2ND SQUAD ANSWERS CALL TO DUTY.Byline: Mark Baker The Register-Guard CORRECTION (ran 10/30/03): A story on page A1 Thursday about the deployment of the Oregon National Guard to Fort Hood Fort Hood, U.S. army post, 209,000 acres (84,580 hectares), central Tex., near Killeen; est. 1942 on the site of old Fort Gates and named for Confederate Gen. John Hood. It is one of the army's largest installations and a major employer of the area. , Texas, contained incorrect information. Pfc. Grant Steward's back rent was waived by the owner of his Springfield apartment complex after Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken made a call to Emerald Property Management. EDITOR'S NOTE Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : This is the first in an occasional series about the nine men who make up a squad in the Oregon National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry. They are beginning an 18-month mission - first training in Fort Hood, Texas, and eventually in Iraq. They range in age from 19 to 39. Some have been part of military operations This is a list of missions, operations, and projects. Missions in support of other missions are not listed independently. World War I ''See also List of military engagements of World War I
They are the nine men of Charlie Company's 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon within the Oregon National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry. They met for the first time earlier this month, their squad formed as part of the 700-member battalion's 18-month deployment that includes a one-year tour in Iraq. Today, they fly out of Eugene Airport Eugene Airport (IATA: EUG, ICAO: KEUG), also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, is a public airport located 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Eugene, in Lane County, Oregon. to Fort Hood, Texas, where they will undergo months of infantry training before heading for Iraq in the spring. They will live together. Eat together. Train together. And, if they have to, they will fight together. They are part of the longest and largest military call-up of Oregon soldiers since World War II. They'll get to come home for Christmas, and then it's right back to Fort Hood. On Christmas 2004, they will still be in Iraq, helping to rebuild schools and bridges, patrolling streets and training police forces in their mission to rebuild Iraq. The men of 2nd Squad, just like everyone in the Oregon National Guard, signed up for this. No one is making them go, but many joined the Guard before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Before George W. Bush became president. Before talk of weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or . Before bombs fell on Baghdad and statues of Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. came tumbling down. But all say they are gung-ho about going. "I'm pretty motivated to go," said Cpl. Don Caspers, 28, a federal corrections officer The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. from Dallas, Ore., and a member of 2nd Squad. "It's the experience of a lifetime. This is an opportunity to do what we've been trained to do since Day One." Caspers will leave behind his wife, Natalie, and a baby girl, Emma, born just 11 weeks ago. "I support him, I have to support him - but I'm not happy about it, " Natalie said Wednesday, standing in the Guard's Eugene armory on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just a couple of hours after the men of the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry - with companies in Eugene, Corvallis, Newport and Coos Bay Coos Bay (k  s), city (1990 pop. 15,076), Coos co., SW Oreg., a port of entry on Coos Bay; founded 1854 as Marshfield, inc. 1874, renamed 1944. - were honored in a
ceremony attended by Gov. Ted Kulongoski Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski (born November 5 1940, in rural Missouri[1]) is an American Democratic politician. Since 2003, he has served as the Governor of Oregon. He was re-elected in 2006. at the Lane County Fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. .
