Arkansas Guardsmen honored for their service in Iraq
~ Freedom Salute ceremony recognizes Soldiers and the Families who support
them
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – Approximately 200 Arkansas National Guard
Soldiers were recognized here today with a Freedom Salute ceremony in honor
of their service in Iraq.
The Soldiers were members of three separate units which were called upon to
augment the deployment of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2007.
The
units mobilized with the brigade in January 2008 and returned from Iraq the
following December.
The first unit recognized was the 87th Troop Command’s 1123rd Transportation
Company, with units in both North Little Rock and Blytheville. Also
recognized was North Little Rock’s 1038th Horizontal Construction Company.
Both units served at Camp Taji, Iraq, where they were responsible for the
force protection at the base.
The final group of Soldiers recognized were members of the Camp Robinson
based 77th Aviation Brigade. The 77th’s Soldiers who served with the 39th
for the deployment were scattered across several locations and were
responsible for protecting supply routes and controlling base entry points.
Alyson Courtney, news anchor with Little Rock’s KTHV, served as the guest
speaker for the event which honored both the Soldiers and the Families who
were there to support them.
“What you do continues to inspire me,” said Courtney, as she spoke about her
experience in covering the Arkansas Guard over the past five years. “Your
courage is honorable and equally as honorable is the sacrifice of your
family.”
The Arkansas National Guard currently has approximately 300 Soldiers and
Airmen mobilized in support of overseas operations. Since Sep. 11, 2001,
the
Arkansas Guard has supported the mobilization of over 11,500 troops in
support of the global war on terror.
