the ceremony was hastily taken
indoors due to a tornado watch.
Inside, the Fort Indiantown Gap-based team
was awarded the Secretary of Defense award for
natural resources conservation. This award is
given biannually to the team that demonstrates a
proactive and comprehensive program in support
of conservation, training, and public land.
The Department of Defense owns or leases
more than 30 million acres of land in the United
States (third largest land manager in federal
government). This wasn’t the first award the team
has received. In fact, they were recently singled
out for this year’s U.S. Army Conservation Award.
“In 2007, we were the second busiest National
Guard installation in the country with more than
125,000 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and
civilians training at the Gap,” said Lt. Col. Grey
Berrier, training site commander. “Fort
Indiantown Gap provides unit commanders with the land,
facilities and resources to train their warriors to standard,
safely while concurrently offering outstanding hunting, fishing,
trapping, and wood gathering opportunities to outdoor
enthusiasts, consistent with its mission.”
Among the judges’ considerations, a few key factors truly
made the Gap stand out. They include the adjustment of training times and locations to minimize the impact to vegetation,
soil and waterways; the building and monitoring of more than
150 nesting/roosting boxes to benefit than a dozen bird and bat
species; monitoring water quality; providing outdoor recreation
opportunities at Second Mountain Hawkwatch and to over
2,400 hunters and anglers; conducting prescribed burns to
manage fuel loads, ranges, maneuver areas,
forests and of course the Regal Fritillary butterfly habitat.
The Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard
Training Center is the only live fire, maneuver
military training facility in the state. Within
the facility, the Regal Fritillary butterfly, a
federal species of concern and the pride and
joy of the Gap’s conservation team, has
flourished on the 17,000-acre training facility,
the largest population east of the Mississippi
River. This modern-day symbiosis is certainly
no accident.
“We’ve developed training scenarios and
maps that identify the Regal’s habitat as ‘mine
fields,’ so the Soldiers know to avoid them just
as they would a real minefield in combat,” said Joseph Hovis,
DMVA wildlife manager. “It’s these kinds of collaborative
efforts that have turned this installation into a premier
training site and into what amounts to almost a 17,000-acre
nature refuge.”
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 21
Brig. Gen. Jerry
Beck Jr. shares
a lighthearted
moment with
Sgt. David Walker.
Walker, a combat
wounded veteran,
joined several
other warriors
along the Yellow
Breeches Creek
in Cumberland
County. It was part
of Project Healing
Waters, a program
aimed at supporting recovery
efforts for
combat wounded
veterans.
Story and photo by Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver
For some combat wounded veterans, the road to recovery
can be like a challenging river with rapids and rocks, undertows
and swift currents. But thanks to Project Healing Waters, some
of the hazards have been removed and the remaining clear,
calm waters are a primary prescription for mending the
wounds of war.
On a sun-splashed May day, seven warriors, armed with fly
rods and filled with optimism, spent a day casting their way to
recovery on one of Pennsylvania’s most storied trout streams.
“This gives me a peace of mind and serenity that no doctor
can prescribe,” said Brian Mancini, who was severely injured
by a roadside bomb attack in Iraq. Between casts he speaks
about the attack that killed his gunner and sergeant major,
interspersed with the love of his newfound hobby.
Only his third fly fishing outing, Mancini easily fooled more
trout than his peers as six fish came to hand during the morning.
“It’s the happiest I have seen him in a long time; it’s also
the most relaxed I have seen him,” said his wife, Ashley, also an
Iraq combat veteran who sits near his side as fly line wisps
through the air.
Project Healing Waters was started by the Federation of
Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited to aid in the physical and
emotional recovery of combat wounded veterans.
With the river running slightly spate from recent rain, some
two dozen TU members tied leaders, lent flies and gave a
helping hand to these American heroes. “This is a genuine
pleasure and a privilege for us to do this,” said Jim Hutcheson,
president of the Cumberland Chapter TU board. “Anything we
can do to help these warriors get away for a while and enjoy
this beautiful countryside in a genuinely fun activity we are just
thrilled to do it.”
As the noonday sun arched high overhead, the warriors
retreated to box lunches and candid yarns about fishing trips
past. Sgt. David Walker, formerly of Maine, shared stories of
fishing the wilderness lakes and streams in the Pine Tree State.
Walker grew up fishing and tying flies.
An IED blast in Iraq, however, changed all that. It forced
him to relearn not only how to fish, but how to use basic skills.
