MD ARMY GUARD AVIATION

TO THE RESCUE

page 8

Air Guard Security

Forces Deploy 

By Staff Sgt. David Speicher, 

175th Wing Public Affairs, MDANG

Maryland Military DepartmentDigest

The Airmen received the call on Jan. 20 and by daybreak

two days later, they had departed on the first leg of a journey

that would take them to Iraq.

The Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Security Forces

Squadron provides base security at Warfield Air National

Guard Base. Their mission: to defend and protect the base

and its people and assist the local community. Now, once

again, they have been called to duty overseas.

Summer 2006

Michael S. Steele

Lt. Governor

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Fox 45’s Jennifer Gilbert gets a firsthand look at Maryland Army National Guard basket training. Photo by Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt, MDNG Public Affairs

Continued on page 3

In This Issue...

• Maryland Infantry Return From 

Iraq (page 4)

• MD Assists Bosnians With HAZMAT

Training (page 5)

• Preparing For Hurricanes (page 6)

• Civil Air Patrol Works With MilDep

(page 12)
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MARYLAND MILITARY DEPARTMENT:

We are now moving into the summer season, which will prove to be a very busy time for the Department

both here at home and abroad. Our continued support to the Global War on Terror while transforming into a

more ready and relevant force is unprecedented. The staff is working on updating our Joint Operations Plan to

insure that we provide the level of security for the citizens of Maryland. 

June 1st is the start of Hurricane Season for Mid-Atlantic states. Since 1996, Maryland has been impacted

by hurricane remnants every three to five years. Maryland may be back in the bull’s eye this year. The last

storm, which impacted Maryland, was Tropical Storm Isabel in 2003. While MEMA is working to assist state and

local agencies with their hurricane preparation, we as individuals have to prepare ourselves for a hurricane or

tropical storm. There is information in this issue, which will be useful.

We welcome home Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry. They have returned after serving a year

in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During part of their tour, the unit actively hunted insurgents.

The unit also provided security for critical supplies from Jordan and worked to secure Iraq’s border with Syria.

Their service was long and distinguished and I am happy to have them home with their families. 

Brigadier General Leacock and more than 260 Maryland Army National Guard soldiers are serving our

country as part of the Task Force guarding the captured terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Please include

them in your thoughts and prayers for a successful mission and safe return. 

The 175th Medical Group of the Maryland Air National Guard is in Bosnia providing medical care to

Bosnians living in remote areas, many of whom have never seen a doctor. A contingent of civilian health care

professionals, organized by the Maryland Defense Force has joined them in this noble effort.

Summer also is vacation season. With more traffic on the roads during this time means a greater risk of

accidents causing injuries and deaths. Members of the Department need to take all precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones and come home safely. I hope that everyone has a safe enjoyable summer. Godspeed.

Respectfully,

Bruce F. Tuxill

Major General, MDANG

The Adjutant General

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Michael S. Steele

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

Adjutant General

(Left to right) Col. (Ret.) Rocky Templon,

Pete Kochanski and Command Sgt. Maj.

(Ret.) Wilson J. Thornton, Jr.

Fifth Regiment Armory Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Mil Dep No Grinch

The Maryland Military Department

(MMD) recently made a donation to

Santa Claus Anonymous. On Mar. 24

Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Wilson J.

Thornton, Jr. and Col. (Ret.) Rocky 

Templon presented Santa Claus Anonymous President Pete Kochanski with a

check for $687. The MMD began its 

fund drive for Santa Claus Anonymous in

October 2005 and has been making 

an annual donation to the organization

since 1993.

Founded in 1934 by former Baltimore mayor, Theodore R. McKeldin,

Santa Claus Anonymous is a unique volunteer non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.

Each year, keenly aware of the thousands

of children in the Baltimore metropolitan

area who go without presents at holiday

time, the organization raises money to

give every child a Christmas.

The MMD’s donation will go towards

Santa Claus Anonymous’ 2006 goal of

raising $300,000 for their cause.

Maryland Military Department
Digest: Summer, 2006 3

As the Global War on Terrorism has

progressed, security forces units,

including the 175th, have been amongst

the most heavily tasked in the Air

National Guard.

Despite this, when a short-notice

deployment tasking came down

recently, there were more than twice as

many volunteers as there were positions

to fill. In all, 28 Airmen volunteered to

be part of the 13-member team. 

“When the Secretary of Defense

mobilizes forces in support of the

Global War on Terrorism, the Maryland

Air National Guard will step forward

every time, just like this team of 13 elite

security forces is doing now,” said Brig.

Gen. Guy M. Walsh, 175th Wing commander. “In the tradition of the Maryland National Guard, these guys are

stepping up and making it happen. I am

proud of each and every one of them.”

Walsh explained why deployments

sometimes occur outside the normal Air

Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation.

“The Air Expeditionary Force

process normally provides stability and

sufficient advance notice to put the right

forces in the right places at the right

time,” he said. “Unfortunately, high

operational tempo and shortfalls in security forces manpower throughout all of

our military services continue to challenge our otherwise successful AEF

process.” 

Walsh said that the Guard is mindful

of the impact such deployments have on

families and employers.

“We continue to meet with families

and engage employers who are hit the

hardest so they know we understand the

challenges they face in dealing with

short-notice and no-notice mobilizations,” he said.

The deploying troops received additional highly specialized training and

equipment prior to deploying to Iraq to

ensure their ability to accomplish the

mission, according to Walsh.

The contingent was first sent to

Creech Air Force Base, Nev. for Expeditionary Readiness Training, or “ExpeRT”

in Air Force lingo. The Maryland Air

National Guard members spent more

than two weeks practicing their skills in

the hills near Las Vegas, Nev.

Whenever the “bad guys,” an aggressor team trying to infiltrate a U.S. airbase, ran for the high ground, the

team led by Tech. Sgt. James R. White

pursued them relentlessly. The cadre

eventually came to refer to the 

security forces from Maryland as the

“Highlanders.”

During one field training exercise,

the Marylanders went so far as to take

the same hill twice in order to secure

their objective, White said. As a result

the team was allowed to christen that

particular piece of real estate “Crab

Hill” in honor of their home state.

“We went all out,” White said. “We

played [the exercise] like it was 

real life.”

“They played hard and kept the initiative,” said Maj. Steven Benden,

175th Security Forces Squadron commander. He visited his troops during

the training and was impressed with

the realism of the scenarios that they

had encountered. “They all volunteered for this mission and they all

have their heads in the game.”

