44th Medical Command

Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory

APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 15, 2008

The 128th Med Co (GA) Participates in National Guard 

Birthday Celebrations

44th Medical Command PAO

CAMP Liberty, Iraq, December 15, 2008 — Members of the 128th Medical Company 

(Ground Ambulance) were privileged to be a part of the 372nd Birthday Celebration for 

the National Guard. The festivities started on 

13 December 2008 at Al-Faw Palace in Camp 

Victory, Baghdad, Iraq with a ceremony 

honoring the National Guard’s long and 

illustrious history. Representatives of many of 

the National Guard units currently serving in 

support of Operation Iraqi Freedom were in 

attendance. The ceremony started with an 

invocation by CPT (CH) Sastic, MSARNG, 

and was followed by the history of the 

National Guard. After the MND-B band 

played the National Anthem, COL Sheridan 

(NYARNG) and MG Cannon (MIARNG) 

spoke. MG Cannon had the honor of cutting

the birthday cake and presenting pieces to the oldest and youngest members of the 

National Guard in theater. PFC Tucker of the 128th Medical Company (GA), Alabama 

Army National Guard, was selected to cut the cake as the youngest National Guard 

Soldier in theater. MG Cannon had the pleasure of reading the oath of reenlistment to 

over 200 National Guard Soldiers before the ceremony closed with remarks by COL 

Fountain (OKARNG). 

The festivities did not end with the reenlistments and cake. We were given the 

opportunity to burn off the calories from the cake the very next morning with a 3.72 mile 

Fun Run. Several hundred people from all branches of the military turned-out to celebrate 

the National Guard’s Birthday with sweat and free t-shirts. The first 400 people to 

register for the run received a commemorative tan long-sleeve t-shirt with the National 

Guard logo on the back. The 128th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) provided 
medical support for the event and had five 

people participating. 1LT LaVorgna led the 

128th pack by placing 19th overall in the run. 

2LT Foster and CPT Fike were competing with 

each other to see who could catch 1LT 

LaVorgna. 2LT Entrekin and SSG Schwan ran 

their hearts out to catch up to CPT Fike and 

2LT Foster. 

The medics assigned to provide support 

to the event had an enjoyable time as well. 

SGT Stamps and SPC Street were assigned to 

wait for the runners to pass mile 1.5 and then 

follow the last in the ambulance to provide 

medical care if necessary. 

They stood on the road cheering on the runners and took pictures of the 128th people as 

they ran by. MSG Sanders, SGT Grimes and SPC Barrow were stationed at the start and 

finish lines to provide medical services as necessary. They too cheered on the runners as 

they started and completed the race as well as photographing the 128th people as they 

finished. They were recognized by the coordinators of the event with one of the tan shirts 

as thanks for their support. We at the 128th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) out 

of Ashland, Alabama were excited and honored to participate in the celebration of the 

National Guard’s 372nd birthday, and we are all proud to call ourselves members of the 

Army National Guard.

Back (L-R): 1LT LaVorgna, SSG Schwan, 2LT 

Entrkein, CPT Fike, 2LT Foster, SPC Barrow

Front (L-R): SPC Street, SGT Grimes, SPC Hood, SGT

Stamps