Transportation Soldiers Heading to the Desert

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Licea | Soldiers assigned to the 53rd Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment present arms during the playing of the national anthem, Wednesday. The detachment will be deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  

08.17.2005

Courtesy Story

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Sgt. Alex Licea
Third U.S. Army Public Affairs

Fort McPherson, Ga. ( August 17, 2005)- With his beret at home, Spc. Chad Morrison donned his desert-colored patrol cap, kissed his wife Kathryn and young son Michael, and said good-bye to his roles as a garrison Soldier for a year-long tour of duty in the sands of Kuwait in support of the continuing Global War on Terrorism.

"I going to miss my family," said Morrison as he embraced his wife. "It's going to be hard."

Morrison was among more than 20 Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 53rd Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) who said good-bye to their loved ones during a farewell ceremony held near the battalion headquarters, Wednesday.

Serving as Third U.S. Army/Army Forces Central Command's executive agent for theater movement control, the 53rd Transportation Battalion has experienced two wartime deployments in four years.

With friends and family members in the stands, the ceremony began with the 214th Ground Forces Band rendition of the national anthem. Following the anthem, the detachment commander, Capt. Kwok Chan addressed his Soldiers about what to expect in the upcoming year.

"This is going to be a long and important deployment," he said. "We will be working hard to accomplish each and every mission."

"But it is Soldiers like you who will make our world a safer place for our children," added Kwok.

Col. Richard P. McEvoy, Third U.S. Army chief of staff, praised the 53rd for its continued support to the overall mission of Third Army.

"We (Third Army) are so proud of the 53rd," he said. "Each of you embraces a certain discipline that will keep you successful."

For Morrison and many others, this is the second deployment in a three-year span.

"I was in Iraq when my son was born," said the 53rd communication specialist. "At least it is not in such a hostile area this time, but being in Kuwait will be just as hard or harder since I will be away from my son."

The detachment will be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for the next 12 months.

• Date Taken: 08.17.2005
• Date Posted: 08.17.2005 18:36
• Story ID: 2777