Local guardsmen headed to Iraq
Richard and Anita Barndt stood outside Camp Shelby PX listening to stories being shared by their son and his soldier friends. Spouses, aunts and uncles, and little ones clutched the hands of their soldiers. Within a few days, Spc. Nathan Barndt and his friends – Spc. Brian Sheetz of Connellsville, Sgt. Shawn Lucas of Somerset, Sgt. Tim Williamson of Indiana and Spc. Robert Guthrie Jr. of Smithfield, and nearly 2,200 soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PANG), will be on Kuwaiti soil awaiting transportation to the Al Anbar Province in Iraq. It is the largest PANG deployment to combat since the Korean War.
The Commonwealth’s soldiers, along with nearly 2,000 other National Guardsmen representing 30 states, form the 2nd Brigade, better known as the “Iron Brigade.”
Although the Connellsville couple had recently spent nearly two weeks with their younger child at the family home, the two had traveled to the Mississippi training site to take part in his Thursday departure ceremony and to spend just a few more hours with their son.
“We’re very, very proud of what he is doing,” said Anita Barndt, her eyes welling with tears. “We’re very proud of what he has accomplished.”
The National Guardsmen spent six months at Camp Shelby training for the yearlong deployment. In early June, the brigade traveled to Fort Irwin, Calif., for “real life” environment training.
Located in the Mohave Desert, the fort is the west coast National Training Center (NTC) where soldiers are put to the test.
“There seemed like there was still something missing in our training (at Camp Shelby), but it all came together at NTC,” said Nathan Barndt.
For two weeks – day in and day out – the soldiers were on the “Iraqi battlefield” to bring together all that they had learned while at Camp Shelby, he added.
The 2001 Connellsville Area High School graduate and four other members of the Connellsville Company B, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor unit, will be patrolling the Al Anbar region in an Abrams tank that the five have learned to operate with precision while at Camp Shelby.
Sheetz said he will retire from the National Guard when he returns from Iraq.
“It will be 21 years (of National Guard service) when I get back,” he said. “This is my last hurrah.”
Sheetz was deployed in 2003 to Italy, where the Connellsville unit provided security for U.S. military sites.
A state Department of Corrections dietary service instructor in his civilian life, Sheetz said it was difficult to bid farewell to his wife, 16-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son and other family members and friends at the end of his recent two-week leave.
His children, he said, are well aware of the dangers he faces when he arrives in Iraq.
“They know I’m not going to Disneyland,” he said.
His brother, also a member of the military, just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and will be offering support to the family during his absence, said Sheetz.
“They know I’ll be back next July,” he said.
Lucas, meanwhile, bade farewell to his bride of less than a week – an act that was “very hard” for the young soldier.
Initially the couple had chosen July 29, 2006, for their wedding date, but decided to proceed with the nuptials prior to his departure.
“We’re still going to go through with the ceremony next year,” he said.
Like Sheetz, he believed it was better so say goodbye at home, rather than at Camp Shelby.
Carrie Conrad of New Salem, wife of Spc. Ben Conrad said the reality of the deployment hit her as the brigade stood Thursday on the ceremonial field.
“I am really scared about the whole idea of him and the others going into another country and fighting,” she said. “But I am very proud of him and the other soldiers and what they have accomplished.”
The couple married prior to his January arrival at Camp Shelby. He is a member of the 110th Infantry Headquarters unit based in Waynesburg.
During their time apart, said Carrie Conrad, she will be continuing her education and working.
“This deployment has made us much closer,” she said. “It is going to be hard to say goodbye, but the sooner he leaves, the sooner he can come back and we can move on with our lives.”
Jamie Gammon, a teacher with the Beth-Center School District, rejoined her husband at Camp Shelby to take part in the departure ceremony.
Major Ros Gammon, a member of Mount Pleasant’s 110th Infantry Headquarters, will be among those overseeing the brigade operations, which will include the planning and execution of security patrols and infrastructural improvement projects.
While his spouse expressed concerns of his safety, the officer’s thoughts are of her well-being while he is away from home.
“We’re not worried about what is going to happen over there,” said Ros Gammon. “Our No. 1 concern is that of our families here at home.
“We’re going to be fine. We’ve got that ‘can do’ attitude.”
Ros Gammon said that the success of the mission will be attributed to the training and the bonding of the soldiers to one another.
“We are family. We know each other so well. I can say two or three words and my guys know what I’m thinking. What has to be done and we get it done.”
Jamie Gammon said that her busy schedule and the support of her family, co-workers and students will fill a portion of the void left by her husband’s absence.
“I’m not one to say, ‘Oh my – what am I going to do while Ros is gone?'” she said. “My sole concern is about his safety and what I will do if he doesn’t come back.”
During the departure ceremony, senior officers of the brigade said that their mission would make history.
“You in the Iron Brigade will be writing new history in the 28th Division,” said Maj. Gen. Wesley E. Craig, Pennsylvania National Guard Division Commander. “While you are there (deposed Iraqi leader) Saddam (Hussein) will be brought to final justice and tried for his crimes against humanity; the country of Iraq will develop and vote on a new constitution and then elect its first government; you will continue to develop and supervise the development of the Iraqi Army into a force that can succeed in combat, but still be subordinate to civilian authorities.
“The 28th Division motto is Roll On and it stands for a lot of things – continuous service to our nation, constant forward movement against an enemy, steadfastness of purpose, success in mission and the offensive which the only truly way to win wars.
“So soldiers of the Iron Brigade – Roll On.”
Gov. Ed Rendell also took part in the departure ceremony.
“You are serving in one of the most noblest causes that man and womankind can do,” he said. “That is the service to other human beings to allow them to be free and allow them to enjoy the fruits of democracy.”
Brig. Gen. Robert P. French, Deputy Adjutant General for the Army and former Dawson resident, said the brigade will be led by a “very capable” commander – Col. John Gronski.
“He is a very experienced commander,” said French. “He is absolutely the right guy for the job.
“He cares about his soldiers, he makes sure that his junior leaders are as well-trained as he is and in turn what happens is that they take care of each other.
“(Gronski) has a lot of experience and is very intelligent and when those things are combined with his commonsense, you have a very good leader.”
Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore, First U.S. Army command general, said that the brigade is one of the best trained and equipped to serve in Iraq.
“This brigade is fit to fight,” he said. “When given a challenge, this brigade has lived up to its reputation – it rolls on. I am very proud of this brigade.”