Coming home was the ultimate reward for a job well done, for all but one Alpha Company soldier, following their year-long service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Fallen soldier Dusty Carroll was commemorated Sunday afternoon, April 9, 2006, in a touching tribute during a "Defenders of Freedom" awards ceremony honoring the soldiers and families of Company A, 230th Engineer Battalion. The soldiers returned to a joyous reunion just before Christmas last year after leaving for Iraq on January 10. They were initially deployed in November 2004 to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. The ceremony was held at the McKenzie High School auditorium.

Tennessee Adjutant General Gus Hargett (left) confers upon Alpha Company commander, Capt. John Leonard, the Bronze Star Medal.

Adjutant General of Tennessee, Major General Gus L. Hargett, Jr, spoke in appreciation of the troops. Other high-ranking military officials in attendance were Command Sgt. Major Roy Williams; Deputy Adjutant General, Brigadier General Jimmy Welch; Brig. Gen. J.W. Noles; Colonel Robert Harris of the 194th Engineer Brigade; Command Sgt. Maj. Ron Jones of the 194th, Lt. Col. Joe Lane, commander of the 230th Engineer Battalion; Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Hudson of the 230th; and retired National Guard Brig. Gen. Charles "Gopher" Argo.

Other dignitaries present for the event were Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride, state Representative Mark Maddox, state Senator Don McLeary, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley, former VFW Commander Tracy Smith, and Family Readiness Group representative/retired First Sergeant Randy McCadams.

Prayer framed the service as Sgt. James D. Hamilton Jr. offered the invocation and benediction following the posting of the colors and an instrumental rendition of the national anthem.

Hargett prefaced his remarks with Governor Phil Bredesen's congratulations for a "job well done."

Tennessee Adjutant General Gus Hargett (left) bestows upon First Sergeant Johnny Walker the Bronze Star Medal. Tennessee Adjutant General Gus Hargett affixes the bronze star Medal to the uniform of Sgt. 1st Class David Jarrett.

Noting the governor had recently visited Tennessee soldiers in Iraq, Hargett said, "He said he had a far better appreciation for the job you did and the way you lived than he did a month ago."

Hargett praised the soldiers’ families as well, saying, "You have sacrificed much and more than most." He also lauded employers, community leaders, and elected officials, saying, "We simply cannot do and accomplish what our warriors do for this nation without you."

Among many accolades paid Alpha Company soldiers as Hargett acknowledged their wartime and peacetime contributions, he declared, "Everything that is right about our country and our way of life is the citizen soldier, who is willing to put his life on hold (to serve his country) . . . thank you for a job well done."

Soldiers receiving special honors at the service included three recipients of the Bronze Star Medal: Sgt. 1st Class David Jarrett, platoon sergeant; Capt. John A. Leonard, commander of the McKenzie unit; and 1st Sgt. Johnny Walker. Hargett personally pinned the decorations upon the uniforms of the soldiers, who also received written documents commemorating the award, encased in a padded display folder.

Other soldiers personally commended by Hargett included those who actively engaged the enemy in combat. Receiving the Combat Action Badge were: Spec. Brian Buttrey, Sgt. 1st Class David Jarrett, Spec. Robert Lovell, Spec. Kent Ozment, Sgt. Josh Pardue, and Staff Sgt. Tony Stafford.
 

McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester accepts from Alpha Co. Commander John Leonard and First Sgt. Johnny Walker  the flag mosaic recognizing the support provided during the unit's deployment. Capt. Leonard and 1st Sgt. Walker present to former guardsmen and recent Family Readiness Group liaison Randy McCadams the minuteman statue.

Former First Sgt. McCadams accepted, among rousing applause, the minuteman statue in recognition of his service as an outstanding center of influence during the unit's deployment.

Winchester later said, "I was really honored that they would present the flag mosaic to the city; those guys did all the work and we were just trying to support them in any way we could. I really appreciate the sacrifices they and their families made."

McCadams said he was shocked and surprised to receive the minuteman statue, but added the acclaim of the troops was his real reward.

"That was the reward right there," he said. "When you get the approval from your men that says it all. I'll wear that on my heart and memory for a long time."

A member of the McKenzie unit for 22 years, McCadams later served as first sergeant in Trenton and Union City.

Jarrett, under whose wing many young soldiers performed their duties, said of the event, "It was a very impressive ceremony. We didn't have the full company with us but to have those there that I served with and to receive the honors the commanding general and command staff gave our company--it was an honor to be associated with something like that."

Roditis said he was glad the families had been included in the tribute. "That was important to me," he said. "I thought it was first class."

First Sgt. Walker said the event brought closure to the unit's wartime service. His wife, Sgt. Stephanie Walker, concurred.

"It was a final closure for everybody," she said. "I think our soldiers can go on and live their lives now and get back to normal life for a change. I'm so proud of them."

Copies of the videos displayed during the Defenders of Freedom ceremony may be order from Cathy Edlin of R&R Creations, 731-415-9587.

