Hundreds of families, friends and well-wishers turned out Friday for departure ceremonies at Camp Shelby, MS, for over 3,000 soldiers of the National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
The regiment is bound for Iraq, marking its second deployment to that country, the first coming in 2004. Governor Phil Bredesen and his wife, Andrea Conte, were at the military post Friday to see off the Tennesseans, just as they did five years ago. The governor told the assembled soldiers, “Nothing humbles me more than to serve as your Commander in Chief.”
He recognized and thanked families of the soldiers and offered a special “thank you” to soldiers who had deployed more than once, which represented the majority of the members of the 278th. This brings to nearly 20,000 the number of Tennessee Guardsmen called up since Sept. 11, 2001
The National Guard men and women have been at Camp Shelby since early December conducting specialized pre-deployment training.
The highlight of the departure ceremony Friday was a full formation of the 3,000 soldiers, held on the post parade field with a review by Governor Bredesen, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Max Haston, and military dignitaries from across the country.
“It’s humbling to stand before these great troopers, “ said Maj. Gen. Haston. ”You are the standard bearers of this nation,” he added. He also thanked soldiers’ families whom he described as, “the Guard family.”
Other notables from Tennessee included Congressman Lincoln Davis, Congressman Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Zack Wamp, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, House Speaker Kent Williams, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs John Keys, and State Rep. Joshua Evans.
The 278th ACR is the Tennessee National Guard’s largest single unit, and the massive deployment affects 45 cities stretching tip-to-tip across Tennessee, all the way from Kingsport in the east to Henderson in the west.
Area News
278th departs for Iraq
- Area News
-
-
Plane has rough landing
No one was injured when a pilot veered off a runway to avoid a deer that was in the path of his light airplane as he landed the craft.
-
Lemert grave site rededication set Monday
The restoration of the gravesite of 1st Sgt. Milo Lemert, Cumberland County's only WWI Medal of Honor recipient, is finally complete after months of repair and rebuilding. A special dedication will be held May 28 at the City Cemetery at Sgt. Lemert's gravesite. The dedication will immediately follow the 11 a.m. annual Memorial Day Ceremony for Cumberland County in downtown Crossville. The public is invited to both events.
-
County to use new district boundaries to fill vacancy
The Cumberland County Commission approved a resolution to use new district boundary lines in the August County General Election in order to fill the vacancy created by the death of 9th District Commissioner Clyde Cramer.
-
THP to enforce seat belt usage this Memorial Day weekend
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is planning to step up efforts to enforce seat belt usage over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. State Troopers along with other state and local law enforcement agencies are participating in the national seat belt enforcement campaign, Click it or Ticket, May 21 through June 3.
-
Shooting victim identified; accomplice jailed
A burglar who fled from a home invasion after his partner was shot by a resident may be held responsible for his friend's death, sources close to the investigation of Tuesday's fatal shooting have told the Chronicle.
-
Healthy eating, activity earn CO honors
Students at Crab Orchard Elementary have been eating better and getting more activity during the past school year. Those efforts have been recognized with prestigious awards for school health.
-
Defendant pleads guilty to avoid jail
A Crossville area man told a Criminal Court judge earlier this month he was entering a plea of guilty to fraud to keep from going to jail.
-
Man sentenced in sexual battery, statutory rape cases
A Crossville man charged with raping one woman and with having sexual relations with an underaged teen in a separate incident has pleaded guilty to related charges and was sentenced to jail.
-
County to build, operate Big South Fork Visitor's Center
The Big South Fork Visitor's Center may become a reality after the county commission narrowly approved building and operating the facility once the project is completed.
-
One dead in shooting near PH
One person is dead, a homeowner slightly injured, and at least a third person is in custody following a fatal shooting that may have been sparked by a home invasion near the Pleasant Hill community. And a fourth person might be connected with the incident.
- More Area News Headlines
-
Plane has rough landing


