Local National Guard Units Honored

BOARD RECOGNIZES TWO LOCAL NATIONAL GUARD UNITS FOR SERVICE

The Placer County Board of Supervisors honored two local National Guard units recently, one that is back home after serving in Iraq and one that will depart soon for the Middle Eastern country.

At the request of 3rd District Supervisor Jim Holmes, the board unanimously approved a resolution March 21 celebrating the safe return of Charlie Company of the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry and commending its members for their bravery and dedicated service to the American people.

Based in the Auburn area, the company spent more than a year in Iraq, serving in southeastern Baghdad.

The board also unanimously approved a second resolution proposed by 4th District Supervisor Ted Gaines honoring the Army National Guard Engineer Brigade of the 40th Infantry Division. Based in Sacramento, the division will depart soon for a 14-month assignment in Iraq. ‘I don’t know how you men and women do it,’ Supervisor Gaines said. ‘It’s just a huge sacrifice. We appreciate it.’
 
The 40th Infantry Division
 Lt. Col. Ken O’Connor of the 40th Infantry Division appeared before the board, receiving a Placer County flag from Supervisor Gaines that the division will fly over its headquarters in Iraq.

‘Rest assured this flag will fly in Iraq very proudly,’ said O’Connor, a Granite Bay resident. The 40th Infantry Division includes men and women who live in California and four other states. Its goal is to have flags from all of the counties where members live to remind them of home and show pride in their home counties.

 ‘Placer County, specifically the community of Granite Bay, is proud to provide our flag as requested and presents this commendation to the Army National Guard Engineer Brigade, 40th Infantry Division with great respect and high regards for a safe and successful mission,’ Supervisor Gaines said in a memo.

 The resolution adopted by the board commends the division for its dedication and wishes its members a rapid return home.

Charlie Company

In a memo, Supervisor Holmes noted that the 1st Battalion of the 184th Infantry conducted more than 6,800 patrols and missions during its assignment in Iraq. Its missions included checkpoint operations, infrastructure improvements, humanitarian assistance, training of Iraqi security forces, search operations and air assault raids.

‘In addition, the task force participated in Operation Clean Sweep- in which over 500 combat patrols were performed, enabling them to capture over 125 enemy insurgents- and was subsequently recognized by President Bush in his 2005 Veteran’s Day Address,’ Supervisor Holmes said.

 On hand to accept the commendation were 1st Lt. James Waters and 1st Sgt. Robert Matey.

They presented the board with certificates of appreciation and U.S. and California flags the company carried on patrol during Iraq’s Dec. 15 elections.

‘I would like to thank the board on behalf of the soldiers of Charlie Company and their families, and particularly the people of Placer County for their support of us during a difficult year in Iraq,’ Waters told the board.

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