Alpha Co. Missions

First Platoon

First Platoon performed a wide variety of construction missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The platoon performed a wide variety of construction projects and engineer missions often conducted in hostile areas. The platoon conducted an extended and remote mission to Abu Ghraib prison, in an aggressively hostile part of the combat zone. At Abu Ghraib prison, the platoon planned and executed the production of a new detainee facility that confined over 400 detainees. The platoon also participated in the construction of a 25 cell solitary confinement facility used to segregate and control dangerous combatants, two waste water treatment facilities, and a complex drainage improvement to the base. The platoon also completed over 25 force protection and coalition installation improvement projects in the Ali Base area. Examples include, but are not limited to, 04 forward combat refueling points, base road construction and drainage improvements, and 02 fortified enemy observation installations. The platoon also fielded a vertical construction team who built and improved several buildings and structures in the Ali base AO. They also participated in a humanitarian assistance mission during which they built and delivered desks to a local school. The platoon trained on and supported over 30 improvised explosive device route clearance missions on the main supply route. The platoon assisted a local Iraqi company in the production of asphalt for the main supply route. First Platoon also conducted over 100 combat patrols and engineer reconnaissance patrols.

Support Platoon

Support Platoon contributed greatly to the company and battalion's mission accomplishment during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The platoon provided combat engineer, vertical, and horizontal construction capabilities to the company and battalion. The platoon participated in an extended route sanitization mission that involved four U.S. units and three coalition partners. This mission resulted in the removal of debris and vegetation from the main supply route to deter insurgent emplacement of roadside bombs. The platoon later conducted a similar independent operation on a different part of the main supply route and conducted routine engineer patrols to maintain sanitization. Support Platoon contributed to the sanitization of over 280 miles of main supply route during the entire deployment. The platoon also added over 80 miles of shoulder to parts of the main supply route. A team of crane operators from support platoon were attached to parts of the Third Infantry Division and provided crane support. They improved base security and polling site security in the Baghdad area of operations by performing barrier emplacements. The platoon provided site defense for a company- sized Bailey Bridge construction mission over the Euphrates River. The platoon also conducted a variety of force protection and coalition installation improvement projects in the Ali Base area. Examples include the construction of a guard tower for a local contingency operations base, several berm improvement projects, renovation of buildings into operation centers/offices, material haul and stockpile, and construction of a large reservoir to collect and cycle water. Support Platoons performed a variety of missions often using heavy equipment in extreme conditions and hostile areas. The platoon had excellent leadership which led to high equipment operational readiness and no major accidents or injuries.

Third Platoon

Third Platoon's performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom III was outstanding. For most of the deployment, the platoon operated as a detachment on a mission 120 miles from the Company and Battalion headquarters. The platoon established and maintained a route clearance operation in an aggressively hostile area of the combat zone. The detachment participated in over 200 improvised explosive device route clearance missions in both daylight and nighttime hours. The platoon cleared over 10,800 miles of roadway frequently attacked by insurgents. These missions resulted in the finding and destruction of over 80 improvised devices planted by insurgents. Detachment leadership supervised the training of two platoons, the creation and adaptation of tactics, techniques, and procedures, and the operation and maintenance of weapon systems, sensitive electronic warfare equipment, and newly acquired tactical vehicles. Detachment leadership also managed operations, administrative functions, and soldier care/welfare issues. In July 2005, using a high level of skill, aggression, and leadership a patrol closed with and defeated insurgents in an engagement on the main supply route. Leaders and soldiers of the detachment also provided training, advice, and consult to all platoons and sections regarding movement, weapons/vehicle use/maintenance, and TTPs. Third Platoon's commitment, initiative, and excellence resulted in the safety of materiel, supply, and personnel (Coalition, Iraqi) that moved and traveled on the main supply route.

Maintenance Section

The A230 maintenance section's expertise, commitment, hard work, and ingenuity was invaluable to the success at platoon, company, and battalion. No other section was faced with a more changing and important mission. The section worked when and where necessary to keep equipment and vehicles mission ready. The section maintained a high operational readiness rate during the deployment. Early in the deployment the section constantly designed and redesigned uparmor, weapon, and safety features on unit gun trucks. The section never wavered in its ongoing commitment to put troops in vehicles with the best available improvements. Members of the section traveled across theatre to find "hard to locate" repair parts, improvement parts, tools, lubricants, tires, etc. The section was often spread in multiple locations and sent members, parts, and contact trucks on and to any mission necessary. The section maintained a slice with the Third Platoon detachment which conducted continuous route clearance operations for months at CSC Scania. This slice not only worked day and night to maintain readiness of "state of the art" mine clearing vehicles. They also trained on, learned, and trained others on the maintenance of new equipment and technology in theatre. The section also maintained equipment "on the ground" during an extended support route sanitization mission. The section had members with First Platoon during its extended construction missions at Abu Ghraib prison to maintain heavy equipment in extreme heat and sandy conditions.