RTS/278th ACR "Patches" Its New Veterans

Photo By Staff Sgt. Shannon R. Gregory | Col. Jeffery H. Holmes, Regimental Commander for the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tenn. Army National Guard, with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., talks to soldiers of the Regimental Troop Squadron, 278th ACR, at their combat patch ceremony, April 11, at camp Taji, Iraq. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Shannon R. Gregory)  

CAMP TAJI, IRAQ

04.11.2010

Courtesy Story

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

By Staff Sgt. Thomas Greene

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Thirty seven new veterans of Regimental Troops Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment received their combat patch during a special ceremony held on the west side of the Base Defense Operations Center, here Sunday, April 11.

The ceremony for the Tennessee Army National Guard unit was opened when the troops were brought to attention by Signal Company 1st Sgt. Edward Pridemore of Greenville, Tenn.

With the Tennessee state flag flying over the BDOC and the RTS guidon flowing with the breeze, RTS Commander, Maj. Jody Miller of Rockville, Tenn., spoke to the squadron about its togetherness and professionalism.

278th Commander, Jeffrey H. Holmes of Murfreesboro spoke about American veterans being a very small fraction of the nation's overall population and that an individual realization of being one may strike the individual at a later date.

RTS Operations Officer, Maj. Travis Powell from Nunnelly, Tenn., fulfilled the adjutant's role in reading the history of the combat patch dating back to America's Continental Army as Miller and RTS Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Agee of Cookville, Tenn., moved through the ranks slapping the 278th patch on the right shoulder.

The ceremony was concluded after Capt. James Saunders, RTS Chaplain, of Sparta, Tenn., asked God's blessing on the squadron.

"It's a big deal, it means a lot," said 1st. Lt. Callee Trevathan of Gleason, Tenn., on being awarded the combat patch.

"It means to me that I've actually fulfilled my obligation to the army and my country," said Spc. Jeremiah Barrajo of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

• Date Taken: 04.11.2010
• Date Posted: 04.16.2010 09:22
• Story ID: 48225
• Location: CAMP TAJI, IQ