The Adjutant General's Department
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News from The Adjutant General's Department Kansas Army National Guard Kansas Air National Guard Kansas Emergency Management CONTACT: Joy D. Moser Director, Public Affairs Office Work: (785) 274-1192 http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 7, 2004 No. 04-001 KANSAS GUARDSMAN MAKES ALL ARMY BOWLING TEAM Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Brewster, Belton, Mo., Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 169th Corps Support Battalion (CSB), Kansas Army National Guard, is one of six competitors who recently won a position on the men’s All Army Bowling Team. Brewster is the only Army National Guardsman in the nation to make the men’s team this year. The team is competing in the Armed Forces and USA National Amateur Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., from Jan. 4-10, 2004. The championship pits the four Services - Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force - against each other. At the same time each military bowler will be vying for a place on Team USA in the USA National Amateur Championship. Team USA for bowling is the equivalent of an Olympic team for other sports. “Sports competitions are a great way to highlight our skilled soldiers alongside sailors, Marines and airmen while building friendships that make us a stronger total force team,” said Col. Tod M. Bunting, the adjutant general. “With our worldwide presence in the National Guard today, who knows when and where Jerry may run into his bowling peers again.” Other members of the men’s team are Sgt. 1st Class Myron Roberts, Fort Myer, Va.; Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Wilson, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Pvt. 1st Class Casey Collins, Camp Carroll, Korea; Sgt. 1st Class Donald Oglesby, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; and Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Reynolds, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Eighteen men and seven women competed for the All Army Bowling male and female teams at Fort Meade, Md., Dec. 16 and 17, 2003. Brewster, a 30-year bowler with a 225 average, said this was his fourth try to make the team. “It was awesome,” said Brewster. “We bowled 24 games in two days at Fort Meade, Md. The top six scorers made the team. I came in second.” Brewster has been a Kansas Army National Guardsman for 20 years, starting with the 35th Military Police Company at Fort Leavenworth and transferring to the 169th CSB in 1995. Over the years, he has competed in a number of military tournaments and made a lot of friends. “I know guys in the Air Force, Marines and Army,” said Brewster. “Every year, you see some new faces and a lot of old friends. There’s a lot of camaraderie between the services.” -30- Close Window News from The Adjutant General's Department Kansas Army National Guard Kansas Air National Guard Kansas Emergency Management CONTACT: Joy D. Moser Director, Public Affairs Office Work: (785) 274-1192 http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 8, 2004 No. 04-002 KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO DEPLOY Four physicians from the Kansas Army National Guard’s (KSARNG) Medical Command will report for duty to the Lenexa Armory on Friday, Jan 9, to be mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They will arrive at their mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Jan. 11 and from there will deploy to the Iraqi theater of operations. The soldiers are expected to be mobilized for about 120 days. They will be in Iraq for about 90 days, performing a variety of medical services for military personnel involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Iraq, they will be designated Detachment 18, Medical Detachment, Forward. “Medical response and care is an essential part of caring for the soldiers who are providing force protection in Iraq,” said Col. Tod M. Bunting, the adjutant general. “Our doctors will be providing vital services to those in need of care.” The KSARNG Medical Command is headquartered in Lenexa, Kan., and commanded by Col. Bruce Klosterhoff, M.D., who spoke with pride of the personnel in his unit. “The brightest moment was when all nine physicians stepped forward to indicate they would prepare to be activated,” said Klosterhoff. The Medical Command is a unit of about 80 personnel, but only physicians are being called up. “I am making preparations for deployment and finding a certain resolve in the upcoming assignment,” said Col. Daryl Callahan, Manhattan. “As I prepare for this, I have been able to correspond with two Wisconsin National Guard physicians that we will replace. They have been there since October and are looking forward to returning home.” “The reports from them are reassuring,” he continued. “The facilities are improving rapidly. At Mosul, they are about to move into more permanent facilities, similar to Bosnia. They have cement pads with connexes on top with electricity. At