Russell to Retire Army CSM Recalls Time As Senior Soldier
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Contents Vol. 1, No. 7 Georgia DoD videos for download 3 A ‘Peachtree’ in Afghanistan: 2009 road race honors fallen warriors 4 The Georgia State employees earn service award 7 Guardsman Intel unit trains hard, displays ‘can do attitude’ 8 Send comments, Immersion in Taiwan 9 suggestions, articles, photos or other Guard History 10 contributions to: Georgia engineers in Guyana for humanitarian operation 11 [email protected] Chavers, Johnson laid to rest honored for service, sacrifice 13 The Georgia Guardsman is Not Just another AT for JTF 781 14 published monthly under the provisions of AR 360-81 and Legislator visits Air Guard 17 AF 6-1 by the Georgia Depart- ment of Defense Public Affairs Wood turns over 110th CCSB to Goss 18 Office. The views and opin- ions expressed in the Georgia Guardsman are not necessarily those of the Departments of the Army and Air Force or the Adjutant General of Georgia. The Georgia Guardsman is dis- tributed free to members of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard, State Defense Force and other interested persons at their request. Updated news and infor- mation on the Georgia DoD can be viewed at www.gadod.net Want to submit a story for your unit? All submissions for the Georgia Guardsman can be sent to Amanda Kenny at [email protected]. Please submit your stories in a Word document. All photos should be in a JPEG format and NOT embedded in the document. Georgia Guardsman : 2 : No. 7 3 Georgia DoD videos for download To see videos, click on the name of the story. Commander-In-Chief Gov. Sonny Perdue Adjutant General of Georgia MG Terry Nesbitt Publisher Lt Col (Ret) Kenneth R. Baldowski Editorial Staff Dr. Beryl Diamond SFC Class Roy Henry Amanda Kenny SPC Mike Perry Video-Audio Editor David Howell Contributing writers MAJ Eddie Williams - GSDF SPC Adam Dean National Guard Correspondents 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office Army National Guard Unit Public Affairs Officers and Representatives Air National Guard Wing Public Affairs Officers and Representatives Social Networking The Georgia Guardsman is now on: Twitter Facebook Georgia Guardsman : 3 : No. 7 4 Morales laid to rest in Dalton Atlanta - St Joseph’s Catholic for his keen sense of humor, his work Church sits high on a hill overlooking a ethic and the love he always showed pristine lake on the outskirts of Dalton. for his family. This picturesque location was fitting Father Paul Williams of St. Joseph’s for the funeral of SGT Raymundo P. praised Morales for his level of dedica- Morales of Cedartown’s Company D, tion and devotion to his country. He 148th Brigade Support Battalion who also noted Morales’ love of fishing died in Afghanistan on July 21, 2009 and, pointing to the lake adjacent to the church saying that he and Morales will certainly meet again at a beautiful set- ting like this to “drop a line.” Morales joined the Georgia Guard in February 1984, and served for nine years as a tank mechanic with Dalton’s Company C, 108h Cavalry when it had M1 Abrams tanks. After a three year break in service, he returned and was assigned to the 148th in Cedartown. “Morales was an outstanding tank and wheeled vehicle mechanic,” said fellow Soldiers who knew him. Many referred to Morales as a quiet profes- sional who was respected and admired by his peers, and his commanders. BG Maria Britt, Georgia Army com- mander, called Morales a true Ameri- An Army National Guard Honor Guard carries the casket of Sgt. Raymundo P. Morales can hero, and presented his widow with to its final resting place in Dalton. (Photo courtesy Matt Hamilton, Dalton Daily Citizen) her husband’s Bronze Star Medal. An American flag was given to his two daughters, his brother, and his mother from injuries sustained in a vehicle and father. rollover incident. Morales’ body was laid to rest at Hundreds of mourners, family and Colonial Hills Memorial Gardens with from fellow National Guard Soldiers full military honors accompanied by a attended the service in which the flyover of four Black Hawk helicopters 34-year-old Soldier was remembered from Winder’s 185th Air Assault. Soldier returns for Best Warrior competition Story by the Georgia National Guard for 2009” returned from Afghanistan to Public Affairs Office compete for the title of National Guard Photos by SPC Mike Perry Bureau’s Best Warrior. ATLANTA, July 31, 2009 – SGT Bowles, who was promoted 12 hours James V. Bowles, a fire team leader before leaving Camp Clark in Khost with Lawrenceville’s Company A, 1st Province, and his fellow competitors, Battalion, 