Company C Takes Part In Departure Ceremony

Photo Courtesy of Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
Members of Greeneville-based Company C of the 844th Engineer Battalion “present arms” (salute) during a departure ceremony at Camp Atterbury, Ind., on Wednesday afternoon. Capt. Eugene Hunton, Company C’s commanding officer, is just left of the unit flag above, and 1st. Sgt. Gary Beason is shown standing just to the right of the flag. The U.S. Army Reserve unit, which is expected to depart soon for duty in Kuwait and Iraq in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” left Greeneville in October after being called to active duty.

By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
12-16-2004

The members of Greeneville-based Company C of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 844th Engineer Battalion took part in a “departure ceremony” at Camp Atterbury, Ind., on Wednesday afternoon.

Sgt. Les Newport, a public affairs spokesman at Camp Atterbury, said that during the ceremony, the approximately 600 soldiers in the 844th Engineer Battalion were congratulated by Col. Ken Newlin, Camp Atterbury’s commanding officer, on having completed training and having been “validated” for service in Iraq.

Sgt. Newport said departure ceremonies are held at Camp Atterbury for all units that complete training and that finish the validation process that certifies them as ready for service in a combat zone.

Also during the ceremony at Camp Atterbury’s armory, Sgt. Newport said, the 844th Engineer Battalion soldiers were addressed by their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Donato Dinello.

Sgt. Newport said the 844th’s soldiers are among a group of about 5,000 Army Reservists and National Guardsmen who have been undergoing training this fall at Camp Atterbury in preparation for service in Iraq.

He noted that most of those troops are expected to move from Camp Atterbury to Kuwait, then to Iraq, during the next few weeks.

Sgt. Newport said the 844th also has drawn media attention at Camp Atterbury because about half its soldiers are Individual Ready Reservists (IRR) who have been called to active duty to bring the unit to full strength.

As a result, he said, the unit features citizen-soldiers from 34 states and three U.S. territories.

Many Army Reserve soldiers from units in other states were transferred to Greeneville-based Company C this fall before the unit left for Camp Atterbury.

“They’ve really come together here at Camp Atterbury and have just done an outstanding job,” Sgt. Newport said. “They were featured on CNN last night.”

The soldiers of the 844th Engineer Battalion now are engaged in “last-minute preparations” for the unit’s movement to the Middle East, according to Sgt. Newport.

Story Copyright to The Greeneville Sun

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