Into the danger zone More American soldiers have now been killed by hostile fire In insurance law, a combustion that cannot be controlled, that escapes from where it was initially set and confined, or one that was not intended to exist. A hostile fire differs from a friendly fire, which burns in a place where it was intended to burn, such as one confined in Iraq since President Bush declared an end to active combat on May 1 than were killed during the war that began on March 20, The Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. reported Wednesday. The numbers, however, do not deter Sgt. Chris Wideman, 28, of Redmond. "It's always what I've wanted to do," Wideman said last week, as he puffed on a cigarette outside the armory. "I've wanted to be a soldier as far back as I can remember. There's just a lot of pride in it." Wideman's oldest child, 12-year-old Krystal, had other thoughts. "It stinks," she said of her father's deployment. But she understands why he's going. In fact, she's doing a report on Iraq for her seventh-grade class project "Countries of the World," to learn more about the faraway far·a·way adj. 1. Very distant; remote. 2. Abstracted; dreamy: a faraway look. faraway Adjective 1. very distant 2. place. Sgt. Corey Minnick, a 1987 graduate of Sheldon High School Sheldon High School may refer to:
Still, Minnick is confident. "I feel great," he said of his squad. "They're all well-trained, and they're going to get even more training." Minnick's son, 13-year-old Garrett, is trying to be strong for dad, too. "I'm OK with it," Garrett said. "I know why he's going there, to help the Iraqis and try and help the civilians live in peace." Sgt. Minnick's wife, Dena, said she is fine - for now. "I can handle two months, but then the tough stuff will start," she said, referring to not seeing her husband for 16 months when he heads back to Fort Hood in January after a brief Christmas break. "Pretty darn crazy" Pvt. Grant Steward, 24, of Springfield is leaving behind his wife, Esprit, and three children, including 1-month-old Hailey, who was born last month with a constricted con·strict v. con·strict·ed, con·strict·ing, con·stricts v.tr. 1. To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing. 2. To squeeze or compress. 3. aorta. After treatment at Portland's Doernbecher Children's Hospital Doernbecher Children's Hospital is a children's hospital located in Portland, Oregon, and associated with Oregon Health & Science University. The first full-service children's hospital in the Pacific Northwest, Doernbecher provides full-spectrum pediatric care. , she's back home and doing well, Steward said last week. But the private was dealing with another dilemma. Medical bills had left him unable to pay his rent for a couple of months, and his landlord was threatening to evict the family. With help from the Guard's Family Support Program, Pvt. Steward's rent was paid, said 2nd Lt. Kevin Ressel, a Guard spokesman. Steward spent hours last week pleading for help from Guard commanders. Meanwhile, Cpl. James Davis James Davis is the name of several people:
"Hurry up and wait - that's the Army's motto," Davis joked. Davis, of La Pine, leaves behind a wife, Betsy, and two small children, Tyler, 4, and Kasi, 2. Three of his comrades in 2nd Squad, however, are single, although Pvt. Brian Connerly of Portland hopes to marry his fiancee during the battalion's Christmas break. Sgt. Luis Cortez-Sanchez of Portland, the oldest member of the squad, is also single and found himself mostly alone Wednesday as wives and children hugged other squad members. His parents live in Mexico, where he was born. "In some ways, it's sad," Cortez-Sanchez said. "I was just walking around with nobody to talk to." Pvt. John Montgomery John Montgomery may refer to:
He didn't seem to mind, however. "I'm ready I'm Ready is the double platinum second release from R&B singer Tevin Campbell. I'm Ready yielded the biggest R&B hit of his career the #1 R&B smash "Can We Talk", and produce 3 more successful hits in "I'm Ready", "Always In My Heart" and "Don't Say Goodbye Girl". to go," he said. "Just get this hurry-up-and-wait stuff out of the way." Chad Bailor One who places control over or possession of Personal Property in the hands of another, a bailee, for its care, safekeeping, or use, in accordance to the terms of a mutual agreement. Cross-references Bailment. bailor n. , 29, of Harrisburg, a specialist in the squad, joined the Oregon National Guard in 1999. He had no idea then that it would entail what he faces today. He joined to help his family pay the bills. Last week, he sat with his wife, Sarah, and his three boys and reflected on his first deployment as an active-duty soldier. "I knew the potential for that kind of stuff was there," said Bailor, a service technician at Country Coach. "I didn't," Sarah Bailor said. "I'm a little tense. This is his first deployment, and it's a long time. It seems a little sad that