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Story and photos by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs and Historian Representative
Soldiers of the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion’s Task Force Summit stand in one final formation at their homecoming ceremony in Harrodsburg, Ky. on April 19, 2014. Dozens gathered Saturday to welcome Task Force Summit home from their nine-month deployment in Afghanistan supporting the Special Operations Command’s withdrawal. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Paul Evans)
HARRODSBURG, Ky. — Dozens of families and friends gathered in Harrodsburg on Saturday, April 19, 2014 outside the Armory that is home to the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters’ Co., 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, 138th Fires Brigade. Miniature American flags waved in the hands of many onlookers while others held up homemade posters to welcome their heroes home from a successful journey abroad.
The 15 Soldiers spent nine months in Afghanistan supporting the Special Operations Command’s withdrawal from the country.
As the three vans carrying the Soldiers and their gear unloaded at the armory, Soldiers were met with tears of joy, gentle greetings among old friends, and loving embraces of those who silently served at home while the Soldiers served overseas.
A returning Soldier embraces his daughter outside the National Guard Armory in Harrodsburg, Ky. on April 19, 2014. Dozens gathered Saturday to welcome home the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion’s Task Force Summit from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan supporting the Special Operations Command’s withdrawal. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Paul Evans)
Capt. Justin Watts, a 32-year-old Lexington, Ky. resident, served as the Officer-in-Charge of the 103rd’s small Retrograde Assistance Team, officially referred to as ‘Task Force Summit.’ He addressed the large crowd of family and friends anxious to take their Soldiers home after their short period of reconnecting.
“These are Soldiers who bought into the idea of supporting something greater no matter what,” Watts observed. “In a greater sense, what these guys were part of was something much bigger than they could do themselves. We took the equipment in the (Afghanistan) Theatre, and we took it to where the fight was taking place.”
“We, as senior leaders can give our Soldiers the training to be successful in combat, we can give them the equipment needed to complete the mission…but what we can’t give them is something that you as family and friends can do.”
“It’s what you did for us,” Watts recalled. “You provide my Soldiers with morale. A simple letter, email, package, a Facebook post—(all) kept my Soldiers going.”
“I can’t give my Soldiers peace-of-mind, but the spouses and family members, parents, siblings, (they) can step-up and take care of business at home to give the Soldiers the peace-of-mind they need…because a Soldier whose mind is not at war can’t be in the fight.”
For his Soldiers, Watts was happy to highlight their contributions. “Those guys, they did everything I asked for and more,” he explained. “No problem was too complex. They solved it without fail.”
Soldiers with the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion’s Task Force Summit applaud after Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey McCrystal was promoted to Command Sgt. Maj. of the 103rd in Harrodsburg, Ky. on April 19, 2014. Dozens gathered Saturday to welcome Task Force Summit home from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan supporting the Special Operations Command’s withdrawal. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Paul Evans)
Following the ceremony to welcome Task Force Summit home, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel McSpadden, a 41-year-old Lexington resident, took a few moments to reflect on the 103rd’s accomplishment of the mission before rejoining his family.
“I think we set a great precedent for things to come as far as retrograde throughout the (Afghanistan) theatre,” he said. “Hopefully, the units behind us will meet that or exceed it. But other than that, the mission’s complete…so I’m just ready to go home.”
Story and photos by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs and Historian Representative
Click here to see more photos on this story.
HARRODSBURG, Ky.—With the sun shining down in Harrodsburg, Ky. on July 13, 2013, Soldiers from Harrodsburg’s Headquarters Co. 103rd Brigade Support Battalion and Danville’s A Co. 103rd worked in tandem unloading three large 105 millimeter howitzer cannons with great care. Among those working, a quiet chatter amongst the Troops spoke in excitement for the canons’ purpose.
These artillery pieces, provided by Lexington, Ky.’s 138th Fires Brigade, will serve to honor fallen Veterans when the American Veterans’ Traveling Tribute Wall comes to Harrodsburg’s Anderson-Dean Park from August 29 to September 2, 2013, concluding with a 21-gun salute on the Wall’s last day in town.
For Danville, Ky. resident Sgt. Richard Walls, the wall’s presence in Harrodsburg takes on special meaning.
“The support this town shows for the military is unbelievable. It’s going to be a big time morale booster,” Walls speculated. “For me, the true meaning of the wall is to show that we don’t forget our fallen. This offers a chance for those who can’t make it to Washington to pay tribute.”
