Missouri Guard aviation unit showered with good will at deployment ceremony

By: Ann Keyes
Unit Public Affairs Representative

IMAGE+LINK > Soldiers of the Missouri National Guard's 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group at a recent departure ceremony in their honor.
IMAGE+LINK > Soldiers of the Missouri National Guard's 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group at a recent departure ceremony in their honor.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - More than a thousand Family, friends and well-wishers made their way to center city Springfield recently to say goodbye to the Soldiers of the Missouri National Guard's 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group.

Braving bitter temperatures and intermittent snow, visitors poured into the University Plaza Convention Center a full hour before the group's departure ceremony was slated to begin.

The 750 programs printed for the event quickly disappeared as Soldiers raced to add rows of chairs to the expansive convention center floor.

"It's exciting," said Command Sgt. Maj. Randall Perkins before the ceremony began. "I'm amazed at the number of people here."

Perkins was honored as the oldest member of the team of aircraft maintenance experts. Missouri Sen. Kit Bond presented him with a folded American flag as part of a long-standing tradition of the Missouri Guard. Bond was also the event's keynote speaker.

"The citizens of our state and all of America thank you and your Families for the tremendous sacrifices that you have made and continue to make," Bond said. "You have always been there for us in foreign wars or helping us respond to domestic disasters. We are all in your debt."

Bond cited the Group's accomplishments, both as a unit and for single Soldiers who had distinguished themselves. Among those are Staff Sgt. Briana Crandall, the Missouri Guard's 2009 Soldier of the Year, and several Missouri Guard marksmen recognized statewide and nationally for accomplishments. Bond went on to mention the group holds five fathers who deploy alongside their sons.

"How proud that must make you feel," Bond said.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, the adjutant general of the Missouri Army and Air National Guard, also addressed the unit, telling them "the third time's a charm" in reference to the team's third deployment in support of U.S. and NATO Overseas Contingency Operations.

The Springfield-based unit, primarily comprised of rotary-wing helicopter mechanics and other aviation maintenance personnel, deploys to Kuwait. Some Soldiers with particular skills will move forward to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said group commander Col. William Thomas, of Rogersville.

"These Soldiers represent the best in the field of depot-level aviation maintenance," said Maj. Dan Coleman, deputy commander of the Guard's Aviation Reclassification Repair Activity Depot in Springfield. "Their responsibility will be to assume the leadership role as the senior aviation maintenance unit in theater."

In addition to Perkins, of Marionville, the youngest deploying member of the group was presented a Missouri state flag. Danner handed Sgt. Kevin Schubert, 20, the Missouri state flag as Schubert's Family members looked on.

Danner also read aloud a letter from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

"Your role is vital to both the United States and those countries you serve in overseas," Danner read. "All of Missouri takes pride in what you're doing and prays for your safe return."

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Soldiers were given 10 minutes for last goodbyes before boarding buses for Fort Sill, Okla. Currently in theater, they are slated to return to Springfield in early 2011.