Staff Sgt. Olen D. Smith III, a security

forces Airmen and a recent Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award

winner, found the desert training

invaluable. He said that training cadre

had already served in Iraq and used 

that experience to provide feedback to

the students.

“The cadre here at ExpeRT training

have prepared us well for our mission,”

White said. “We are itching to go and 

get started.” 

Security forces troops training at Creech Air Force

Base, Nev. emerge from the gas chamber during Expeditionary Readiness Training prior to deploying to

Iraq. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force 

Air Guard

Security

Continued from page 1

Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 6,200

members of the Maryland National Guard

have been mobilized both here at home

and around the world. 

These Maryland Guardsmen leave not

only families, but also civilian employers

as well when called to duty to serve in the

Global War on Terrorism. To help all

Guardsmen, the Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was established in 1972. 

ESGR is a Department of Defense

organization created to provide education, consultation and, if necessary, mediation for employers of the National Guard

and Reserves. 

The mission of ESGR is to gain and

maintain active support from all public

and private employers for the men and

women of the National Guard and

Reserves as defined by employer commitment to employee military service. 

“In Maryland, our mission is to

increase the support of the Guard and

Reserves by employers around the state,”

said Boyd M. Cook, chairman of the Maryland Committee of ESGR. 

Questions and concerns related to

military service arise even with the best

communication and partnership between

employers and their employees who are

members of the National Guard or

Reserves. The most common employer

concerns are predictability of mobilization, frequency and duration of military

service and adequate advance notice of

time away from work. 

Employer outreach programs conducted by ESGR promote understanding

of Guard and Reserve service; encourage

human resource policies and practices

favorable to Guard and Reserve service;

and encourage “above and beyond” benefits exceeding requirements. 

Some employer outreach programs

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Continued on page 5
4 Maryland Military Department

Army Guard Infantry Unit Returns

From Iraq

Members of the Maryland Army

National Guard’s Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 115th

Infantry Regiment returned to Maryland

May 11, after serving a year in Iraq. Mobilizing in January 2005, the unit proceeded to Ft. Stewart, Ga. where it

linked up with the Georgia Army

National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat

Team. The Brigade was outfitted with

equipment and proceeded to the

National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Ca.

where it underwent rigorous training in

preparation for their deployment. Upon

completion they proceeded back to

Georgia and finally deployed to Iraq in

May 2005.

While in Iraq the unit performed a

variety of missions to include raids,

ambushes, traffic control points, combat

logistical patrols, convoy security, air

assaults and cordon and search missions.

On May 13 the unit was honored for

its service with a Freedom Salute Ceremony. During the ceremony six Bravo

Company Soldiers received Army Commendation Medals,three with bronze “V’s”

for valor,recognizing “acts of combat heroism.”Nine Soldiers received Purple Hearts.

On June 6, 1944 Bravo Company, 1st

Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment

stormed the beaches of Normandy in support of the allied invasion and liberation of

Nazi held Europe. On June 6, 2005, Bravo

Company conducted its first combat mission in Iraq, exactly 61 years after the historic beach landing.

Pfc. Christopher Clayton is reunited with family after returning from a year-long deployment to

Iraq. Photo by W.O.C. William Fearrington

The Soldiers of Bravo Company are assembled for their Freedom Salute Ceremony held on

May 13 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Photo by Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt

Spc. Michael Haney is pinned with the Purple

Heart during the company’s Freedom Salute

Ceremony. Photo by Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt
Digest: Summer, 2006 5

MD Assists

Bosnians

with Disaster

Training

S

everal Marylanders traveled to

Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) recently

where they presented hazardous

material and disaster management techniques to their military and civilian counterparts. Maryland Army National Guard

(MDARNG) members Maj. Chris Cole and

Maj. George Spence along with Maryland

Department of the Environment’s (MDE)

Alan Williams were in the Balkans April 1

through April 8 conducting the training.

Thirty-one Bosnian civilians and military personnel attended the training

which included two practical exercises.

Prior to the team’s departure, their Bosnian counterparts provided them with a list

of training objectives allowing the three

instructors to tailor their training to their

counterparts needs. Training examples

incorporated hurricane Katrina response

efforts and emergency response to Baltimore’s 2001 Howard Street tunnel fire.

Cole, who served as team leader for

the trip, has 15 years experience of environmental management with the

MDARNG. Spence is currently deputy

commander of the MDARNG’s 32nd Civil

Support Team while Williams is the administrator for the MDE’s Emergency

Response and Planning Program.

The training was conducted through

Maryland’s State Partnership Program with

BiH which was established in 2003.

The National Guard State Partnership

Program (SPP) links U.S. states with partner countries for the purpose of supporting the security cooperation objectives of

the Combatant Commander. The program's goals reflect an evolving international affairs mission for the National

Guard using the unique civil-military

nature of the Guard to interact with both

active and reserve forces of foreign countries.The State Partners actively participate

in a host of engagement activities ranging

from bilateral familiarization and could

lead to training exercises opportunities,

fellowship-style internships, and civic

leader visits and medical events.All activities are coordinated through the Theater

Combatant Commander and the U.S.

Ambassadors' country teams, and other

agencies as appropriate, to ensure that

National Guard support is tailored to meet

both U.S. and country objectives.

Maryland also has a State Partnership

Program with Estonia. It was established 

in 1993.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Continued from page 3

Disaster training participants take time out from training for a class photo.

include: 

• “Briefings With the Boss” provides

an informal forum in which local

employers, unit commanders,

ESGR members and community

leaders meet to network and discuss issues. 

• “Bosslifts” transport employers and

supervisors to military training sites

where they observe National Guard

and Reserve members in training. 

• The “Statement of Support” program notes compliance with existing legal employment protections

for Guard and Reserve members.

ESGR also sponsors an awards program designed to recognize

employers for outstanding employment policies and practices. 

For more information on the Maryland

Guard’s ESGR Program, visit mdesgr.org

Spc. Fontanez of the 115th Infantry talks an employer of a Maryland National

Guardsman through operation of the M2 machinegun during an ESGR sponsored

Bosslift to the unit’s 2005 annual training at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
6 Maryland Military Department

Get Prepared for Hurricanes

Hurricane season began June 1 and

lasts until the end of November.

