Audubon Advocate Journal > News
A Hero's Welcome
 |
| Audubon's Trent Jorgensen makes his way through the flags held by the Patriot Guard Riders, into the Welcome Home Ceremony held Oct. 28 for the 3368 HET, who returned home after a successful 10 month mission in Kuwait. |
For more on the Troop's Welcome Home see the Nov. 6 edition of the Audubon County Advicate Journal.
By Jill Christensen
Tears of sorrow shed last October, as family members said goodbye to members of the 3368 HET Company, were replaced by tears of joy as those troops returned home on Oct. 28.
A caravan led by the Audubon County Sheriff and Audubon Fire Department, along with members of the Patriot Guard Riders, arrived at the Audubon High School, just past 3 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Their mission began on Sept. 22, 2008, as members of the 1168th and 1133rd Transportation Companies came together to create the 3368 heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Company. Pre-mobilization training at Camp Dodge wrapped up on Oct. 27, 2008 and the soldiers were given a hero’s send-off on Oct. 30. After arriving the next day at Fort Bliss, Tx., the troops focused on HET and Convoy training, further preparing them for their mission.
The soldiers arrived in two separate aircrafts to Kuwait, the first landing on Dec. 20, and the second arriving on Christmas day. At that point, the HET Company broke off one platoon in order to establish a Gun Truck Company for the battalion. The following 10 months, the troops conducted missions with every soldier contributing to the success of the mission. All together they completed 252 HET missions, 60 GT missions, traveled 2, 753,383 miles hauling 129,708 short tons and 8,000 pieces of equipment.
Following a short ceremony, the troops of the 3368 were given their final order of the mission and upon hearing the word, “Dismissed,” ran eagerly into the waiting arms of their loved ones.
A caravan led by the Audubon County Sheriff and Audubon Fire Department, along with members of the Patriot Guard Riders, arrived at the Audubon High School, just past 3 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Their mission began on Sept. 22, 2008, as members of the 1168th and 1133rd Transportation Companies came together to create the 3368 heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Company. Pre-mobilization training at Camp Dodge wrapped up on Oct. 27, 2008 and the soldiers were given a hero’s send-off on Oct. 30. After arriving the next day at Fort Bliss, Tx., the troops focused on HET and Convoy training, further preparing them for their mission.
The soldiers arrived in two separate aircrafts to Kuwait, the first landing on Dec. 20, and the second arriving on Christmas day. At that point, the HET Company broke off one platoon in order to establish a Gun Truck Company for the battalion. The following 10 months, the troops conducted missions with every soldier contributing to the success of the mission. All together they completed 252 HET missions, 60 GT missions, traveled 2, 753,383 miles hauling 129,708 short tons and 8,000 pieces of equipment.
Following a short ceremony, the troops of the 3368 were given their final order of the mission and upon hearing the word, “Dismissed,” ran eagerly into the waiting arms of their loved ones.
Copyright © 2010 - The Southwest Iowa News Source