Posted on 04/24/2003 7:24:28 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
The 311th Company of the Army Reserve did not leave for Kuwait on Tuesday night as originally scheduled because, for the time being, it will not be needed in the theater, official sources reported. However, its 175 members remain quartered in Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba awaiting additional orders.
Puerto Rico Reserve press spokesman José Pagán indicated that the Army Central Command determined that the 311th Decedent Affairs Company not leave for now because "it is not needed in the operation."
"We found out yesterday (Tuesday) morning. They were en route to Roosevelt Roads when we found out. They arrived at Roosevelt Roads and were notified there," Pagán indicated.
The Forces Command, which handles the mobilization process, informed Fort Buchanan [in Guaynabo] of the decision the Army Central Command made of not sending the Puerto Rican company.
This company had been mobilized following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the Pentagon. Its specialization in the search and recovery of corpses makes it and the 264th unique units in the whole United States Army.
"They were working in the Pentagon and have been working hard in the last few years," Pagán indicated.
However, he clarified that the fact that [the company] had not been mobilized to Kuwait on Tuesday as originally scheduled does not mean that it is going to be deactivated. [Its members] still remain quartered in Roosevelt Roads while awaiting instructions, which may vary from deactivation to a future mobilization. This unit was quartered in Camp Santiago [in Salinas] since March.
A total of three companies were supposed to leave on Tuesday: the 338th Finances, the 346th Transportation, and the 311th. The first two parted on Tuesday morning as scheduled and were expected to arrive in Iraq yesterday.
Some 80 soldiers comprise the 338th Finances Company and another 45 the 346th Transportation. These would be added to the 1,700 Puerto Ricans in the Army Reserve who are already active, who, together with members of the National Guard who are on duty, total 11,000.
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