Soldiers honored for service

• By ASHLEY M. BAILEY
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jan 12, 2009 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 am

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Sgt. Michelle Green’s young sons stayed close to their mother Sunday. Seven months ago, Green, a single mother, was serving her country for almost a year in Iraq.

Like most of her fellow Louisiana Army National Guard soldiers, Green kept in contact with her children and other family members through letters and frequent telephone calls. “It was hard missing the everyday things,” she said.

Green was one of about 175 members of the Guard’s 769th Engineer Battalion honored Sunday in a Freedom Salute ceremony downtown.

As Green went to the front of the hotel meeting room to receive her Louisiana War Cross, her sons looked on. When she returned to her seat, 6-year-old son Jayson sat cradled in his mother’s lap while his 7-year-old brother Kristopher rested his head against Green’s arm.

Guard commander Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, along with distinguished military guests, presented each soldier with the Louisiana War Cross, an American flag and a certificate of appreciation, among other tokens, in recognition of their service.

“I’m proud of you and the accomplishments you’ve made,” Landreneau said. “Thank you for what you’ve done in defense of your country and in support of your state.”

The soldiers are members of two units, the Headquarters Support Company and the Forward Support Company, within the 225th Engineer Brigade of the 769th Engineer Battalion. After months of training in Wisconsin and a layover in Kuwait, both units were deployed to Iraq in October 2007. They returned to Louisiana in June.

Six soldiers received a special recognition, the Combat Action badge, which is given to those soldiers who have engaged in combat while on deployment. The Guardsmen also honored Sgt. Terrell W. Gilmore, of Baton Rouge. Gilmore was killed March 30 by a roadside bomb outside of Sadr City during the unit’s deployment.  Another soldier was wounded in that explosion.

The Freedom Salute ceremony is held in recognition and appreciation of Guardsmen and units deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and other peacekeeping operations across the globe.

The ceremony marked the end of a weekend of reintegration training, said Lt. Col. Keith Waddell, the battalion’s commander in Iraq.

During the training, the soldiers learned methods to help them cope with problems soldiers may face once they return home from war and reunite with their families and communities. Some of the topics covered included post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and financial planning.

Waddell said he was proud of his soldiers. “I call them the dream team,” he said.

In Baghdad, the units were involved in construction operations. They served as headquarters for units from other states and also constructed walls, repaired roads and performed other building tasks.