In addition to the cannons being on display with traveling Wall and other planned tributes, local Soldiers will provide an honorary guard for the wall during its three-day stay in Harrodsburg.
“Soldiers guarding the wall represents the military more than just having civilians in black t-shirts that say ‘security’ on them,” Walls explained. “It shows that we don’t forget.”
For more information on the traveling wall and its stay in Harrodsburg, please call (859)734-0218, (877)734-0127, or visit the American Veterans’ Traveling Tribute website at www.cost-freedom.org.
The following is a compilation of significant dates in our commonwealth’s military history. For more on the legacy of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, visit the Kentucky National Guard eMuseum.
May 8, 1846 - General Zachary Taylor defeats the Mexicans at Palo Alto (Mexican-American War)
May 1, 1970– Cambodia Campaign began (Vietnam War)
May 2, 1945 – German unconditional surrender to Italian Allies (World War II)
Brig. General Green Clay and 3,000 Kentuckians reach besieged Fort Meigs, Ohio. (War of 1812)
May 5, 1813 – Brig. General Green Clay, with 3,000 Kentuckians, reaches besieged Fort Meigs, Ohio. On orders from General William Henry Harrison divides his force, his part of the force cuts their way through the enemy’s lines into the fort. 800 Kentuckians, under Col. Wm. Dudley, are order to cross the Maumee River and attack the guns and spike them so they can no longer fire. Once this was accomplished, the militia pursues what appears to be retreating Indians under the leadership of Tecumseh. After they entered the woods, the Indians counterattacked while the British forces swung around their flanks cutting most off from the river. Only about 150 escaped with the remainder being killed or captured. Of those captured, about 50 were murdered by the Indians before Tecumseh put a stop to it. The British, without use of their artillery, soon lifted the siege and moved back into Canada (War of 1812)
May 5, 1942 – Fall of Corregidor (World War II)
May 5, 1968 – Mini-Tet began (Vietnam War)
May 8, 1846 – General Zachary Taylor defeats the Mexicans at Palo Alto (Mexican-American War)
May 8, 1945 – Pvt. Roy Edward Goodpaster, Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion (Harrodsburg Tankers) died at Camp Moji Hospital Fukuoka #4 Kyushu Island Japan of wounds received aboard the “Hell Ships” Oryoku Maru & Enoura Maru (World War II)
May 8, 1945 – VE (Victory Europe) Day, Germany’s Unconditional Surrender Signed (World War II)
May 8, 1972 – U.S. Navy mined North Vietnamese ports (Vietnam War)
Daniel Boone’s grave, Frankfort, Ky.
May 9, 1781 – McAfee Station, along Salt River attacked by over 150 indians. Only 13 men and their families inside who kept up a gallant defense for near 1/2 day until help arrived from nearby Harrodsburg. One settler killed at onset of action, 1 minor wounded. As pursuit was made the Indians made a stand at the ford of the river 1 more killed and 1 injured when thrown from horse. (Early Indian Wars)
May 9, 1846 – General Zachary Taylor defeats the Mexicans at Resaca de la Palma (Mexican-American War)
Pvt. Roy Edward Goodpaster
May 9, 1868 – Kentucky Legislature to present a Gold Medal to Samuel Hatfield, of Floyd County, another survivor of the Kentuckians who assisted in achieving Perry’s victory on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813.
May 9, 1868 – Kentucky Legislature appropriates funding to repair monument over Daniel Boone’s grave, which had been defaced by Federal soldiers during the war.
May 10, 1773 – The McAfee Company (James Jr., Robert, & George McAfee along with James McCoun Jr. and Samuel Adams) left Virginia on a 4-month expedition into Kentucky . Explored lands along Ohio & Kentucky Rivers. descended the Kentucky to where Frankfort now is located, continued exploration of Henry, Franklin, Anderson, & Mercer Counties. Eventually making land claims along Salt River.
May 10, 1969 – Battle of Hamburger Hill (Vietnam War)
May 10, 1972 – Operation Linebacker (Vietnam War)
May 11, 1871 – Re-interment at Crab Orchard, Lincoln, County, of the unknown Southern soldiers who fell at the Battle of Wildcat Mountain, in 1862.
Lieutenant Hugh McKee, of Lexington, Ky. killed in action May11, 1871.
