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| Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett Jr. (standing, fourth from left) congratulates members of the Tennessee National Guard's 168th Military Police Battalion receiving Bronze Stars. The awards ceremony was held Saturday in the Dyersburg High School Little Theater. Honored are (seated, from left): Capt. Russell Newbill, Master Sgt. Tim Paul, Col. Brad Bishop, Command Sgt. Maj. James Smith, Capt. Wade Reed and (standing) Maj. Hunter Belcher, Maj. Richie Gammons, Maj. Dana Hughes, Hargett, Sgt. Maj. Mike Gentry and Capt. Sparky Fields. |
Bronze Star medals were presented to 10 soldiers Saturday during the Tennessee National Guard's Freedom Salute ceremony in Dyersburg.
The Freedom Salute was declared one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It was designed to publicly acknowledge the soldiers who served in Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom - as well as those who supported the soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett Jr., adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard and former member of the Dyersburg unit, thanked the soldiers for their recent service at Camp Bucca in Iraq. He said he'd been participating in Freedom Salutes all across the state, but the ceremony in Dyersburg would be his last official drill. He plans to retire in January.
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| Maj. Benjamin Hardin of the Tennessee National Guard's 168th Military Police Battalion holds a handful of awards as he works his way down a receiving line. The guard unit held its Freedom Salute ceremony Saturday to honor soldiers with the medals and awards they earned while serving in Iraq. The 107-member unit returned to Dyersburg on Oct. 11. Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Burns (left) announced each honored soldier. |
"The battalion and brigade leadership often refer to the 168th (Military Police Battalion) as a unit that operates above the standards," Hargett said. "Because you do, you've all been called upon to establish standards for the good of the theater internment facilities. ... The level of professionalism you demonstrate with a positive attitude will have an impact on the global war on terrorism forever.
"But, most importantly, you went, you performed your mission and you all came home safely." The unit operated and then shut down an Iraqi detainee camp. The soldiers returned to Dyersburg on Oct. 11.
National Guardsmen are often referred to as "weekend warriors," but Hargett said that term no longer applies to the men and women of the Tennessee National Guard.
 Tennessee State Rep. Judy Barker reads a proclamation honoring the Tennessee National Guard's 168th Military Police Battalion from Dyersburg. The unit returned from duty in Iraq on Oct. 11. [Click to enlarge] |
The Bronze Star was the highest military honor of the day. It is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves with brave or praiseworthy achievements or service while fighting an enemy or involved in a conflict with a foreign force. The award also may be awarded for heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in combat.
Honored with a Bronze Star were: Maj. Hunter Belcher, Col. Brad Bishop, Capt. Sparky Fields, Maj. Richie Gammons, Sgt. Maj. Mike Gentry, Maj. Dana Hughes, Capt. Russell Newbill, Master Sgt. Tim Paul, Capt. Wade Reed and Command Sgt. Maj. James Smith. Capt. Derrick Greer and Capt. Donald Thomas also earn the Bronze Star but did not attend Saturday's ceremony.
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| Tennessee National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. James Smith (left) and Col. Brad Bishop (right) present a framed mosaic to Lynn Fritchey of the American Red Cross. She received the Outstanding Centers of Influence award for going out of her way to ensure soldiers and their families were looked after. The American flag print was presented Saturday during the Freedom Salute ceremony for the 168th Military Police Battalion from Dyersburg. |
Each soldier also received: the Tennessee National Guard War Service ribbon, the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Unit Commendation and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Also honored Saturday were:
* Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal for soldiers who distinguish themselves with outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the nation: Master Sgt. Rosie Biggs, 1st Lt. Tommie Boleyn, Master Sgt. Robert Bowen, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Chance, Capt. Derrick Greer, 1st Sgt. Michael Henderson, Sgt. 1st Class Carrie Knott, Chief Warrant Officer Paul Lannom, Chief Warrant Officer Glenn McCaskill, Master Sgt. Cynthia Osteen, 1st Lt. Aaron Perry, 1st Lt. Robert Smith, Capt. Donald Thomas and Master Sgt. David Webb. Each soldier also received: the Tennessee National Guard War Service ribbon, the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Unit Commendation and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