When the winds of a tropical storm

reach a constant 74 miles per hour, it is

called a hurricane. Both hurricanes and

tropical storms are characterized by torrential rain, high winds and storm surges

as the storms approach land. More dangerous than the high winds is “storm

surge”...a dome of ocean water that can

be as high as 20 feet at its peak and 50 to

100 miles wide. The surge can devastate

coastal communities as it sweeps ashore.

Most of the deaths associated with

cyclone-type storms are flood-related.

Freshwater inland flooding is a common

occurrence with hurricanes and tropical

storms. Torrential rains can cause extensive urban and river flooding. In addition

to flood and wind damage, hurricanes and

tropical storms are known to cause mudslides, landslides and spawn thunderstorms and tornadoes.

U.S. hurricane warning systems have

provided adequate time for people on barrier islands to move inland when hurricanes approach.

The National Weather Service (NWS)

is able to predict a target area for a hurricane or tropical storm within five days of

landfall. The NWS issues watches and

warnings for areas where these storms are

expected to come ashore as follows:

• A Hurricane Watch is issued when

there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours

• A Hurricane Warning is issued when

hurricane conditions are expected

within 24 hours or less 

BEFORE THE HURRICANE OR

TROPICAL STORM ARRIVES 

• Develop a family disaster and evacuation plan.

• Learn about your community’s risk

from hurricanes... contact your

local emergency management

office, local NWS office or the local

American Red Cross chapter for

more information. Determine

whether you live in an area prone to

flooding during hurricanes or heavy

rain...contact the local emergency

management office or the local

planning and zoning office.

• Consider purchasing flood insurance...you do not need to live in a

flood plain to purchase flood insurance and most homeowners insurance polices will not cover damage

from floods. Flood insurance policies typically do not take effect until

30 days after the policy premium is

paid. Make sure the policy covers

both structure and contents.

• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed.

• Remove any debris or loose items in

your yard...they could become projectiles in a high wind.

• Well ahead of time, purchase other

items needed to board up windows

and protect your home.

• Install permanent hurricane shutters or be prepared to cover windows and doors with plywood.

Most homes destroyed during hurricanes had no window protection as

the wind entered the structure lifting the roof and collapsing the

walls.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to

their coldest settings and open only

when absolutely necessary. If you

anticipate a long departure, remove

food from your refrigerator that

might spoil when electric power 

is lost.

• Have an engineer check your home

and advise about ways to make the

structure more resistant to hurricane winds.

• If you live in a flood plain or your

home is prone to flooding, follow

the flood preparedness precautions

found on MEMA’s web site at

mema.state.md.us

• If a Hurricane Watch is announced,

make sure your gas tank is full.

• If you live in a manufactured home

(trailer), check and reinforce the tie

downs.

DURING THE HURRICANE OR

TROPICAL STORM

• Continue listening regularly to a

NOAA Weather Radio, or local radio

or television for updated information.

• Listen to the advice of local officials

and evacuate if they tell you to.

• If you are not advised to evacuate,

stay indoors and stay away from

windows, skylights and glass doors,

even if they are covered.

• Close all interior doors...secure and

brace external doors.

• Have a supply of flashlights and

extra batteries handy.

• If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce the power surge

when electrical power is restored.

• Be aware that the calm eye of the

storm is deceptive...the storm is

not over.

Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Digest: Summer, 2006 7

AFTER THE HURRICANE OR

TROPICAL STORM

• Continue monitoring local radio or

television stations.

• Watch out for fallen power lines or

broken gas lines and report them to

utility companies immediately.

• Hurricanes often knock out electricity...people who are impatient for

the return of electrical power often

purchase gasoline-powered electric

generators and operate them in

their basements and garages without proper ventilation...this puts

the occupants in danger of carbon

monoxide poisoning.These carbonmonoxide deaths and injuries are

avoidable.

• Hurricanes and their by-products

(tornadoes) often leave fallen trees

and other large debris...get training

in the use of power tools such as

chainsaws before starting the

cleanup because without proper

training,serious accidents can result.

• If the building you are in is damaged, use extreme caution when

moving through it...carefully watch

your step and;

• Wear sturdy shoes.

• Use battery-powered lanterns or

flashlights when examining

buildings.

• Examine walls, floors, doors,

staircases and windows to make 

sure the building in not in 

danger of collapsing.

• Look for fire hazards.

• Look for gas leaks.

• Look for electrical system 

damage.

• Take pictures of the damage,both of

the building and its contents for

insurance claims.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency has published the Maryland

Hurricane Preparedness Guide which is

available through its web site at

mema.state.md.us

Conference Takes on Severe Storms

Astar-studded line-up featuring wellknown hurricane forecaster MaxMayfield, director of the Tropical

Prediction Center at the National Hurricane Center, and

two high-ranking

federal officials

highlighted the

21st Annual

Severe Storms

Awareness Conference on the

campus of the

Johns Hopkins

University

Applied Physics

Laboratory. About

300 people

attended the April

18 event in the

Kassiakoff Center

on the campus

between Columbia and Laurel in

Howard County.

After being

held for several

years at the Maryland Emergency

Management

Agency’s (MEMA)

Emergency Operations Center in Reisterstown, Md. the event was moved to a new

venue to accommodate the ever-increasing

crowds.Anticipated interest in the wake of

last year’s devastating Gulf Coast storms, in

addition to this year’s stellar line-up, led

organizers to move the event.

Joining Mayfield at the conference

were R. David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA); David L. Johnson, director of the

National Weather Service; and Leon K.

Shaifer, senior Emergency Management

Assistance Compact advisor for the

National Emergency Management 

Association.

Four breakout sessions focused on lessons learned by the Maryland teams that

responded to help in the Gulf Coast,lessons

learned by those assisting Gulf Coast 

evacuees to Maryland,how Mississippi handled special needs populations during Hurricane Katrina, and lessons learned from

recent flooding events.

The conference

closed with a discussion of severe

storm forecasting

from Dave Manning of the

National Weather

Service office in

Sterling, Va. and

meteorologist

Doug Hill from

WJLA-TV, ABC-7 in

Washington. Other

speakers included

MEMA director

John W.Droneburg

III, Adjutant General for Maryland

Bruce F. Tuxill,

Governor’s Office

of Homeland Security director Dennis R. Schrader,

Maryland insurance commissioner R. Steven

Orr and Maryland

Emergency Management Association president Michael O’Connell.