“I have problems with my dexterity and tying flies helps me
with my motor skills,” said Walker, with a pipe clenched tightly
between his teeth. “This is wonderful here. Outside and enjoying nature is therapy for me.”
Walker’s story, like most others fishing
that day, spread across the full range of
emotions – the toll of war, the loss of friends,
the void of missing buddies and the challenging
road to recovery.
As lunches finished, fly rods once again arched
over the placid water and with all the warriors, it was
the road to recovery that seemed just a little smoother. O
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 23
“Our goal is to motivate students
to develop lifelong learning skills
and to challenge them
to achieve their full potential
as responsible citizens.”
By Colin Day, Public Affairs Student Intern
Located on 183 acres in southern Franklin County near
Chambersburg, the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children
(SSVC) is a residential school for students in grades three
through 12 who are children of commonwealth veterans.
Tuition, room, and board are provided at no cost to students
who meet eligibility requirements and are offered admission.
The school, which opened in 1895 as the Pennsylvania’s
Soldiers’ Orphans Industrial School, is a unique state-funded
24 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
– Superintendent Ron Grandel
school operated by the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs. Since 1895, more than 10,000 children have graduated
from the school. Many of them have gone on to distinguish
themselves in the fields of medicine, law, education, banking
and government, and the vast majority have become successful,
productive citizens.
SSVC provides a robust curriculum ranging from college
prep classes to vocational offerings including computer science,
business programs, and the culinary arts.
With an average class size of 17 students,
teachers are able to give more one-onone attention not found any many other
schools. As an added benefit, undergraduate education majors at nearby
Shippensburg University assist as tutors
on the evening tutoring program.
“Our goal is to motivate students to
develop lifelong learning skills and to
challenge them to achieve their full
potential as responsible citizens,” states
Superintendent Ron Grandel. “The
faculty and staff at Scotland School are
committed to instilling the values of
respect, responsibility, kindness,
integrity, and safety into the entire
student body.”
Participation in the Junior Reserve
Officer Training Corp (JROTC) is a
required course of study for all students
in ninth through twelfth grade. Although
JROTC is not designed to recruit for the
military, students learn valuable lessons
of citizenship and patriotism along with
a strong sense of self-reliance.
All students reside in cottages which
foster a more home-like environment
and they are supervised by a houseparent. Meals are provided in both in
the cottages and in the dining hall.
Scotland School also offers a wide
array of campus amenities such as playgrounds, indoor and outdoor basketball
courts, and a sand volleyball court. In
addition to a pond and picnic pavilion,
there is a four-lane bowling alley and an
indoor pool on campus.
Off-campus recreational activities
include hiking, camping, shopping,
theater, and skiing. Some of the recent
excursions include trips to the Baltimore
According to ninth grader
Brandon Abernathy,
Scotland School is “one
of the best schools I have
ever gone to.”
Aquarium, amusement parks, and the Gettysburg and
Antietam battlefields.
Although academics come first at SSVC, the athletic teams
are well known throughout the state. Scotland teams have
consistently qualified for district playoffs, with the football,
boys’ basketball and boys' track teams winning Class A State
Championships.
“As you can see, our students receive a well-rounded education that stretches well beyond the walls of the classroom,”
states Grandel. “Because families entrust their children to us
we consider it a privilege to serve those who have done so
much to protect our freedoms and preserve our cherished
way of life.”
To be considered for enrollment:
• Prospective students shall be the natural or adopted
child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or sibling of an
eligible veteran.
• His or her custodial parent or legal guardian is required
to have maintained Pennsylvania residency for a
minimum
of three years prior to admission.
• The child must be at least six years of age before entering the third grade and must not have reached their
sixteenth birthday as of August 1 in the school year in
which they are admitted.
• The child should be academically capable and have an
interest in living in residence at Scotland School.
Fourteen-year-old Brandon Abernathy is about to enter his
second year at Scotland School and the ninth grader couldn’t
be happier. According to Brandon, Scotland School is “one of
the best schools I have ever gone to.” Brandon seems to enjoy
all of the unique aspects that a school like SSVC has to offer.
“The uniforms are alright. It would be cool if we could wear
what we want but it keeps people from standing out,” he added.
Understandably, due to his parent’s military careers the
family has moved around frequently and the stability that this
veterans benefit offers is a perfect fit for this family. Brandon’s
father, Michael Combs, is currently deployed and is not
expected home until the end of January 2009. Shannon
Abernathy, Brandon’s mother who spent nearly seven years
in the military, now works for a defense contractor in
Chambersburg, Pa.
