Photo By Amabilia Payen | Soldiers assigned to 234th Engineer Company, Oregon National Guard shake the hands of...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- On July 28, the 234th Engineer Company from the Oregon Army National Guard deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group.
As with many National Guard units that mobilize through Fort Bliss and McGregor Range, New Mexico, the unit is given an opportunity to leave their mark by painting a rock that will sit outside the McGregor Range barracks called the Alamo.
The 234th Eng. Company did something more than just paint a rock. Being the skilled engineers that they are, they painted a concrete statue of their unit patch made by the hands of their own carpenter and mason, Spc. Zachary Spencer. Spencer is a carpenter and mason by military trade, but in his civilian job, he is a diesel mechanic.
“This unit has a bunch of good guys. A lot of us have been together for a long time. I couldn’t have built the statue if I didn’t get a lot of help from my battle buddies,” said Spencer. “We cut plywood stencils out, filled it with concrete, cleaned it all up and then painted it.” Spencer also built a statue for their sister unit in the Oregon Army National Guard, the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment.
The last time the 234th Eng. Company deployed was to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 to 2008. Although this current deployment will be in Kuwait, a few engineer teams will be hand-selected to head towards Afghanistan on temporary short-term missions as the OEF drawdown continues.
“My goal is to get as many projects as we can to gain experience,” said Capt. Andrew Bidourek, commander of the 234th. His unit consists of about 60 percent volunteers who are deploying for the first time.
First Sgt. William Young believes the 234th Eng. Company is one of the best companies he has served with, considering the majority of his Soldiers are volunteers. “Everyone is motivated and excited,” said Young.
Bidourek and Young agree that none of the camaraderie could really happen without the support of all the family members back home in Oregon.
“We appreciate all the support and we look forward to talking to them throughout the deployment,” said Bidourek.
The 234th Eng. Company will fall under the 528th Engineer Battalion, which also trained and deployed from Fort Bliss.
| Date Taken: | 07.28.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2014 16:34 |
| Story ID: | 140075 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 396 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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