MEMA also announced that it was partnering with WeatherBug, a forecasting service, to provide software to every school in

the state that would provide administrators

with real-time severe weather alerts.

Federal Emergency Management Director R. David Paulison discusses storm preparedness and

response topics during the conference. Photo by W.O.C. William Fearrington.
8 Maryland Military Department

MD GUARD /

FIRE DEP. PREPARE

FOR “BRUSH”

WITH FIRE

Story and photos by W.O.C. William

Fearrington, MDNG Public Affairs

With the 2006 hurricane season

just around the corner, the Maryland Army National Guard’s 29th

Combat Aviation Brigade isn’t waiting for

the first Atlantic storm to develop before

it begins preparing to help the citizens of

Maryland, and possibly any of the other

53 states, territories and the District of

Columbia.

One of the Brigade’s units, the 1159th

Medical Detachment (Air Ambulance),

conducted critical rescue hoist training

Apr. 13-14 at a training site near the Maryland Army National Guard’s Army Aviation

Support Facility at Aberdeen Proving

Ground, Md.

The 1159th Air Ambulance Detachment, which has six UH-60 Black Hawk Air

Ambulance rescue hoist-equipped helicopters, is one of only four National Guard

Air Ambulance units on the East Coast.

Col. Charles H. Schulze, Maryland’s state

Army aviation officer, has the unique challenge of ensuring aviation units in Maryland are afforded the opportunity to train

for wartime missions as well as for state

missions.

“The thing we’re shooting for is to

leverage capability unique to the National

Guard and link that capability to highly

trained swift water and flood rescue teams

in Maryland,” said Schulze, who has

worked full time for the Maryland Guard

in aviation since 1989.

“Linking military and civilian fire

department rescue capability carries out

the brigade commander’s (Col. Fritz W.

Kirklighter’s) intent of developing plans,

capabilities and exercising skills that may

be needed when the brigade responds to a

domestic emergency,” said Schulze.

According to National Guard officials, the

Guard is most often the first military

organization called upon to respond 

to natural disasters and other significant

incidents.

“The National Guard saved the lives of

more than 17,000 people in the wake of

Hurricane Katrina and airlifted more than

88,000 to other locations,” said Jack Harrison, a spokesperson for the National

Guard Bureau in Arlington,Va.

Schulze, who also is working to

develop and strengthen relationships with

other state agencies such as the Maryland

State Police, Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Maryland State Swiftwater and Flood Response Association,

said that partnerships with agencies like

this are especially essential during the

preparation and response phases of

domestic emergencies.

“It’s imperative that we train together

so that in a life threatening situation, the

military and civilian rescue effort can

work together resulting in an effective and

favorable outcome,” said Schulze. “It’s

important to cultivate these relationships

through the state government and the

state emergency operations center so that

we can be prepared to respond to swift

water and flood emergencies here in

Maryland – or elsewhere in the country.”

Sgt. 1st Class Donald L. Claxton, Maryland’s senior enlisted aviation trainer at

the Army Aviation Support Facility agreed.

“That kind of mission is good for us,”

said Claxton.“We owe the citizens of Maryland our services.We have the equipment

and they deserve use of it.That’s the bottom line as far as I’m concerned.”

Other than fire, floods are the most

common and widespread of natural disasters.According to officials at the Maryland

State Swiftwater and Flood Response Association, nearly 100 people die from flood

MD Army Guard Aviation

Preps for Hurricane Season 

By Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt, MDNG Public Affairs

ABC 2 Reporter Sherrie Johnson is “rescued”

during the basket training exercise. Photo by

Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt

Continued on page 10
Digest: Summer, 2006 9

Maryland Army National Guard

Soldiers of the 1159th Medical

Company (Air Ambulance) in

Edgewood, Md. and firefighters of Station 17 of the Baltimore County Fire

Department collaborated to perform fire

protection missions at the Loch Raven

Reservoir in Towson, Md., on Mar. 28.

The two organizations’ efforts as a team

will provide additional resources to protect and conserve the environment and

property from the dangers of fire.

“It’s the first time working together as

a team,” said Capt. Daniel Lemmon, D-shift

team leader for Station 17. During training

the firefighters plotted mock fire locations

with a Global Positioning System (GPS),

then relayed coordinates to the helicopter

crew, also equipped with a GPS system.

The helicopter crew then dumped or

sprayed water onto the mock fire location.

The two agencies would use this same

process during a real brush fire.“I think it’s

working great,” said Lemmon.

“Our goal is to be able to assist in firefighting,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4

Daniel B. Chapman of the 1159th. He

trains the pilots to fly the Black Hawk helicopter with the water-filled bucket and

perform emergency procedures.The crew

chiefs are in charge of dispersing the thousands of pounds of water at the right location and the right time while

communicating simultaneously with the

cockpit and the fire department members

on the ground.

“This allows us

to support state agencies and take care of

civilians,” said Chapman. The unit currently has two 600

gallon buckets for

Black Hawks or Chinook helicopters and

two 300 gallon 

buckets for Huey 

helicopters.

“We really enjoy

the training,”said Col.

Charles H. Schulze,

state army aviation

officer for the Maryland Army National Guard.“It’s important

to train because we may have to respond,”

said Schulze.“The training at Loch Raven

Reservoir helps to workout any communication or standard operating procedure

issues so we can be more effective.”

The two organizations are planning

more operations together for the future.

Baltimore County Firefighters and Maryland Guardsmen worked

hand-in-hand during the joint training operation.

A MDARNG UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter tests

its bucket over the Loch Raven Reservoir during water bucket training.

Maryland Guardsmen Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Chapman (left) and Baltimore County Firefighter Capt. Daniel

Lemmon (right) coordinate their efforts during the firefighting training exercise.
10 Maryland Military Department

MD Army Guard Aviation Preps for 

Hurricane Season

Continued from page 8

related drownings in the United States

each year.

According to Sgt.Nate L.Bieniek,a helicopter crew chief and hoist operator, this

specialized mission requirement requires a

coordinated effort from everyone involved

in the rescue mission and a lot of communication.

“The biggest thing for us in the back

[of the aircraft] is to make sure we don’t

slam someone back into the ground or

snag them in the trees on the way up,”said

Bieniek who must constantly scan to make

sure the pilots are not drifting and making

sure the rescue cable isn’t getting caught

on anything.