“Everything they (SSVC) told me was true to the exact
words,” said Brandon’s mother when asked her overall
impression of SSVC. “They really encouraged every talent that
Brandon has shown like they said they would. Brandon had
nothing but good things to say about them and they had nothing
but good things to say about him. Scotland School has really
helped him to mature and everyday it keeps getting better.”
As a child of a deployed family member, Brandon has
developed an informal mentorship with other Scotland School
students who also have deployed family members. He was
among several students that were recently picked to spend time
with some veterans visiting campus. They spent the afternoon
doing some shopping and when they went out to eat they “really
got to know each other and find out what the veterans did.”
When asked if he was excited to go back to SSVC this year
he enthusiastically declared, “Yes!”
For more information about the Scotland School for
Veterans’ Children visit our website at www.ssvc.state.pa.us. O
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 25
By Sgt. Maj. Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr.
From the accounts of 2nd Lt. Roy E.
Lambert, historical officer, Company G,
1st Battalion, 110th Regiment, 28th
Infantry Division – dated May 27, 1945.
Grandchildren of the Company G
dogfaces will be treated to many weird
and wonderful tales of World War II. In
addition to the inside dope on how grandpop really turned the tide of battle with a
strategic bazooka round, they will be
gripped by the tales of narrow escapes
and close calls. The stories will engender
gasps of sheer astonishment … no doubt
justified in many cases.
Staff Sgt. Nelson Lee, of Danforth,
Maine, for instance, can thrill his offspring with a tale of the time he,
Sgt. Clifford J. Neylon, Staff Sgt. Dick
Campbell, of Butler, Pa., and Sgt. Marvin
Conway, of Shurz, Nev., were engaged in
opening a C-ration box when a German
mortar round plunked squarely into the
middle of the case. Purple Hearts were in
order all the way around, but none of the
prospective poppas was seriously injured.
26 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
From the “Battle of the Bulge: Onslaught in the Ardennes.” World War II Diorama at Wisconsin Veterans
Museum, Madison, Featuring the 110th Infantry.
Tech Sgt. Bernard Treadwell is another of the group who figures to elicit close
attention from his next-generation audience. He was cooking a meal for the company
on July 31, 1944, when he discovered that the day’s ration did not include the necessary
condiments. He walked across the area separating his unit from H Company and
borrowed some salt. Upon returning, he
had some difficulty reorganizing the
kitchen. It had been blown out by a round
of high explosive artillery fire.
Tech. Sergeant Robert M. Stump, of
Bonneville, Ore., can stir up a few youthful listeners with his yarns, too. Included
in the repertory is an occasion upon which
the fate of a nation hung on a strand of
telephone wire. Sgt. Stump had been
checking communication after the outfit
had dug into position, and he reported to
the platoon leader, Lt. Nation, that
everything was in working order. Lt.
Nation started for the C.P. to inform the
company commander of that fact, but
stopped to examine a frayed telephone
wire. A second later an artillery shell
whizzed by the spot where the lieutenant
would otherwise have been, and exploded
harmlessly a short distance away.
Perhaps the most vehement “Ohs”
and “Ahs” will stem from the children of
Tech. Sgt. Frank Wooster, of Hamden,
Conn., and Pfc. Ernest Allen, from
Lumberton, Miss. Both men were riding
on a tank when a Nazi 88mm shell
exploded, catapulting both into the air.
Allen landed 15 or 20 feet from the
armored vehicle, but both were able to
The Army NEEDS
your stories
By Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr.
stand up, dust themselves off and proceed with their mission, muttering
Many Soldiers and Airmen have their own wild
imprecations upon the inconsiderate “Boche.”
and
wonderful stories from their deployments.
Yes, future descendants of Company G members will get the benefit
Often,
those stories are never told. Since the
of many strange and varied experiences. They will hear about Capt. Wiley,
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks the operational tempo and
the company commander who was so universally admired that the men
deployments has increased to a level not seen in
talk about him to this day with reverence in their voice. They will hear
Pennsylvania since World War II. This, coupled with
about “Dusty,” the private first class who took over the company after all
the loss of the military history detachments, has
the officers had been killed or wounded, and who later became one of the
caused a huge loss of historical information
most beloved of all first sergeants. They will be entertained by tales of
throughout the Pennsylvania National Guard.
men like Pfc. Garland Austin who, spying two Tiger Royal tanks on the
Your story or pictures may seem
road near the company, slung his M-1 rifle over his shoulder and
insignificant
but may have signifiyelled to his buddy, “Come on, let’s see if they’ll surrender.”
cant value to the historian writing
Or, the time Pfc. Addison Looney, from Jackson, Tenn., tossed
your unit’s contribution to the
a dummy potato masher grenade into the C.P. during a solemn
operation. The stories illustrated in
officer’s meeting. “Things got lively in a hurry,” said Looney.
the article are examples of tales
“There was a moment of utter silence, during which everyone
that enrich and add dimension to
stared at the grenade – then everything happened at once.
the unit’s facts and statistics.