May 11, 1871 – Killed in the fight between the men from four U.S. war steamers and the Coreans (now Korea), Lieutenant Hugh McKee, of Lexington, Kentucky, aged 27. He was the first man to enter the fortress, from which the attack was made by the Coreans. His father, Colonel William R. McKee, fell nobly at the battle of Buena Vista, Mexico, February 23, 1847.
May 12, 1942 – Pfc. Wesley Davis Hungate, Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion (Harrodsburg Tankers) died at Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines of dysentery while a Japanese prisoner of war (World War II)
May 13, 1846 – Congress of the United States declares war on Mexico. Maj. Gen. E.P. Gaines makes a requisition on the Governor of Kentucky for 4 regiments of volunteers, comprising 2,400 men (Mexican War)
May 13, 1968 – 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery entered active duty and served 11½ months in Vietnam. Kentucky was only one of two states to have both Air and Army Guard units called up in 1968 (the other being Kansas). Kentucky was the only state to have both Air and Army mobilized units deploy overseas (Vietnam War and Pueblo Call-up)
May 17 – Armed Forces Day.
Pfc. Wesley Davis Hungate
May 17, 1846 – Governor Owsley issues a proclamation, appealing to Kentuckians “to form themselves into volunteer companies,” and to report to him forthwith (Mexican War)
May 18, 1846 – The Louisville Legion, offer their services to the governor, and are accepted (Mexican War)
May 19, 1942 – Sergeant Ben R. Devine, Company D, 192nd Tank Battalion (Harrodsburg Tankers) died at Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines of dysentery while a Japanese prisoner of war (World War II)
May 20, 1777 – St. Asaph’s or Logan’s Fort or Logan’s Station resists attack by Indians (Early Indian Wars)
May 22, 1846 – Formal proclamation of Governor Owsley for two regiments of infantry or riflemen, and one of cavalry, for the service of the United States against Mexico (Mexican-American War)
359th Fighter Group P51 Mustang
May 24, 1946 – The 359th Fighter Group was redesignated as HQ, 123rd Fighter Group, and allotted to the Air National Guard of Kentucky, together with its colors and World War II battle participation credits. The 368th Fighter Squadron was also allotted to the KyANG with its colors and record, and redesignated as the 165th Fighter Squadron.
May 25, 1921 – Private Manley Vaughan, Troop C, 53rd Machine Gun Squadron, Louisa, Kentucky, was killed near Borderland W. Va. Kentucky National Guard soldiers from Louisa, Morehead and London were on state active duty from May 14, to June 4, 1921 along the Kentucky – West Virginia border in connection with a coal strike in the Tug River District.
At approximately 10 p.m. on May 25, 1921, a West Virginal State Policeman reported some sixty shots fired on the Kentucky shore of the Tug River below Nolan, West Virginia. Lt. Fred See of the Kentucky National Guard was stationed nearby in Pike County and asked by the West Virginia State Police to reconnoiter and try to end the disruption. There was a coal strike in progress in the area and martial law was in effect and the shots were apparently fired across the river in the direction of the Big Splint mining camp in West Virginia where the United Mine Workers union had erected a tent camp to house the striking miners.
Lieutenant See and seven men, including Vaughn, set out to investigate. They crossed the river at Borderland into West Virginia due to heavy rains making roads nearly impassable, he planned to follow the railroad track and cross back to the Kentucky side below Nolan to get to the site of the disturbance. At Nolan he was joined by an unknown number of West Virginia State Police and they proceeded down the track. Hearing a group of men coming up the track, Lieutenant See and his men advanced and stopped four men. When ordered to put up their hands, two men cooperated. Soldiers were searching the individuals for weapons when Vaughan and a West Virginia State Police Officer Charles M. Kackley were shot in the head from behind. Both were killed. One of the union miners in the group escaped in the darkness but was recaptured the next day.
Young George Rogers Clark
May 26, 1846 – Governor Owsley announces, that the requisition upon Kentucky for troops is full (Mexican War)
May 26, 1871 – Confederate Memorial Day inaugurated, commemorating the occasion when Jefferson Davis was freed from prison.
May 27, 1778 – George Rogers Clark and men camp on Corn Island, at Falls of the Ohio (Louisville).
May 30 – Memorial Day
The following is a compilation of significant dates in our commonwealth’s military history. For more on the legacy of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, visit the Kentucky National Guard eMuseum.
