Posted on 07/23/2008 12:02:08 PM PDT by BenLurkin
These aren't the 300 Spartans you heard about from Greek myth or the movies. They are the nearly 300 Spartan combat support truckers of the National Guard who are on their way back to Iraq. The 1498th Transportation Co., nicknamed "The Spartans," departs today from March Air Reserve Base for its ultimate destination, a staging area in Kuwait designed for supporting missions into Iraq. ...
On Tuesday the largest California Guard unit to deploy during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom got ready to redeploy to the Middle East, with 18 or so of its original members making the trip again.
Soldiers from the Antelope Valley have been with the group since its formation not long after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"I'm about the closest they have to a Spartan," remarked Sgt. Peter Mavropoulos , remarking with pride on his Greek heritage. A former Lancaster resident, Mavropoulos, 50, twice shut down his Riverside County-based trucking company in order to serve with the Guard in Iraq.
On second deployment, he said the Guard troops are better trained, more experienced, "And we have body armor this time. And the vehicles have armor." That, along with a drop in violence in Iraq, constitutes good news.
Also heading to Iraq for the first time is the unit commander, Maj. Caroline C. Morales , whose previous duty assignments ranged from Korea to Afghanistan. Members of the unit agreed they scored top marks in preparation for this second deployment owing to the firebrand leadership of Morales, a juris doctorate graduate from Southwestern Law School.
"Everyone agrees this C.O. (commanding officer) cares. Everyone agrees she is high-speed," said Sgt. Doug Duhaime, one of the original noncommissioned Guard officers who deployed with the unit in 2003.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"ONE MORE TIME - From left, Staff Sgt. Alfredo Lozano and Sgts. Peter Mavropoulos and Doug Duhaime are three of the original National Guard soldiers deployed along with the first Guard unit from the Antelope Valley in Operation Iraqi Freedom." DENNIS ANDERSON/Valley Press
God bless the 40th Infantry Division and all of CARNG.
I thought the Guard had an entire unit manned by Audio-Visual geeks. "General, we're ready to show your PowerPoint presentation...."
;-)
It’s the Air Force that’s become famous for its Powerpoint presentations.
But, they look damn good doing it in flight suits ;)
Not an entire unit ... no...
So did I.
I’m glad THAT’S been cleared up.
Our military reserve units have been and are successful because they study the tactics from the battles of the past.
The marathon race at the modern Olympics pays homage to the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
Military war stories are the basis for many truths and beliefs, (Go Col North!)
AV troops? Antivirus? Audio-visual?
God bless our troops. Having said that, the battle of 'termopilas' was no myth. It was defended by 300 spartans, and 700 tespians.
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