“The things we’re doing in the back

may not be apparent to an outside

observer,” said Bieniek. “I’m constantly

adjusting the slack in the cable or taking

slack out so there is a little bit of maneuver

room.”

Each rescue helicopter hoist is

equipped with 258 feet of rescue cable

which is capable of lifting nearly 

600 pounds.

“That cable is moving down at 250

feet per minute at high speed,” said Claxton,“So at the bottom you have to stop it

before you want it to stop because it takes

about 5 or 10 feet to decelerate.

“It doesn’t look complicated from outside the helicopter, but when you’re actually working that hoist control, there are

like 40 things going on at the same time,”

said Claxton.

Schulze is confident that the Maryland

Guard is ready for any situation.

“The biggest lesson for everyone is an

old lesson,” said Schulze. “In a crisis you

only rise to the level of your training.”

A real life rescue hoist mission is high risk

according to Claxon, but the members of

the 1159th Air Ambulance Detachment are

ready to assist the citizens of Maryland and

elsewhere in the country whenever they

are called.

“We’ve got the equipment, we’ve got

the people, and we’ve got the resources.

Let’s use them,” said Claxon.

Reprinted from the April 14 edition of

“The Wire”, Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s official weekly paper. Col. James

Vandegrift, along with more than 230

Maryland Guard Soldiers, deployed to

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in February in

support of the Global War on Terror.

By Col. James Vandegrift, Maryland

Army National Guard

While news of last week’s military

commissions made headlines

around the world, what happens

behind the scenes is a story that needs to

be told.Joint Task Force (JTF) Troopers are

working diligently to ensure that the

Office of Military Commissions can conduct full, fair and open proceedings.

As the officer-in-charge of the Office

of Military Commissions, it is my job to

coordinate JTF support of the commissions. As a professional soldier who has

also had a career in civilian law enforcement, I have a unique appreciation for

the hard work, discipline and coordination that go in to supporting courtroom

proceedings. 

During commissions, the days start

early and go late. Nearly every organization within the JTF has a role in supporting the commissions process. The guard

force has the most people involved in

the effort. Security is a top priority, and

the safe, orderly movement of all of the

participants into a secure courtroom

requires close coordination and precise

timing. 

All the parties

involved – the

prosecution, the

defense, the

accused, the

courtroom staff,

members of the

press and nongovernmental

organizations in

the audience –

need to be mustered together,

moved to the

commissions

building, cleared

through security

and directed to

their seats. 

The operations staff and the Joint

Operations Center play a critical role in

coordinating these movements. Through

extensive training, drills and dress

rehearsals, JTF troopers ensured that

everyone was in place and ready to go

when it was time for “gavel down.” 

The supply and communications

staff also play a critical role. The defense,

prosecution, presiding officer and commissions staff all require office space,

telephones, computers, printers, office

supplies, vehicles, food and berthing.

Personnel staff ensure that we have the

appropriate staff on hand, and intelligence staff members coordinate the

movement of classified records needed

for the proceedings. 

News media from around the world

are invited to view and report on the

commissions. Troopers from the 305th

Press Camp Headquarters ensure that

members of the media – last week there

were 22, there have been as many as 

60 – have the support they need to do

their job. 

Through the words of reporters and

the eyes of the courtroom sketch artist,

the world gets a glimpse at what happens from gavel to gavel. Our support

may not make the news, but it is

absolutely vital to the process. 

Thank you for your tireless efforts,

your professionalism and your dedication to duty. America can be proud of the

commissions process, and you can be

proud of the work you do to make it happen. Honor Bound!

Col. James Vandegrift uncovers his unit’s colors upon arrival at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in late February. Photo by Spc. Seth Meyers, Joint Task

Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

On Duty at Gitmo
Digest: Summer, 2006 11

Army Guard Recruiting Races Ahead

Story by Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt, MDNG Public Affairs

The Maryland National Guard recruiting and retention efforts are racing

toward a fantastic finish this year

with the help of some new and innovative

recruiting and retention programs designed

to appeal to just about every Soldier.

Just one example of this high speed

innovation that is attracting new Soldiers

and Airmen to the Maryland Guard family is

the red, white and blue National Guard

NASCAR, No. 16, driven by Greg Biffle,

which recently made a trip around the

state, including a brief appearance at the

Harford Mall on Apr. 4.

“The National Guard Race Team is,

without question, showing those that may

not know it that the National Guard is a topquality organization with a unique identity

within our community,”said Lt.Col.Kevin L.

Preston, director of the Maryland Army

National Guard’s recruiting and retention

division.

“This is giving the Maryland Army

National Guard’s efforts to recruit new people and retain experienced Soldiers a significant boost,” said Preston, who is confident

that these new approaches to marketing

are the key to reaching Maryland’s year-end

recruiting goals.

The Guard NASCAR, which is seen regularly every Sunday afternoon by the second largest sports television audience in

the land, next to the National

Football League, finished second in the 2005 Nextel Cup

points battle last year and has

its sights set even higher 

in 2006.

Pvt. Aaron Garrison, a

Maryland Army Guard Soldier

who accompanied the No. 16

car in Harford said he loves seeing everyone’s face light up the

minute they see the car.

“Everyone loves it,” said

Garrison. “I get to answer questions about the car as well as

questions about the National

Guard.”

Sgt. 1st Class John E.

Greer, a full-time Maryland

Guard recruiter based in Edgewood, has

been trying out another innovative way to

reach potential new Maryland Guard Soldiers by setting up a mall kiosk and talking

to young potential Soldiers where they congregate with their friends.

“Friday and Saturday nights are the best

with all the kids who are here in the food

court,” said Greer, who credits the mall

kiosk with at least six new enlistments 

this year.

Also helping this year’s recruiting mission is the new Guard Recruiting and Assistance Program (G-RAP).

Currently traditional Maryland Guard

Soldiers and Airmen are eligible to voluntarily receive specialized training to help them

learn about the program and what it takes

to become a National Guard recruiting

assistant.

For each new Soldier or Airman who is

successfully enlisted into the Maryland

Guard, the recruiting assistant who helped

bring in that Soldier or Airman receives a

$2,000 cash incentive.

By year’s end, the Maryland Army

National Guard hopes to have its ranks

filled to more than 5,600 Soldiers, said Preston, who is confident that other states are

having just as much success helping bring

the overall number of Citizen-soldiers and

Airmen in the entire National Guard nearly

450,000.