General Robert E. Lee surrenders (Civil War)
April 1, 1945 – Invasion of Okinawa began (World War II)
April 1, 1968 – Operation Pegasus began (Vietnam War)
April 1, 1977 – Kentucky Air National Guard wing vice commander John B. Conaway appointment as Deputy Director of the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau approved by Congress.
Sgt. James Alexander Sherrill, Operation Iraqi Freedom
April 3, 2005 – Sgt. James Alexander Sherrill, of Ekron, Ky. in Meade County, was killed in Bayji, Iraq, when his armored medium truck encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Sherrill was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 2113th Transportation Company, Paducah, Ky. This unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in December 2004 and deployed to Southwest Asia in January 2005.
April 5, 1951 – Operation Rugged began (Korean War)
April 6, 1972 – Operation Linebacker began (Vietnam War)
April 8, 1972 – Siege of An Loc began (Vietnam War)
April 9, 1845 – The officers of the 123rd Regiment of Kentucky Militia unanimously, by newspaper communications and petitions, seek the abolition of the present militia system.
April 9, 1858 – Twenty-one companies volunteered for service. Only 10 companies were selected by Governor Morehead (The Utah War)
April 9, 1856 – General Lee surrenders (Civil War)
April 9, 1942 – Fall of Bataan (World War II)
Roadblock on the Road to Bataan, World War II
April 10, 1942 – Bataan Death March – Sixty-six Kentucky Army National Guardsmen from Harrodsburg took part in the march; only 33 survived captivity to return home. (World War II)
April 10, 1968 – Battle for Lang Vei began (Vietnam War)
April 10, 1990 – Staff Sergeant Regina L. Isenberg of Bowling Green (Warren County) was killed in a military vehicle accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway near Leitchfield in Grayson County. She was assigned to Headquarters, State Area Command (STARC) Kentucky Army National Guard. She was transporting a M-60 tank engine from the Ford Regional Training Site (WHFRTC) to the Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS) in Frankfort in an engineer dump truck on rain slick roads. She was a Technician Material Control and Accounting Specialist at the Unit Training Equipment Site (UTES 2) in Greenville. Isenberg graduated from Warren Central High School in 1978 and joined the 2123d Transportation Company (Heavy Truck), Kentucky Army National Guard in Bowling Green in February 1981. She also served in Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade. Her awards included Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (ARCOTR) and the Kentucky Service Ribbon.
April 11, 1873 – Brig. General Edward R.S. Canby, U.S. Army, commanding the Department of Columbia, murdered by Captain Jack, chief of the Modoc Indians, while mediating for their removal from their rocky fastness on the northern border of California to a government reservation. General Canby was a native of Mason County, Kentucky.
April 11, 1991 – Persian Gulf Official Cease Fire
April 15, 1777 – First attack on Fort Boonesborough by Indians (Early Indian Wars)
April 16, 1851 – John Marshall Harlan appointed Adjutant General of Kentucky by Governor John L. Helm. At time of his appointment Harlan was 17 years old, the youngest individual to hold the position. He served as Adjutant General from 1851 to 1859.
April 16, 1953 – Battle of Pork Chop Hill began (Korean War)
April 16, 1978 – Private First Class Jeffery Clinton Howard died while training with his unit, the 307th Maintenance Company – Central City, at Ft. Campbell. Howard reportedly retrieved his gas mask from the cab of the truck to put it on as a part of training and unknowingly released the hand brake before he walked behind the truck, which had been parked on a gradual incline, the vehicle rolled backwards some 4 feet and pinned him between a tree and the trailer of a truck.
Master Sgt. Clinton Wayne Cubert, Operation Iraqi Freedom
April 16, 2006 – Master Sgt. Clinton Wayne Cubert, died at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Ky., of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his armored HMMWV during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq, on Sept. 11, 2005. Cubert was assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 2113th Transportation Company, based in Paducah, during his deployment.
April 17, 1868 – Re-interment, with impressive ceremonies, at the cemetery in Lexington, of the remains of General John Hunt Morgan.
1st Lt. Robert Lewis Henderson II, Operation Iraqi Freedom
April 17, 2004 – First Lieutenant Robert Lewis Henderson, II, of Alvaton, Ky., (Warren County) died in, Diwaniyah, Iraq, when his convoy tried to avoid an overturned trailer and came under small arms attack. Henderson, though mortally wounded, continued to drive his vehicle and lead the convoy out of the ambush and repositioned his vehicle so that the other soldiers in the vehicle could return fire before he collapsed. 1st Lt. Henderson was assigned to the Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, 2123rd Transportation Company, Owensboro, Ky.