121st Infantry, Georgia’s beginning late July the first of four in- state and Region 3 “Soldier of the Year tense days of competition. While many Georgia Guardsman : 4 : No. 7 5 of the national events are the same as at what I retained from the first two those for the state and regional levels competitions,” he said. “It’s more of a (i.e., Army Physical Training Test, rifle review than it’s been a qualifications and essay writing), Best full-blown, hit the books Warrior adds Combatives, Military Op- hard kind-a-thing.” erations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) and When the Atlanta a 12 mile road march. resident competed for “If I thought the competition and the state and for the Re- the events were tough before, they’re gion 3 titles, he, his unit gonna be even tougher this time,” and parent command – Bowles said in a telephone interview Macon’s 48th Infantry from Fort Benning in Columbus, the Brigade Combat Team– site of this year’s competition. “But be- were in the midst of pre- ing back, representing my state and the paring for their yearlong Georgia Army Guard is something I re- deployment to Afghani- ally hoped I’d be able to do. stan. Getting to the com- “And you can bet, I’m gonna give petition just meant he the other competitors a run for their had to leave pre-mobili- money,” he added confidently. zation training at Camp Having had to focus his energies on Shelby, Miss. SGT James V. Bowles, a specialist when he won missions he and his fellow infantry- This time, it meant Soldier of the Year in March, waits for the weap- men are conducting out of Camp Clark stepping out of on-go- ons qualification phase of the competition at Fort in Afghanistan, hasn’t left much time ing missions and get- Stewart’s “Charlie” Small Arms Range to begin. for studying up on Best Warrior. But ting out of Afghanistan. that’s what Bowles’ been doing since His chain-of-command, returning home and, “I was surprised from platoon leader SFC Tim Burd to CSM Robert Hawks, 1st Battalion’s command ser- geant major to command sergeants major Mike Hurndon (forward) and John Smiley (rear), the brigade’s senior enlisted leaders to name a few, worked hard to get him back home. “It really makes me proud to be a Soldier,” Bowles said. “Everyone involved went to great lengths to help me get back for this,” Bowles said. “Everything they did drives me toward try- ing that much harder to win here, and then move on to compete for All- Then SPC James V. Bowles (left) makes the first leg Army Best Warrior.” of a round-trip six mile march from the Guard Garri- While he’s enjoyed be- son Training Center at Fort Stewart to a rifle range dur- ing home, the time with ing the March state-level Soldier and NCO of the Year his wife, Crystal, and the competition. With him is his mentor SGT Jody Vieau. chance to step back from Georgia Guardsman : 5 : No. 7 the stress of combat, he’s found himself to any one there, while I’m here, I’m missing his fellow Soldiers, his unit gonna want to be there,’” he explained. and the missions. “That’s just the way it is, I guess.” “I find myself thinking, ‘God, if any- thing happens –to my guys, to the unit, New Army senior enlisted leader installed Story by SFC Roy Henry son said his predecessor and the “state Photos by SPC Mike Perry leadership” have set the conditions for Georgia National Guard success. The advice and mentorship Public Affairs Office he’s received has been critical to him. JOINT FORCES HEADQUAR- Russell said he has no doubt that TERS, Ellenwood, Aug. 1, 2009 – The he’s turning over the job to the one Sol- Georgia Army National Guard’s most dier who can lead the Army Guard’s senior enlisted position changed hands Noncommissioned Officer Corps, the as CSM James Nelson Jr. succeeded Soldiers they lead and the organization CSM Neil Russell as the Army com- as a whole to a brighter future. mand sergeant major. Fellow Guards- “He possesses combat proven lead- men, family and friends ership and the knowledge needed to atteneded a ceremony do what’s required of the senior most held here on the head- enlisted leader,” he said of Nelson. “I quarters front lawn. have no doubt he will do great things.” Nelson, who hails Nelson said he’s blessed to be taking from Sylvester, a small on the challenges of being Army Guard Southwest Georgia com- command sergeant major at such a crit- munity near Albany, ical time. The priorities that lay ahead comes to the job from his (i.e., homeland security, supporting assignment as command The Global War on Terror and con- sergeant major for Co- tinuing to transform the Georgia Army lumbus’ 648th Maneuver Guard) are important, and “bigger than Enhancement Brigade.