he'll miss so much time with the boys." Douglas Bailor is 11, Emmett, 5, and Caleb, 3. "Sarah's my best friend," said Chad Bailor, tearing up. "And he'll be in school by the time I get home," he said of Emmett. "That's a little depressing." Asked what he thought of his father going to Iraq for a year, Emmett said: "Pretty darn crazy, I think." SGT. COREY MINNICK Age: 34 Hometown: Junction City, 1987 graduate of Sheldon High School Occupation: Production department leader at Lanz Cabinet Shop in Eugene Family: Wife, Dena; children, Garrett, 13, Erica, 10 Why he joined the Guard: "My whole family was military." Minnick joined the Oregon National Guard in 1988 and has previously been deployed for active-duty assignments in Kuwait, Japan, Germany and Panama. His great-grandfather fought in World War I, his grandfather in World War II and an uncle in Vietnam. He is the leader of 2nd Platoon, 2nd Squad of Eugene-based Charlie Company. SGT. LUIS CORTEZ-SANCHEZ Age: 39 Hometown: Portland Occupation: Asphalt density technician Family: Single Why he joined the Guard: "Growing up in a border town, I always wanted to be in the American Army. I love this country so much." Cortez-Sanchez grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, and used to watch with fascination the U.S. soldiers who patrolled the border between Tijuana and San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . He joined the Army in 1992 and spent five years on active duty. He has previously been deployed to Korea and Germany and is 2nd Squad's second-in-command. SGT. CHRIS WIDEMAN Age: 28 Hometown: Redmond Occupation: Tree trimmer trimmer see resco nail trimmer, toenail scissors. Family: Wife, Kathy; children, Krystal, 12, Samantha, 11, Sierra, 10, Cody, 5 Why he joined the Guard: "I just needed something to help me out and keep me out of trouble. And I've wanted to be a soldier as far back as I can remember. There's just a lot of pride in it. You get that hero mentality. You put on that uniform, you just get a lot of respect. It makes you feel like you're part of something." CPL. DON CASPERS Age: 28 Hometown: Dallas, Ore. Occupation: Federal corrections officer Family: Wife, Natalie; daughter, Emma, 11 weeks Why he joined the Guard: "I wanted to be part of the military and give something back to my community at the same time." PVT. BRIAN CONNERLY Age: 34 Hometown: Portland Occupation: Valet for auto dealer service department Family: Single Why he joined the Guard: The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "I wanted to do something about it and fulfill my obligation to my country." CPL. JAMES DAVIS Age: 27 Hometown: La Pine Occupation: Painter at Beaver Motor Coaches in Bend Family: Wife, Betsy; children, Tyler, 4, Kasi, 2 Why he joined the Guard: "I just always wanted to do it, to serve my country and see the world." PVT. JOHN MONTGOMERY Age: 19 Hometown: Redmond Occupation: Installs air conditioners for Mountain View Heating and Cooling in Bend Family: Single Why he joined the Guard: "Just the whole G.I. Joe G.I. Joe any American soldier. [Am. Military Slang: Misc.] See : Soldiering thing," said Montgomery, who played with the toy soldiers as a child. "I like the Army. I like the structure. I like the organization. And I can get set up for education." He plans to attend Oregon State University Oregon State University, at Corvallis; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1858 as Corvallis College, opened 1865. In 1868 it was designated Oregon's land-grant agricultural college and was taken over completely by the state in 1885. after his deployment to Iraq. PVT. GRANT STEWARD Age: 24 Hometown: Springfield Occupation: Installs flooring for Monaco Coach in Coburg Family: Wife, Esprit; children, Dakota, 3, Molly, 1, Hailey, 1 month Why he joined the Guard: Joined the Army in 1998 after graduating from Roseburg High School Roseburg High School is the only high school in Roseburg, Oregon, United States. Shooting incident At 7:45 a.m. on February 23 2006, 14-year-old freshman Vincent Wayne Leodoro shot and wounded a fellow student, 16-year-old sophomore Joseph Monti, using a 10mm pistol. . Spent 2 1/2 years on active duty and rejoined as a reserve in the National Guard in February. "I really missed the military. It's something that really grows on you." SPC 1. (business) SPC - Statistical Process Control. Something to do with quality management. 2. (body) SPC - Software Productivity Centre. 3. (company) SPC - Software Publishing Corporation. 4. . CHAD BAILOR Age: 29 Hometown: Harrisburg Occupation: Service technician at Country Coach in Junction City Family: Wife, Sarah; children, Douglas, 11, Emmett, 5, Caleb, 3 Why he joined the Guard: "I like the atmosphere. It suits my personality well. Everything is set out and lined up for you. I can go to my regular job and work my ass off and just be another Joe. I work my ass off here, and I move up." |
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