Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan | Byron Whipple (left,) a ret. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and Union County Veteran...... read more read more
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon Army National Guard soldiers from the 3 Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade based in LaGrande, Ore., were welcomed home during their de-mobilization ceremony, Oct. 8, at Eastern Oregon University.
The soldiers deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.
Dignitaries on hand at the ceremony included Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General, Oregon, U.S. Congressman Greg Walden, Oregon's 2nd congressional district, LaGrande Mayor Dan Pokorney, Pendleton Mayor Phil Houk and Col. Todd Plimpton, 82nd Brigade commander.
Friends, family and community members showed their support by nearly filling Community Stadium at EOU for the ceremony.
Approximately 600 Oregon Army National Guard members joined roughly 2,700 members of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, from Boise, Idaho on the deployment.
The citizen-soldiers of the 3-116 CAV conducted more than 1,800 patrols totaling more than three million miles traveled. During this time, the unit's maintenance group serviced more than 300 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
The ceremony included a change of command as Lt. Col. Phillip Appleton relinquished command of the unit to Maj. Jason Lambert.
“After a successful deployment it’s great to have all the soldiers and families in one place with such excellent community support,” Appleton said.
Soldiers from the Oregon battalion are located in armories in LaGrande, Baker City, Ontario, Hermiston, Pendleton, The Dalles, Hood River, Woodburn and Redmond.
Command Sgt. Maj. William Wyllie, the battalion Sgt. Maj., admitted it is hard slowing down after the deployment, but that it feels great being back home.
“We have had outstanding support from every community and there is a huge crowd here today,” Wyllie said.
The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team conducted force protection and convoy security missions in Iraq, and received more than 200 individual awards. There are 41 Purple Heart recipients from the deployment in the unit.
The unit previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2005.
Yellow Ribbon Re-integration events were also held in Portland and LaGrande on the same day.
The program involves 30-, 60- and 90-day follow-on events which ensure soldiers are aware of available resources upon return from deployment.
The 30-day event included assistance with employment, education, counseling and personal finance. Veterans Administration and County Veterans Services Officers were on hand at the events.
Luke Wilson, Eastern Oregon Reintegration Manager, who has been a part of the program since returning from his own deployment to Iraq in 2004-05, said he is passionate about helping soldiers in his area.
No matter what the issue is we want to work with all service providers in Eastern Oregon to help cut through the “red tape,” he said.
Approximately 1,000 soldiers, family members and friends attended the event to learn about benefits available for veterans.
“I think these events are helpful, they show us where to find all benefits available for veterans,” said Spc. Levi Vandermolen, who returned with the unit. He said he plans on using his Post 9/11 GI Bill to earn a college degree.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is part of an innovative Oregon National Guard soldier reintegration process which is expanding to help service members throughout Oregon.
Master Sgt. Vince Jacques, the J-9 Operations Reintegration Manager, helped start the program in Oregon after he was wounded in combat. He said after returning home from Iraq he had a difficult time finding resources for one of his troops who suffered a serious hand injury. Jacques located a doctor after he was told none were available.
“There are resources out there—you just have to find them. We are not the resource we are the 411 for resources and we follow up,” he said.
Jacques has watched the program grow from a few people wanting to help soldiers into a nationally-renowned reintegration program.
Jacques said he is passionate about the mission and that he has a message for soldiers.
“Have a goal, get the resources you need, and if you don’t need them watch out for your buddy, you might need to help them out,” he said.
The re-integration program and Career Transition Assistance Program have been combined in the new Joint Transition Assistance Program in an effort to better serve National Guard members, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guard members from Oregon.
The program is expanding to better help all service members in Oregon who have been called upon to deploy in numbers not seen since World War II. Oregon does not have an active duty military post for any branch of the armed forces.
The 60-day events for 3-116 CAV on Nov. 19 at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City and Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton will be open to any service member from Oregon. It is the largest event of its kind in the U.S. that is open to all branches of the service, Jacques said.
The events will include employers on-site ready to hire veterans, veteran-friendly educational institutions, and service organizations able to assist returning veterans with health care and benefits.
For more information about the JTAP or resources available to veterans call 1-888-688-2264.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2011 11:55 |
| Story ID: | 78612 |
| Location: | SALEM, OREGON, US |
| Web Views: | 395 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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