I never saw so much brass moving in so many directions so
The Army and the National
fast. All you could see was feet.” (Incidentally, the reason Looney
Guard
are interested in hearing
isn’t wearing blue denims marked “P” today is that the company
your stories, seeing your pictures
commander, Capt. Kitchen, was in on the deal, which the good
and journals, and making them
private first class had occasion to appreciate a few moments later.)
part of the historical record.
“Those lieutenants were as mad as hornets,” he recalled.
Please
contact
Sgt. Maj. Zapotoczny at
They will hear too of the French donkey, which, objecting to his daily
commercial (717) 787-0895, cell (717) 821-3304 or
task of carrying rations up the steep Vosges Mountains regularly, fell off
e-mail walter.zapotoczny@pa.ngb.army.mil. He will
the mountain at a certain spot and rolled a hundred yards down into the
arrange to collect all materials. O
valley where he lay in the soft snow playing dead until the ration detail
pulled out and left him. After the coast was clear, he would trot rapidly
back to the stable for a mouthful of hay and a warm nap, doubtless
reflecting disdainfully upon the gullibility of the human race.
All the same, whatever the tale and whatever the occasion, the kids can be
rightfully proud of the men at whose
knee they will hear it. He will be the
real Soldier from a fighting outfit –
Company George of the 110th.
Certainly, these and many other
stories were told. We can be just as
certain that the stories of the
Pennsylvania Soldiers and Airmen
who were in far-away places like
Bosnia, Afghanistan, Germany,
Kosovo, Egypt, Iraqi and elsewhere
will be told to their grandchildren
too. Telling wild and wonderful
stories of their deployments is what
veterans do. It is a Pennsylvanian
and an American tradition. O
Note: Company G, 1st Battalion,
110th Regiment was first organized as
such on April 1, 1921. It was reorganized
Company C, 1st Reconnaissance,
103rd Armor on June 1, 1959. The
company was converted, reorganized and
re-designated Company C, 2nd Battalion,
112th Infantry on April 1, 1975.
Weary Infantrymen rest in Bastogne on the third day of
the Battle of the Bulge. The men were assigned to the
110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. DoD
Pentagram – Dec. 16, 1994.
Sgt. Maj. Walter S. Zapotoczny Jr.
is the command historian for the
28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania
Army National Guard, Harrisburg, Pa.
Fall 2008 / GUARDIANS / 27
CURATOR’S CORNER
In March of 1916, amidst a revolution in Mexico, Gen.
Francisco “Pancho” Villa with a band of rebels attacked
Columbus, N.M. A number of civilians and eight soldiers of
the 13th U.S. Cavalry were killed.
Gen. John J. Pershing led a punitive expedition into Mexico,
but Villa could not be found. Other border towns were raided
in May and President Wilson called for the mobilization of the
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas National Guards. The rest of
the state National Guards, including Pennsylvania, were called
up on June 18. The Pennsylvania Soldiers assembled near El
Paso, Texas, at a camp which they named Camp Stewart in
honor of Adjutant General Thomas J. Stewart.
After laying out the camp, most of the time was spent
patrolling the border and training with various types of
weapons. In this photograph we see two members of the 16th
Regiment, which would later become the 112th Infantry, 28th
Division. They are standing next to a pair of 1916 White 4 x 2
armed cars. They were on loan to the Guard for testing and
training purposes. These two cars appear to be unarmed,
although some were outfitted with M1895 Colt-Browning
machine guns.
The cars were built by the White Motor Company. They
had a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and could reach 45 miles per
hour, weighed 3.37 tons and carried a crew of three. These
granddaddies of today’s Stryker vehicles were “turned in”
before the boys retuned to Pennsylvania.
28 / GUARDIANS / Fall 2008
This is the 22nd in a series of historical photographs of
Pennsylvania National Guardsmen of the past, submitted by
Charles Oellig, curator of the Pennsylvania National Guard
Military Museum at Fort Indiantown Gap. The museum is
open Monday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or
other days by appointment. Call (717) 861-2402 for more
information or to schedule an appointment. The museum is
closed on major holidays.