Balad, they are at the old Iraqi Air Base built during the Iran-Iraq War. They have not yet been able to improve the bombed buildings to move into, but have most everything. Knowing where, when and how you’re going on an assignment brings resolve and a certain amount of focus. -30- Close Window News from The Adjutant General's Department Kansas Army National Guard Kansas Air National Guard Kansas Emergency Management CONTACT: Joy D. Moser Director, Public Affairs Office Work: (785) 274-1192 http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 9, 2004 No. 04-005 KANSAS ARMY GUARD'S 137TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY RETURN CEREMONY JAN. 13 Approximately 80 soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard's 137th Transportation Company (Palletized Loading System) are returning home early next week after nearly a year on duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A welcome home ceremony for these soldiers will be held on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Olathe Holiday Inn, 101 West 151st Street, Olathe. "The soldiers of the 137th are wonderful examples of what are often called 'unsung heroes'," said Col. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general. "Their job may not seem glamorous to some people, but it is the 'nuts and bolts' kind of logistics work that keeps our forces well-equipped and ready to defend freedom at home and abroad. I am proud of them and welcome them home after a job well done." The returning unit, 137th Transportation Company (Forward), is commanded by 1st Lt. Scott Jackson, Lawrence. It is headquartered in Olathe with a detachment in St. Marys. This unit's mission is to haul palletized equipment and other cargo in a transportation support role. The unit was activated Feb. 3, 2003, and left Olathe on Feb. 16. They were deployed to Fort Bragg, N.C., where they have been performing a variety of missions, including support of the 82nd Airborne Division's Readiness Brigade, installation support for all container transportation and parachute transportation for all heavy rig and individual parachute drops. Operation Enduring Freedom generally refers to U. S. military operations associated with the War on Terrorism that take place overseas or in support of units going outside the United States. -30- Close Window News from The Adjutant General's Department Kansas Army National Guard Kansas Air National Guard Kansas Emergency Management CONTACT: Joy D. Moser Director, Public Affairs Office Work: (785) 274-1192 http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 9, 2004 No. 04-004 KANSAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD RADAR UNIT BEING CALLED UP FOR DEPLOYMENT The Kansas Army National Guard’s Target Acquisition Battery (TAB) located in Larned and Great Bend, Kan., has been called to duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Radar technology detects weapons discharge and this is a vital service that enhances the safety of the troops and the stability of the country,” said Col. Tod M. Bunting, the adjutant general. “Our soldiers are some of the best in the world at this critical skill. They will be a terrific asset.” Approximately six soldiers of Battery E, Target Acquisition, 161st Field Artillery will be deployed along with one Q-36 radar unit. The battery is equipped with Q-37 and Q-36 radar, which detect, locate and identify enemy elements within a division’s area of interest. These radar units can identify what type of round has been fired and the location from which it came. The battery commander is Capt. Ralph Heady, formerly of 35th Division Artillery. Heady recently assumed command of the battery while Capt. Clark Harris is on active duty with the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery in Iraq. Although he is not being deployed, Heady said he is looking forward to this new command. “Prior acquaintance with some of the troops now under my command allows me to state that I am being placed in charge of one of the best units in the Kansas Army National Guard,” said Heady. “The TAB battery has a history of recent deployments with records of outstanding service. The TAB Battery also has an outstanding Family Support Group. I look forward to my command time here.” Portions of Battery E were previously mobilized in 1996 for a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and again in 2000 for a similar mission in Kosovo. Some of the individuals going on this current deployment are veterans of those other missions. “The soldiers that are deploying have, in their previous deployments, earned the reputation from senior army leadership of being the best Target Acquisition Battery in the world,” said Col. Timothy Carlin, commander of the 35th Division Artillery (Divarty), Kansas Army National Guard. “This is an outstanding radar section that has performed with distinction and I know they will accomplish this mission in an outstanding fashion.” Operation Iraqi Freedom refers, generally, to U.S. military operations in Iraq.