For more information about the 

G-RAP program visit the website at:

guardrecruitingassistant.com 

(left to right) Maryland Guard Members Spc. Lorena Bigley,

Pvt. Aaron Garrison, and Pvt. Melanie Clark assist with the

National Guard’s NASCAR, No. 16.

The cadets of the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy assisted the National

Flag Day Foundation at the 23rd Annual

Living American Flag program at Fort

McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine on May 23. 

They escorted VIPs, briefed students upon arrival, assisted in handing

out placards used to form the Living

American Flag and provided general

support to the National Flag Day Foundation. In addition, the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Color Guard posted the

colors at the beginning of the ceremony.

More than 3,000 elementary

school students from Maryland converged upon Fort McHenry and formed

the Living American Flag. 

The day’s events concluded at

noon, and the cadets were able to relax

and enjoy their lunch before returning

to their campus on Aberdeen Proving

Ground.

ChalleNGe Cadets support Living Flag Program

Sgt. 1st Class John E. Greer, a full-time Maryland Guard recruiter based in Edgewood,

shows off the Maryland Guard’s recruiting

kiosk at the Harford Mall in Bel Air, Md.

Freestate ChalleNGe cadets present the Colors at the beginning of the National Flag Day

Foundation’s 23rd Annual Living American

Flag program at Fort McHenry National 

Monument and Historic Shrine.
12 Maryland Military Department

MD Guard Photographer Takes First Place

Congratulations to Staff Sgt. Jon Soucy,

member of the Maryland Army National

Guard’s 29th Mobile Public Affairs

Detachment (29th MPAD),for taking first place

in the 2005 Military Photographer News Category of the Visual Information Awards Program.

“Everything came together for a second,”

said Soucy thinking back to when he took the

photo.“At the time I didn’t really think much of

it,”he admitted.Soucy,29,is a full-time Intermediate Photojournalism Course instructor at

Defense Information School, Ft. Meade and has

been a member of the 29th MPAD since 1999.

The awards program is sponsored by the

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for

Public Affairs and is administered by the Commandant of the Defense Information School,

with cooperation from national and local professional organizations.

Civil Air Patrol Works Hand in Hand with Guard

By 1st Lt. Steven Solomon, Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol

Members of the Maryland Wing of

the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) assist in

state-assigned missions with the

Maryland Air and Army National Guard,

including ongoing support with the dining hall, family day, welcome home ceremonies and special functions.

“I continue to be impressed by the professionalism our volunteer members display while working side by side with our

Army and Air National Guard counterparts,”

said Capt. Joe Winter, the Maryland Wing's

director of cadet programs.“The dedication

of our members helps ease the stress of the

guard members who are deployed all

around the world.”

Winter explained that Maryland Wing

cadets especially enjoy working with the

National Guard,because it exposes them to

the military way of life.

“Our partnership with the Maryland

Military Department (MMD) has led to

numerous enlistments of our cadet members in both the Air and Army National

Guard,”Winter said.“Our cadets look up to

our hometown heroes and often report

back to us that they were motivated to join

the Guard by the experience they received

while working alongside members of the

Guard and interacting with them during

our annual Tri-Wing Cadet Encampment.

Our partnership with the MMD should

serve as a benchmark for CAP Wing and

state guards throughout the country.”

There are more than 1,300

members in the Maryland Wing,

divided almost evenly between

adults and teenagers. These members make-up the 20 CAP

squadrons located throughout the

state.Activities offered to cadets in

Maryland include a glider academy,

solo pilot school, an annual

encampment, band and color

guard.

Cadet and senior members of

the Maryland Wing stand ready

year-round to assist.

“Our senior and cadet members proudly volunteer countless

hours to support our Air and Army

National Guard members and they

continue to stand ready for additional tasking while at the same

time performing our numerous state,region

and national missions tasked to us as CAP

members in the Maryland Wing,”

Winter said.

The Civil Air Patrol, official auxiliary of

the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 57,000 members

nationwide. CAP volunteers perform 95

percent of continental U.S. inland search

and rescue missions as tasked by the Air

Force Rescue Coordination Center and also

perform homeland security, disaster relief

and counterdrug missions at the request of

federal, state and local agencies.

Last fiscal year Maryland Wing senior

members conducted 34 search and rescue

missions as assigned by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley Air

Force Base,Va.,receiving credit for 23 finds.

Within Maryland, senior members also

patrol the bay for distressed boaters, monitor Bay Bridge traffic and assist the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with

tracking wildlife.

More information about the Maryland

Wing of CAP is available by visiting the

Maryland Wing web site at mdcap.org

After the Flood - Soucy’s Winning Photo

Taking a break from sorting through the damage left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,

Stacey Besselman stands on the front porch of her Jackson Barracks home, Saturday,

October 1, 2005.

Maryland Civil Air Patrol cadets board a Maryland

Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter for an orientation flight during a Civil Air Patrol Tri-Wing

Encampment.
Digest: Summer, 2006 13

Historical Society is Driving Force 

Behind Preservation

By 2nd Lt. Wayde R. Minami, MDNG Joint Force Headquarters Historian

Poised atop a scissors-lift extended 15

feet into the air, Albert Schweitzer

and Joseph Gutierrez used a mixture

of careful planning and even more carefully applied muscle to free a 200-pound

glass case – and the irreplaceable regimental flag mounted inside it – from the wall

bracket that had held it for nearly half a

century.

Although the two retired Maryland

Army National Guard officers are both

civilian employees at the Fifth Regiment

Armory, that wasn’t what brought them

in to the armory on this particular Saturday in April.

Schweitzer and Gutierrez, along

with a half-dozen other volunteers gathered by the Maryland Military Historical

Society, were on hand because they saw

a critical situation that needed to be

addressed.

The society, which traces its origins

to the Maryland National Guard Memorial Library Committee established in

1973, has long been a driving force

behind preserving the history of Maryland’s men and women in uniform.

Incorporated as a non-profit entity in

1982, it was the historical society that

established the museum located in the

Fifth Regiment Armory.

The society now works in partnership with the Maryland Center for Military History, which has taken over

stewardship of the museum and is operated by the Maryland National Guard

Joint Forces Headquarters Historical Services Office.

“The purpose [of the society] has

been to promote the Maryland military

legacy throughout the state,” said Brig.

