Photo By Lt. Col. Lindy White | Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, adjutant general of Oklahoma, speaks to members of 1st...... read more read more
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LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Snow-capped mountains and dry desert lands were sites to see for U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, Adjutant General of Oklahoma and Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Jensen, state command sergeant major of Oklahoma, during their visit with soldiers deployed to Afghanistan.
However, it was the opportunity to visit with Oklahoma soldiers that highlighted his visit, Oct. 17.
“The visit was tremendous,” said, Deering. “It was great seeing all the leaders and soldiers out in the forward operating bases and the combat outposts...I had a tremendous time.”
During the visit, Deering thanked soldiers at several different FOBs and COPs and assured them that Oklahoma was proud of them and supports them.
Deering and Jensen were able to visit with battalion level and company level commanders with the 45th IBCT area of operations and at the end of their tour, they visited members of the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry who are assigned to a different brigade headquarters.
“I was surprised he came out to meet with us,” said U.S. Army Spc. Jason Barrow of Tulsa, Okla., and a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry.
Barrow grew up in Sand Springs and initially started out in the Army Reserves, moved to Florida and then moved back to Oklahoma, to join the Army National Guard. Barrow was one of nine soldiers with 279th Infantry, awarded the Combat Infantry Badge by Deering.
“I thought it was great he could be here for this,” Barrow said. “This is cool that he wanted to be a part and nice that he and sergeant major cares enough about us to come and visit.”
Several soldiers also received the two-star coin. Giving leadership coins is part of a tradition of leaders to award soldiers who perform their jobs well and deserve the personal hand shake where the coin is exchanged.
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.13.2012 09:28 |
| Story ID: | 83775 |
| Location: | GARDEZ, AF |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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