Active Unit News

Fort Hood troops glad wait is over
By Kevin J. Dwyer
Killeen Daily Herald
FORT HOOD — The stream of Task Force Ironhorse troops continued unabated Tuesday, as several hundred more 4th Infantry Division soldiers deployed to Kuwait. Among the soldiers who deployed from Fort Hood Tuesday was Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general of TF Ironhorse. Many of the 200 soldiers who left the post Tuesday said that while they were nervous about the deployment, they are happy to be moving after more than two months of delays. "It's been long and drawn out, and at times it's been rather difficult," said Pfc. Lori Segers, of the 124th Signal Battalion. "I'm just glad we're getting it over with." Segers said her biggest concern about the deployment was making sure her 5-year-old and 2-year-old sons were safe while she was gone. Because of the uncertainty in the world situation, both boys have been with her in-laws in Orlando, Fla., since September. One soldier, who asked not to be identified, said the unit's morale was high now that they were finally deploying. However, he could not keep a tear from coming to his eye when he talked about his wife, who he has not seen since she went home to Seattle in January. Spc. Bobby Valentine and his wife, Pamela, were also busy saying goodbye to each other. "We've never really been separated before. I just want him to be safe," Pamela said. Spc. Valentine, who grew up in Killeen, said the deployment will be a first for him. "This is the first time I've ever left Killeen. I'm from Killeen," Spc. Valentine said. "I went to basic and (advanced individual training) and came right back." Since the task force began deploying Thursday, about 5,100 soldiers have left the post, with the remaining scheduled to leave within the next week to 10 days. When the soldiers from the 124th Sig and the 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, which also deployed Tuesday, arrive in Kuwait, their equipment will be there waiting for them. The first three ships carrying TF Ironhorse's equipment — a force that will eventually encompass more than 30,000 troops, 500 armored vehicles and 18 attack helicopters — arrived Tuesday at Shuaiba Port, Kuwait, for unloading. Thirty ships carrying the division's hardware will arrive in the coming days, but TF Ironhorse won't face immediate battle. The port can handle only five ships at a time, and each ship takes two to three days to unload. The helicopters have to be reassembled, and weapons need to be tested before being certified combat-ready. "We could be on the battlefield in a matter of weeks,'' said Brig. Gen. Stephen Speakes, assistant division commander for support. Speakes said parts of the division could go into battle without waiting for all its troops and equipment to arrive. Already 5,000 soldiers from the division have arrived by plane to Kuwait in recent days. The equipment made a detour to Kuwait after Turkey's government refused to allow passage of U.S. ground troops. Ships that had been waiting for weeks in the eastern Mediterranean Sea sailed for 10 days, passing through the Suez Canal to bring cargo that had been loaded as long as two months ago. Soldiers who have deployed during the past week have expressed some concern about what condition their equipment will be in when it is unloaded. One soldier with 2-4 Aviation said it is not the length of time the battalion's UH-60 Black Hawks has spent on ship, but rather how long it has been since the unit's mechanics have worked on the helicopters that concerns him. However, he did add that he expects the aircraft to be in operation soon after the battalion arrives. Mixed in with the soldiers deploying Tuesday was a small group of civilians who work for defense contractors such as General Dynamics, L3 Communications and Northrop Grumman. "This is the first time I've ever been in the field," said Gary Ullom, who works for General Dynamics out of Madison, Ala. "I've never been in the military, so I'm not really sure what to expect." Bill Seyler, of Killeen, works for L3 Communications and said he does know what to expect. Seyler retired from the Army after 22 years and served in Desert Storm. "It seems a lot easier to prep for it this time; you do it at your own pace," Seyler said with a smile. Another of the contractors, Jim Garten of Westminster, Md., agreed but said he was not expecting the deployment after getting out of the military. "You do your time in the military and you get out and your spouse doesn't expect you to have to do this again," Garten said. Once the soldiers arrived at Robert Gray Army Airfield, the buses carrying them drove straight out to the ramp to the waiting American Airlines 777. After walking the 50 yards from the buses to the foot of the stairs leading to the plane, the soldiers hauled their carry-on gear up the 23 steps and disappeared into the plane, most without a backward glance. Contact Kevin J. Dwyer at kjdwyer@kdhnews.com The Associated Press contributed to this report.