* Recipients of the Army Commendation Medal, which is awarded to soldiers who exhibit heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service: Spc. Robert Adams, Spc. Tabitha Allen, Sgt. 1st Class Jill Allen, Sgt. Brandon Anderson, Spc. Jeremy Barham, Sgt. Karen Baugus, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bennett, Sgt. Jeremy Boyd, Spc. Ronald Buckley, Sgt. Jeff Burns, Staff Sgt. Shauna Chance, Spc. Frank Cheatham, Sgt. Matthew Crook, Sgt. John Deere, Sgt. Gary Dudley, Sgt. 1st Class Heather Enciso, Staff Sgt. Conswella Foxworth, Sgt. Shelly Galvan, Pfc. Robert Hammons, Spc. Guy Hannington, Staff Sgt Angela Harbula, Maj. Benjamin Hardin, Staff Sgt. George Haynes, Sgt. Troy Hodge, Sgt. Justin Hopper, Staff Sgt. Patrick Hughes, Sgt. 1st Class Lloyd Jones, Spc. Adam Kilbreath, Spc. Derek Kolwyck, Sgt. John Lavell, Spc. Randall Laws, Col. David Lennon, Sgt. Johnathan Lewis, Spc. Roscoe McClerkin, Spc. Lee Middleton, Staff Sgt. Kerry Northcott, Staff Sgt. Gary Pickett, Spc. John Powers, Spc. Ryan Poynter, Pvt. Christopher Rasmussen, Sgt. 1st Class Steven Ray, Sgt. Todd Rich, Sgt. Diedre Schopf, Spc. Stephen Sheppard, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Smith, Sgt. Lonnie Snyder, Sgt. 1st Class Jared Spain, Staff Sgt. Michael Stewart, Pfc. Nicholas Stokke, Sgt. Dennis Tager, Spc. Felicia Thompson, Spc. Dustin Tinnin, John Tomlinson, Pfc. Dedrick Twiddy, 1st Sgt. Andi Wenzler, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Whipple, Spc. Billy Winchester and Sgt. Henry Wright. Each soldier also received: the Tennessee National Guard War Service ribbon, the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Unit Commendation and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
 Tennessee National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. James Smith (left) and Col. Brad Bishop (right) present a 17-inch Minuteman statue to Patty Gibson, president of the Family Readiness Group for the 168th Military Police Battalion from Dyersburg. [Click to enlarge] |
* Soldiers who have been deployed more than two times in the support of the global war on terrorism: Spc. Josiah Brouillette, Sgt. Maj. Michael Gentry, Spc. Adam Kilbreath, Sgt. 1st Class Henry Lane, Sgt. 1st Class Brandon McFarland, Capt. Russell Newbill, Staff Sgt. Kerry Northcott, Sgt. 1st Class Steven Ray, Sgt. 1st Class Jared Spain and Sgt. Henry Wright.
* Recipients of the Freedom Ring for their second deployment: Sgt. 1st Class Jill Allen, Sgt. Brandon Anderson, Spc. Jeremy Barham, Maj. Hunter Belcher, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bennett, Lt. Col. James Bishop, Sgt. Jeremy Boyd, Sgt. John Browder, Spc. Ronald Buckley, Sgt. David Burns, 1st Lt. Francisco Cappas, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Chance, Spc. Frank Cheatham, Sgt. Matthew Crook, Sgt. John Deere, Sgt. Gary Dudley, Capt Sparky Fields, Staff Sgt. Conswella Foxworth, Sgt. Shelly Galvan, Maj. Richie Gammons, Capt. Derrick Greer, Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie Griffin, Spc. Willard Hawks, Master Sgt. Michael Henderson, Sgt. Troy Hodge, Sgt. Justin Hopper, Maj. Dana Hughes, Chief Warrant Officer Paul Lannom, Chief Warrant Officer Glenn McCaskill, Staff Sgt. Gary Pickett, Sgt. 1st Class Steven Ray, Capt. Wade Reed, Sgt. Diedre Schopf, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Sites, Command Sgt. Maj. James Smith, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Smith, Sgt. Lonnie Snyder, Staff Sgt. Dennis Tager, Sgt. Darnell Tharpe, Staff Sgt. Charles Walker and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Whipple.
 Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill accepts a flag from Col. Brad Bishop of the Tennessee National Guard's 168th Military Police Battalion from Dyersburg. Waiting (to the left) is Dyersburg Mayor John Holden. Both mayors provided flags to the guard unit before they deployed to Iraq. The soldiers flew the flags in Iraq on Sept. 11 and returned them Saturday to the mayors. [Click to enlarge] |
* Recipient of the Outstanding Centers of Influence Award: Lynn Fritchey of the American Red Cross. She went out of her way to ensure soldiers and their families were looked after.
* Recipient of the Distinguished Center of Influence Award: Patty Gibson, who served as president of the unit's Family Readiness Group during deployment.
In addition, the unit returned flags given to the group by Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill and Dyersburg Mayor John Holden. The flags were flown at Camp Bucca on Sept. 11.
State Rep. Judy Barker also read a proclamation thanking the soldiers for their efforts.
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Thank you all for your service to our country. The sacrifices you and your families make for me and my family are very much appreciated.
The National Guard hasn't changed much in the last 30 years, they're still doing a great job and the higher ranking officers are still claiming the best at-a-boys. we're still proud of you.
Nice ceremony .....too bad Ms pro-choice was there!
I thing the Guard has a very important job and do it well. Thanks all involved.