Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Trickett (left) and Lt. Col. Robert Phillips case the 612th...... read more read more
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By CPT Shannon Ditz, training officer
Senior leaders from the 612th Engineer Battalion cased the unit's colors September 23 during an deactivation ceremony for the battalion's headquarters at Camp Perry in Port Clinton.
1-148th Infantry will be stationed in the armory where the battalion headquarters once operated.
The ceremony was tough for many of the battalion's Soldiers, some who served their entire careers with the 612th.
"I've been under that flag for 20 years," said 612th Engineer Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Trickett. "So about half the time it's been around, I've been in it. It's a little sad for me."
The 612th boasted a long and rich history, undergoing several transformations throughout the years. Originally organized as the 107th Armored Cavalry Regiment in May 1952, the battalion was reorganized and re-designated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 612th Engineer Battalion, in May 1968.
The battalion's Soldiers activated on several occasions to assist local communities in tornado, flood, and snow storm recovery, and deployed to Texas to support the Border Patrol mission. They deployed to Honduras, Jamaica, Panama and Nicaragua in support of Operation New Horizons, where they built schools, clinics, roads and bridges. The battalion completed a yearlong combat tour in Iraq during OIF III in 2005, where they were assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.
The 612th is one of the first Ohio National Guard battalions to deactivate in accordance with the ongoing Army-wide transformation in both the National Guard and active components. Rather than the dedicated engineers battalions and brigades appropriate to a Cold War era force, individual engineer companies will now be assigned directly to maneuver brigades, creating a modular, more maneuverable force more relevant in the Global War on Terrorism.
Although the battalion will go away, its Soldiers will not. The troops were offered a number of options to continue service in the Ohio National Guard. Some found positions in the new engineer units; others chose to retrain to fill positions in other units.
Many of the Soldiers attending the ceremony also participated in the battalion's recent deployment to Iraq. Lt. Col. Robert Phillips, the former battalion commander, paid tribute to Sgt. Jeremy Hodge, a battalion Soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. "We salute you," he simply stated.
Following the ceremony, the Soldiers attended a farewell gathering at the Walbridge Armory. The troops perused unit memorabilia, awards and photos that evoked both serious reflection and hearty laughter.
"It's bittersweet, but I'm so proud to have served with this battalion," Phillips said. "They did an outstanding job. I wouldn't ask more from them."
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2006 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 7861 |
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| Web Views: | 463 |
| Downloads: | 205 |
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