April 18, 1847 – Storming of Cerro Gordo, Mexico. Captain John S. Williams’ company (the only Kentucky company engaged) behaved with distinguished valor (Mexican-American War)
April 18, 1942 – Doolittle Raid on Japan (World War II)
Sgt. Randolph A. Sigley Jr., Operation Enduring Freedom
April 18, 2010 – Sgt. Randolph A. Sigley Jr., of Richmond (Madison County), was found dead in his quarters at Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan where he was serving with the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 2123rd Transportation Company. A member of the Kentucky Army National Guard since 2006, Sigley served from 2000-2004 with the United States Marine Corps. He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Marines.
April 19, 1906 – Henry Robert Lawrence appointed Adjutant General of Kentucky by Governor J. C. W. Beckham.
April 19, 1968 – 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, Kentucky National Guard with units in Louisville, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Carrollton, Kentucky were ordered to active duty by President Lyndon B. Johnson (Vietnam War)
April 19, 1968 – Operation Delaware began (Vietnam War)
April 20, 1953 – Operation Little Switch began (Korean War)
Capt. Clayton Lee Adamkavicius, Operation Enduring Freedom
April 20, 2006 – Capt. Clayton Lee Adamkavicius, of Louisville, was mortally wounded by small arms fire while investigating an anti-coalition weapons cache discovered near Dihrawud district, Uruzghan Province, Afghanistan. Adamkavicius, a native of California, joined the Kentucky Army National Guard in 1999, and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 149th Brigade in Louisville. Adamkavicius was on his third operational deployment with the Kentucky Army National Guard. His first deployment was to Eastern Europe in 2003 where he served as Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor, in support of Operation Joint Forge at Eagle Base, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. In a subsequent deployment to Bosnia in 2004, he served with Headquarters Company, 149th Brigade. Adamkavicius had been training Afghan soldiers when he was killed.
April 21, 1945 – Second Lieutenant Everett R. Preston, assigned to Company A, 192nd Light Tank Battalion (Harrodsburg Tankers), died at Fukuoka Camp #1-D Honshu, Japan of acute enteritis.
Sgt. Edward Theodore French, World War II
April 22, 1942 – Sgt. Edward Theodore French, Company D, 192nd Light Tank Battalion (Harrodsburg Tankers) died in a field hospital on Bataan while recovering from shrapnel wounds received in a Japanese bombing attack. He perished when the hospital was inadvertently hit by artillery fire from Fort Drum.
April 24, 1873 – Kentucky Legislature directs that the remains of General Cary H. Fry, Colonel Theodore O’Hara, and Adjutant George N. Cardwell to be brought from distant States, and buried in State military lot at Frankfort, and graves marked with appropriate stones.
April 24, 1967 – Battle of the Hills began (Vietnam War)
April 27, 1805 – Battle of Derne - Lt. Presley O’Bannon led an expedition across North African desert and captured the fortified city then held against numerous attempts to retake the place until peace treaty was signed on June 4 1805. O’Bannon was the first to plant the American Flag on foreign soil. The phrase “the shores of Tripoli” from the U.S. Marine Corps Hymn refers to Lt. O’Bannon’s expedition. O’Bannon is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. (War with Tripoli)
April 29, 1984 – Private Steven E. Jones of DeMossville (Pendleton County), died while training with his unit, Company C, 201st Engineer Battalion in Cynthiana. Jones was killed after an accident near the armory when the unit was training on erecting and using gin poles. Jones was struck by the pole when the rigging failed and he was unable to escape the falling pole. He was given immediate aid by members of the 475th Combat Support Hospital who were at the armory and transported to the hospital but he perished from his injuries a short time later. Jones had just joined the unit on March 2, 1984 and was training with the unit until he got orders sending him to basic and advanced training as a Combat Engineer.
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Story and photos by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative
Staff Sgt. Timothy Collins: "I just try to take care of Soldiers.” (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
NOTE: Each Wednesday kentuckyguard.com publishes stories by Kentucky National Guard unit public affairs historian representatives, also known as UPAHRs. This is an additional duty taken on by a Soldier or Airmen with the intent of telling their unit’s story. This is one such story ….
