Published: December 04, 2008 08:52 pm      

Governor salutes soldiers

BRUSHFORK — A grateful community poured its collective heart out to the 500 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron and the 230th Forward Support Squadron during a deployment ceremony Thursday evening at the National Guard Armory in Brushfork.

Command Sgt. Major James Allen led the soldiers in reciting the Soldier’s Creed, “I am an American Soldier,” their commander Lt. Col. Robby Scarberry told the soldiers: “We stand here together as a team,” and added that the 150th/230th soldiers are “the cream of the crop,” of the state. Major General John E. Barnette said that “many thoughts and prayers and hearts are with you;” while State Adjutant General Major General Allen E. Tackett brought the crowd of more than 1,000 people to its feet when he asked them to stand and show what the soldiers mean to them.

“There’s no such a thing as a good time to deploy,” Tackett said following a loud round of applause and shouts of support. “Especially at this time of year.” Tackett told the soldiers how proud he was of them. “I love my Guard family,” he said. “We are going to take care of your families. You take care of the job at hand ... to preserve American freedom.”

Gov. Joe Manchin was obviously moved as he looked out on the assembled soldiers. He expressed his appreciation, pledged the help keep them safe during their deployment and to help their families. “I can say to all of you, God’s speed,” he said.

After the formal ceremony, Manchin, Tackett, Barnette and the other dignitaries on the dais walked through the ranks of the soldiers, shook hands and thanked each soldier as the 249th Army Band under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer Tom Goff played the “Colonel Bogey March” used as the theme for the movie, “Bridge On The River Kwai.”

“I’m just so proud of all of these soldiers,” Manchin said after the assembly was dismissed. “Going through those ranks, looking them in the eyes and shaking their hands meant so much to me. This year, 2009, we will have almost 2,000 men over there. I am moved by the courage of each and every soldier.”

Della Houck said word of the activation came quickly for her son, Captain Mark Houck. “They were just there,” Della Houck said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking. When Mark and his wife, Angela, told their daughter, Mia, 3, she said: ‘Daddy has to go protect us. We’ll be crying for a whole year.’ All of these soldiers have already given so much.”

Captain Houck was impaled on a tree when he was transporting fuel to a Northfork Hollow home during a two-foot snow storm in February of 1998. He survived that injury and joined the other soldiers of the 150th/230th, who served in Iraq in 2005. They will return in April 2009.

Joe Cumblidge, state captain of the Patriot Guard said the convoy of troops will begin leaving the armory at about 8 a.m., this morning, travel Route 123 to U.S. Route 460 in Green Valley, and stay on Route 460 all the way to Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Va.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com