November 2011-January 2012 - Wisconsin National Guard ...

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• Return of aviation Soldiers to WestBend marks last Wisconsin NationalGuard unit to serve in IraqTech. Sgt. Jon LaDueWisconsin National GuardNearly 30 West Bend-based Soldiers returned hometo family and friends Saturday, marking the end of theiryear-long mobilization and the end of an era for theWisconsin National Guard.Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 135th GeneralAviation Support Battalion left Iraq early this monthand spent the last several days demobilizing atJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Gov. ScottWalker, Wisconsin National Guard leaders, family andfriends, and other veteran supporters welcomed homeWisconsin’s newest combat veterans during a ceremonyat the West Bend armory Nov. 19.“I want you to know this is the last WisconsinNational Guard unit to come home from Iraq,” saidMaj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin,drawing applause from the crowd. “They were safe, theywere smart, and they did a great job.”The Soldiers, who spent about nine months in northernIraq providing medevac support, hail from detachmentsof companies C, D and E of the 2nd Battalion, 135thGSAB — which is comprised of National Guard Soldiersfrom several states.“I was just with those guys for a whole year and Ishared everything with them,” said Capt. Mark Sier,medevac pilot. “It means a lot and makes me veryproud.”Continued on Page 7@easeExpressChief Warrant Officer 3 Gary Beekman, pilot forthe 2nd Battalion, 135th General Aviation SupportBattalion, embraces his daughter at a welcomehome ceremony in West Bend Nov. 19. Roughly 30others spent nearly nine months in northern Iraqproving medevac support for Operation New Dawn.Wisconsin National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. JonLaDue6 November 2011-January 2012
Wisconsin National Guard’s last troops in Iraq return homeContinued from Page 6Capt. Randall Ramm, officer in chargeof the Wisconsin National Guard Soldierson the deployment, extended thanks to theSoldiers’ family and friends.“Over the last 52 weeks, your Soldiershave accomplished an extraordinaryamount,” Ramm said.Walker recognized the Soldiers’ greatwork as well — citing the unit’s quick sixminutedaytime and nine-minute nighttimeresponse from when they received a callfor help to the time they were in the air.“You got up and made sure someone’slife was saved,” Walker said. “Thank youfor the incredibly well done job.”Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, commanderof the Wisconsin Army National Guard,praised the Soldiers for their workoverseas, and also recognized the jobfamilies and friends did at home.“They could not do what they had todo without your support over these last 52weeks,” Anderson said.Part of that support was made possibleby members of the West Bend FamilyReadiness Group, which supports thefamilies of all four aviation units inWest Bend. The FRG kept in touch withfamilies throughout the deploymentprocess — at one point creating an eventon Facebook dubbed, “Deployments suck,let’s eat.” The lighthearted humor goes along way to pulling together as a biggerfamily.“Knowing there is somebody else whounderstands is half the issue right there,”said Mya Brown, an FRG volunteer.There was a multitude of supportshown at the ceremony. In addition toleadership, family and friends, membersof the Patriot Guard, Civil Air Patrol,Employer Support of the Guard andReserve and the 132nd Army Band wereall present to welcome home the Soldiers.Although the West Bend servicemembers are the state’s last to serve in@easeExpressIraq, nearly 10,000 Soldiers and Airmenhave deployed in support of OperationsIraqi Freedom and New Dawn. Since2003, Wisconsin Guard members haveconducted numerous missions in Iraq– including medevac transport, routeclearance, detainee operations, basedefense, close air support for groundoperations and in-flight refuelingmissions. In the eight years sinceoperations began in Iraq, nine WisconsinGuard members made the ultimatesacrifice in Iraq.“As a leader, I believe what we’veaccomplished in Iraq … has beenextraordinary,” Dunbar said.Since Sept. 11, 2001, every unit in theWisconsin Guard has deployed forces insupport of the global war on terror, manymore than once. While operations in Iraqare drawing to a close, the WisconsinNational Guard still has more than 350Soldiers and Airmen on active duty,including approximately 60 in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom and about180 heading to Kosovo for the NATO-ledpeace keeping mission there.But for the Soldiers of the 2ndBattalion, 135th GASB, their mission iscomplete.“We got out of there and did somethingthat’s never been done before — closingdown Iraq.” Ramm said.7 November 2011-January 2012
Page 1 and 2: @easeExpressNovember 2011-January 2
Page 3 and 4: Celebrating 375 years of serviceAll
Page 5: 157th MEB Soldiers to serve KFOR mi
Page 9 and 10: Wisconsin Air Guard squadron receiv
Page 11 and 12: @easeExpressTech. Sgt. Jon LaDueWis
Page 13 and 14: 128th Air Refueling Wing hosts annu
Page 15 and 16: Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, adjutant g
Page 18: There were no candles — that like
Page 21 and 22: @easeExpressKFOR timeline1999: Firs
Page 23 and 24: 157th MEB members train for Kosovo
Page 25 and 26: Sgt. 1st Class Jim Wagner157th MEB
Page 27 and 28: Continued from Page 26townships to
Page 29 and 30: Wisconsin National Guard validates
Page 31 and 32: 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. LarsonWisconsin
Page 33 and 34: Red Arrow commemorates Berlin Crisi
Page 35 and 36: Agribusiness Development Team prepa
Page 37 and 38: Red Arrow upgradingTOW missiles@eas
Page 39 and 40: Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDueWisconsin Natio
Page 41 and 42: Above, Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjuta
Page 43 and 44: Samantha Czerkas of Cross Plains, R
Page 45: PartingshotExpressGov. Scott Walker

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