Harrodsburg, Ky. (May 18, 2011) — Staff Sgt. Timothy Collins has simple yet practical philosophy regarding his job with the Kentucky Army National Guard.
“I’m not one to work to be recognized,” said Collins. “But it’s good to see people appreciate hard work. I just try to take care of Soldiers.”
Collins, who lives in Russell Springs, Ky., is a member of Harrodsburg’s Headquarters Co. 103rd Brigade Support Battalion. On April 15, 2011, he received the Army Commendation Medal for exemplary performance as the 103rd’s Personnel Services Delivery Redesign NCO from 2008-2010. In addition, he received a coin from the 103rd Battalion command sergeant major for scoring the highest in the headquarters Co. on his physical fitness test the same day. Staff Sgt. Collins has also been the battalion Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year for the past two years.
In civilian life, Collins works full time in the 103rd as a human resources NCO. He has been a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard for 11 years.
Staff Sgt. Timothy Collins is the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
Sgt. First Class Jessica Peel, the battalion’s personnel services NCO, is a fan.
“Staff Sgt. Collins is a very outstanding Soldier, always exceeding standards and setting a great example for fellow Soldiers,” she said. “He is awesome at managing subordinates.”
She should know. She’s Collins’ boss.
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Story by Sgt. Paul Evans and Sgt. Bryan Ploughe, Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representatives
Soldiers from Headquarters, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion put their shovels in the ground prior to planting tree seedlings outside the Harrodsburg Armory on April 22, 2011. The 103rd’s tree-planting efforts were a part of Earth Day honors across the state. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
Glasgow and Harrodsburg, Ky. — Kentucky Guardsmen joined a statewide Earth Day celebration by planting more than 120 white pine seedlings at armories across the commonwealth April 22.
Lt. Col. Jeffery Hughes and Sgt. 1st Class David Page take special care in planting one of fifteen white pine seedlings at the Glasgow National Guard Armory to celebrate Earth Day 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Bryan Ploughe, 1/623rd FA Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
“The Kentucky National Guard has a long standing reputation of giving back to the communities where our units are embedded,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Hughes, 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery commander. “This was once again a display of the selfless service that our Soldiers are known for.”
138th Brigade Command Sergeant Major Joey Simpson sees the effort as a matter of pride in ownership.
“The Glasgow Armory was built the early 1960’s, and has been through a few updates,” stated Simpson. “This is just a small improvement that we can make to continue to beautify our campus.”
The planting of trees across the Commonwealth of Kentucky sets the standard for what can be accomplished in the future to celebrate Earth Day and support the Guard the Environment campaign and the Kentucky’s growing green mission.
“Anybody that has been deployed overseas can appreciate the value of a tree and what it has to offer,” said Staff Sgt. Will Sewell. “I take great pride in providing this treasure for future generations.”
Members of the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion in Harrodsburg shared their fellow Soldiers’ concern for the future.
“It feels good knowing these trees are something our children will benefit from one day,” says Staff Sgt. Mark Arnold.
“We are trained to destroy the enemy on the battle field,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Collins. “But today we are planting life on this earth.”
Staff Sgt. Mark Arnold of Harrodsburg’s Headquarters, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion distributes tree seedlings as Staff Sgt. Eddie Donahue marks a planting location on April 22, 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
Capt. Brian Mattingly plants a tree seedling outside the Harrodsburg Armory on April 22, 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
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The following is a compilation of significant dates in our commonwealth’s military history. For more on the legacy of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, visit the Kentucky National Guard eMuseum.
The Bataan Death March (1942)
April 1, 1945 – Invasion of Okinawa began (World War II)
April 1, 1968 - Operation Pegasus began (Vietnam War)
- Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway
April 1, 1977 - Kentucky Air National Guard wing vice commander John B. Conaway appointment as Deputy Director the Air National Guard at the National Guard Bureau approved by Congress.
April 5, 1951 – Operation Rugged began (Korean War)
April 6, 1972 – Operation Linebacker began (Vietnam War)
April 8, 1972 – Siege of An Loc began (Vietnam War)
April 9, 1845 - The officers of the 123rd regiment of Kentucky Militia unanimously, by newspaper communications and petitions, seek the abolition of the present militia system.