Gen. (Md.) I. John Vaccarino, president

of the Maryland Military Historical Society. “The society is devoted to working

with the State of Maryland, with the Military Department, and with the Center

for Military History to further the recognition of the efforts and the exploits of

Maryland militia through the years.”

Through its board of directors, the

society has traditionally sought to tap the

expertise of community leaders, experts

in historic preservation and Military

Department officials with a passion for

history.

The society recently created several

categories of general membership, with

annual dues starting at $25. Higher levels of membership are available for those

who want to make a greater contribution. The society plans to use monies

raised from its members to support

future preservation efforts.

One example Vaccarino cited was

the cost associated with preserving the

historic flags in the Maryland National

Guard collection. 

A 2001 survey of the flag collection

put the cost of conservation at more than

$330,000, not including the cost of storage cases. A $50,000 grant provided the

initial capital to begin tackling the project, but fell well short of the amount

needed.

“The cases themselves cost us in

excess of $30,000,” Vaccarino said. “The

project is on-going.”

For Gutierrez, being directly

involved with preserving history was as

much love as it was labor.

“I just find it fascinating and the people are great to work around,” he said.

Gutierrez said that the best part was

“being up there and looking at the flags

close up – I’ve always seen them from

the floor, but I’ve never been that close

to them – and seeing the different colors

that are on them that you really don’t get

from the floor.”

Applications for Maryland Historical

Society Membership can be obtained at

the JFHQ Historical Services Office,

room D-9, Fifth Regiment Armory.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Pyle (right) and 2nd Lt.

Wayde Minami prepare a flag for storage.

THE LECTERN

This segment by Chap. (Col.) William S. Lee, JFHQ State Chaplain

Three strands of rope woven

together are many times stronger

than three separate strands. So it

is with the joint chaplain force of the

Maryland Military Department. Chaplains and chaplain assistants of the

Maryland Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, and Maryland

Defense Force combine to offer a ready

force providing seamless religious coverage and spiritual support in the event

of a terrorist act, natural disaster, civil

disturbance, or other threat that calls

for our response in support of a State

or Homeland Defense/Homeland 

Security mission.

Woven together with a common

call to support the free exercise of religion rights for every Maryland Guard

member, common training in crisis

response, interoperability for State missions, and family support, and a common commitment to serve God, Guard

and country our chaplains and chaplain

assistants are a strong team spiritually

ready to bring Guardsmen to God and

God to Guardsmen in any situation.

From Katrina response to the conduct of Marriage Enrichment Weekends

for Guard couples our joint chaplain

and chaplain assistant team promote

spiritual fitness and readiness for Airmen, Soldiers and families.

We have openings for clergy who

feel the desire to serve in the spiritual

support and defense of State and

Nation; just contact me, Chap. (Col.)

William Sean Lee, the Joint Force Headquarters chaplain for information at

410-576-6124. 

If you qualify you can be part of the

team that keeps the Guard's spirit

strong in war and peace!
14 Maryland Military Department

Maryland

Defense Force

Legislation

Passed

The Maryland General Assembly

passed House Bill 292 proposed by

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. as part

of his 2006 legislative package. The legislation provides employment protection for members of the Maryland

Defense Force (MDDF) whose members are volunteers, and may be called

into State Active Service by the Governor in response to a natural or manmade disaster. There previously was no

such employment protection for members of the MDDF.

The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita saw the first ever deployment of MDDF personnel outside of

the State of Maryland as part of Operation Lifeline. Medical teams from the

MDDF organized and operated six

medical clinics in Jefferson Parrish, La.

The teams consisted of physicians,

nurses, pharmacists and other health

care professionals and provided firstrate care to the victims of the disaster.

Before their tour of duty ended, the

teams saw and treated almost 7,000

patients.

House Bill 1005 also was passed by

the General Assembly and provides

Workman’s Compensation protection

for members of the MDDF.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Destination:

Bosnia

The 175th Medical Group, Maryland Air National Guard is conducting

its annual training with a humanitarian

mission focus to Bosnia in July. Over a

period of about 30 days (divided in two

2-week deployments) Guard members

assisted by volunteer civilian Maryland

medical personnel will visit numerous

towns to administer medical, dental

and optometry treatment to Serbs,

Bosnians and Croatians.

“People in some of these remote

villages have never received medical

treatment, have never seen a physician,

dentist or eye doctor,” said Lt. Col. 

Barbara Lee, health services administrator. “The people there are strong, 

they are survivors, but could still 

use some medical attention.”

The medical personnel hope to

treat patients as well as educate the

people on disease prevention.

Deploying Guard personnel come

from the medical group, security

forces, services and public affairs. The

Maryland Defense Force assisted in

recruiting civilian medical personnel,

who will accompany the Guard personnel to provide specialized medical care.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Purple Heart

Hall of Honor

The National Purple Heart Hall of

Honor is currently under construction

in New York's Hudson River Valley at

the New Windsor Cantonment State

Historic Site. Its mission is to collect

and preserve the stories of Purple Heart

recipients from all branches of service

and across the generations in an

attempt to ensure that all recipients are

represented. Their stories will be preserved and shared through exhibits,

live and videotaped interviews with the

veterans themselves, and the Roll of

Honor, an interactive computer program preserving the stories of each

individual. The National Purple Heart

Hall of Honor is the first in the nation

to recognize the more than 800,000

Americans wounded or killed in action

while serving in the United States 

Military.

The Hall is scheduled to open

Nov.11, 2006. Any servicemember who

has earned a Purple Heart shall be

afforded a place in the Hall. They simply need to send a copy of their DD 214

to the address below:

The National Purple Heart 

Hall of Honor

P.O. Box 207

Vails Gate, NY 12584

For more information contact

Michael J. Clark, project coordinator,

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at

telephone 845-561-1765, or e-mail

michael.clark@oprhp.state.ny.us

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

DD-214 Online

Access for Vets

The National Personnel Records

Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain 

access to their DD-214s online:

vetrecs.archives.gov. This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a

copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes.

NPRC is working to make it easier

for veterans with computers and internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military

veterans and the next of kin of

deceased former military members 

may now use a new online military personnel records system to request 

documents.

Other individuals with a need for

documents must still complete the

Standard Form 180, which can be

downloaded from the online web site.

Because the requester will be asked to

supply all information essential for

NPRC to process the request, delays

that normally occur when NPRC has to

ask veterans for additional information

will be minimized.

The new web-based application

was designed to provide better service

on these requests by eliminating 

the record center's mailroom processing time.

