Veterans Month
November 2003
NS Veterans Remember
Richard Kos, machinist
Mark Decker, machinist
John Hammond, senior general foreman wheel shop
Altoona, Pa.
1st Sgt. Richard Kos, Sgt.1st Class Mark Decker and I, 1st Sgt. John Hammond, are currently serving with the 28th Infantry Division in Kosovo in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.1st Sgt. Kos and Sgt. 1st Class Decker are machinists at the Norfolk Southern's Juniata Locomotive Shop, and I am the senior general foreman of the Wheel Shop at Juniata.
We mobilized on March 4, 2003, and traveled to Fort Stewart, Ga., for individual and theater-specific type training. We left Fort Stewart in June and traveled to Fort Polk, La., for a Mission Rehearsal Exercise. We departed Fort Polk on July 11, 2003 for Kosovo.
The 28th Division replaced the 263rd armor of the 1st Army Division, which transferred authority to the 28th ID on July 25, 2003. 1st Sgt. Kos is serving with C Co. 2/112, Sgt. 1st Class Decker is with 28ID Discom and I am serving with B Co. 2/112. We are the first National Guard unit to assume complete control of the American Sector in Kosovo.
Our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo. Our units do presence patrols throughout the sector. We guard churches at various locations to prevent damage or destruction to the buildings or property. We set up hasty vehicle checkpoints and randomly search vehicles for illegal weapons or contraband. We also settle disputes that arise between the different ethnic populations. We should be replaced sometime in February 2004 and be able to return to our jobs in the spring of 2004.
We would like to thank the NS for its support during our deployment. It gives us peace of mind knowing the NS supports the National Guard and Reserves. NS also provides us with monthly compensation checks while we are deployed which helps greatly to lessen the financial burden of our loved ones at home. From the three of us serving here at Camp Bondsteel, we would like to thank NS for its continued support.