April 9, 1858 - Twenty-one companies volunteered for service. Only 10 companies were selected by Governor Morehead. (The Utah War)
April 9, 1865 - General Robert E. Lee surrenders (Civil War)
April 9, 1942 – Fall of Bataan (World War II)
April 10, 1942 – Bataan Death March - Sixty-six Kentucky Army National Guardsmen from Harrodsburg took part in the march; only 33 survived captivity to return home. (World War II)
April 10, 1968 - Battle for Lang Vei began (Vietnam)
April 11, 1873 - Brig. General Edward R.S. Canby, U.S. Army, commanding the Department of Columbia, murdered by Captain Jack, chief of the Modoc Indians, while mediating for their removal from their rocky fastness on the northern border of California to a government reservation. General Canby was a native of Mason County, Kentucky.
April 11, 1991 – Official cease fire (Persian Gulf War)
Attack on Fort Boonesborough (1777)
April 15, 1777 - First attack on Fort Boonesborough by Indians
April 16, 1953 – Battle of Pork Chop Hill began (Korean War)
April 17, 1868 - Re-interment, with impressive ceremonies, at the cemetery in Lexington, of the remains of General John Hunt Morgan.
April 18, 1847 - Storming of Cerro Gordo, Mexico. Captain John S. Williams’ company (the only Kentucky company engaged) behave with distinguished valor (Mexican-American War).
The Kentucky National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery in Vietnam (1968)
April 18, 1942 – Doolittle Raid on Japan (World War II)
April 19, 1968 - The Kentucky Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery with units in Louisville, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Carrollton were ordered to active duty by President Lyndon B. Johnson. (Vietnam War)
April 19, 1968 – Operation Delaware began (Vietnam War)
April 20, 1953 – Operation Little Switch began (Korean War)
Frankfort War Memorial
April 24, 1873 - Kentucky Legislature directs that the remains of General Cary H. Fry, Colonel Theodore O’Hara, and Adjutant George N. Cardwell to be brought from distant States, and buried in State military lot at Frankfort, and graves marked with appropriate stones.
April 24, 1967 – Battle of the Hills began (Vietnam War)
April 27, 1805 - Lt. Presley O’Bannon led an expedition across North African desert and captured the fortified city then held against numerous attempts to retake the place until peace treaty was signed on June 4 1805. [Courtesy Luther Davenport] O’Bannon was the first to plant the American Flag on foreign soil. The phrase “the shores of Tripoli” from the U.S. Marine Corps Hymn refers to Lt. O’Bannon’s expedition. O’Bannon is now buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. (Battle of Derne, War with Tripoli)
Lt. Presley O’Bannon
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By Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion
A Kentucky National Guard color guard detail marches to the center of the football field during the opening ceremonies of the Mercer County High School football game Sept. 10. The Soldiers, assigned to 103rd Brigade Support Battalion attended the event in honor of the 68th anniversary of the Bataan Death March.
Harrodsburg, KY (September 17, 2010) – Sixty-six Kentucky National Guard Veterans were honored with a 21-gun salute at the start of the first Mercer County High School Titans football game of the season Sept. 10.
For the second consecutive year, fans paused to remember the 66 Tankers assigned to Company D, 192nd Tank Battalion who under Japanese captivity were forced to march 61-miles, in what is known as the Bataan Death March, to prison camps in the Philippines in 1942. Only 37 Kentucky Guardsman survived Japanese captivity.
Kentucky Guardsmen from the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, based in Danville, provided a color guard and detail for the opening ceremonies.
Kentucky Guardsmen stand at attention prior to honoring Soldiers of Company D, 192nd Tank Battalion with a 21-gun salute. In honor of the 66th anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the Guardsmen from 103rd Brigade Support Battalion participated in the opening ceremonies for the Mercer County High School football game Sept. 10. The community honored the 66 Kentucky Guardsmen of Company D who endured a 61-mile march in the Philippines in 1942. Only 37 Kentucky Soldiers survived the march and imprisonment in Japanese POW camps.
“It is important that the Kentucky National Guard not forget our history, and it is so wonderful to see that the local communities don’t forget either,” said Kentucky National Guard Command Historian John Trowbridge.
“The citizens of Harrodsburg truly take to heart that they will never leave a fallen Soldier,” he said. “And it’s nice that our current Guardsmen from the 103rd get to participate in our living history and remembrance of those Soldiers who were forever changed because of the Bataan Death March.”