IN BRIEF
Digest: Summer, 2006 15

New Nonprofit

Helps Children of

Those Deployed

When an Air Force officer was asked

what he needed in Iraq, he said, “Please

don’t send cookies, care packages or

socks. Just help take care of our 

children.”

A new nonprofit organization is dedicated to doing just that. Our Military

Kids has been formed to provide support

and recognition to the families of

National Guard and Reserves by providing the financial resources to enable

these children to participate in youth

sports, fine arts and tutoring programs

during the period of their parent’s

deployment.

“Although the government makes

significant resources available to children of active duty military personnel

at military installations, more than 60

percent of reserve families live more

than 25 miles from the nearest post

making these resources inaccessible to

these children”, explains organization

co-founder Linda Davidson. “Our Military Kids was created to make certain

that all children of military families get

the support they urgently need while

coping with the absence of a parent

who is away serving our country.”

Eligible families are encouraged to

apply for funding by filling out an application available on the Our Military

Kids web site or obtained from the

national office. Corporations, foundations and individual donors are being

sought to support this effort with taxdeductible donations. Recently, 

the Boeing Company signed on as a

sponsor. 

Our Military Kids is a 501(c) (3)

organization dedicated to making a

positive difference in the lives of

Reserve and National Guard military

children across the country. For more

information or to make a donation,

please go to ourmilitarykids.org or call

703-734-6654. Our Military Kids is

located at 6861 Elm Street, Suite 3F,

McLean, Va. 22101.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

2006 Military

Gala a Success

The 2006 Military Gala took place

in March. Five hundred and thirty people attended the Gala, which is an

increase from the Gala in 2005. The

National Guard Association of Maryland

(NGAM) has sponsored the event since

2004 and is already planning for 2007. 

NGAM is a professional military

association formed in 1981 to represent active and retired officers of the

Maryland National Guard. It tracks

state and federal legislation of interest

to members. The organization provides scholarship opportunities to

members of the Maryland National

Guard and their immediate families. In

addition NGAM offers important life

insurance programs to active members

of the Maryland National Guard.

For more information visit their

website at ngam.net

Partners in Care

Additions

The following congregations have

signed-on with the Joint Forces Headquarters Chaplain’s Office Partners in

Care Program:

Brooklyn Church of God

3800 9th St.

Brooklyn, Md. 21225

Rev. Billy Humphrey

(POC) Ms. Lorraine “Sissy” Young

410-355-6707

lorri123@hotmail.com

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

109 Duke of Gloucester St.

Annapolis, Md. 21401

Fr. John C. Kingsbury

stmaryschurch.org

(POC) Mark Maselli

410-496-3806

Grace United Methodist Church

4618 Black Rock Rd.

Upperco, Md. 2115

Rev. Jackson Day

(POC) Rev. Jackson Day

410-303-8213

jacksonday@comcast.net

gbgm-umc.org/grace-hampstead

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Common Access

Card (CAC)

Implementation

The MDARNG is implementing CAC

as the primary means to gain access to

the Wide Area Network based on DoD

Guidance. The primary reason is to

improve security of the DoD Global

Information Grid. Users are known to

share passwords, but will not give their

CAC and PIN. CAC will improve security as well as allow digital signatures.

Bottom line, once fully deployed, CAC

will secure our networks ensuring our

enemies don't exploit our information

systems.

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and Maj. Gen.

Bruce F. Tuxill, adjutant general for Maryland, take time out for a photo with several

2006 Gala attendees. Photo courtesy of Governor’s Office
Soldiers Dedicate Battalion 

Area, Honor Fallen Comrades

Story and photo by Sgt. Crystal Rothermel, 377th Theater Support 

Command (Fwd.) Public Affairs

They made the ultimate sacrifice

only months ago but comrades of

the fallen gathered here Apr. 21 in

a dedication ceremony, vowing never to

forget.

The Soldiers of the 243rd Engineer

Company, Maryland Army National Guard,

together with their higher headquarters,

the 180th Transportation Battalion, dedicated the battalion’s motor pool area in

the names of Sgt. Brian Conner, Sgt.

Michael McMullen, Cpl. Bernard Ceo, and

Cpl. Samuel Boswell, who died conducting

convoy operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We know that each of these Soldiers was a shining light in their own

way,” said Capt. Eric Swanson, commander of the 243rd. “This is for them.”

“Many of you were there when

these Soldiers were killed,” said Brig.

Gen. Charles Barr, commanding general

of the 143rd Transportation Command.

“Many of you are their friends. That is

the key, to not forget.”

The plaque will remain until the

243rd completes its mission transporting supplies throughout Kuwait and

Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and returns to Maryland.

“We all give our complete and utter

regards to their families,” said Pvt.

David Perez, friend of the fallen. “They

will never be forgotten.”

Fifth Regiment Armory

Baltimore, MD 21201-2288

The Maryland Military Department

Digest is published quarterly by the

Maryland Military Department via the

Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

Office, 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore,

Md. 21201-2288. Articles or suggestions

can be forwarded to the editor at

rick.roth@us.army.mil or call us at 

410-576-6012.

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Michael S. Steele

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

The Adjutant General

Rick Roth

Editor

Numbers You Need

Maryland National Guard Family 

Readiness Office

410-576-6019

Department of Information 

Management Help Desk

410-702-9600

Maryland National Guard 

Chaplain’s Office

410-576-6124

Red Cross 

Central Maryland Chapter, Baltimore

1-888-737-4306

Southern Maryland Chapter, La Plata

301-934-2066

Lower Shore Chapter, Salisbury

410-749-5331

Frederick County Chapter, Walkersville

301-662-5131

Maryland Poison Control 

1-800-222-1222

Websites

Maryland Government Website

www.maryland.gov

Maryland Military Department

Website

www.mdmildep.org

Maryland Emergency 

Management Agency

www.mema.state.md.us

Maryland State Employee 

Central Payroll Bureau

www.compnet.comp.state.md.us/cpb

Maryland Military DepartmentDigest

Sgt. 1st Class David Davis, 243rd Engineer

Company, and Capt. Eric Swanson, company

commander, unveil the motor pool dedication sign during a recent ceremony honoring

Maryland National Guardsmen: Sgt. Brian

Conner, Sgt. Michael McMullen, Cpl. Bernard

Ceo, and Cpl. Samuel Boswell.