AL ASAD AIRBASE, Iraq, - Many communities across America raise Soldiers, and it is a calling to give back to those communities through military service.
Several Soldiers from the 138th Quartermaster Support Co., of Brazil, Ind., as well as from the 1218th Transportation Co., from West Palm Beach, Fla., have shown their commitment by serving in the same National Guard unit for more than 20 years.
Although the unit names and equipment have changed over the years, the location has remained the same.
Master Sgt. Randall Knox, senior maintenance supervisor and operations non-commissioned officer in charge with the 138th QM Co., recalls the many changes.
"In 1970, when I first joined the unit, it was the 38th Supply and Transportation Company. The unit equipment consisted of the M151Jeep, M52-5 ton tractors, M818-5 ton tractor, 12 ton S&P trailers, 25 ton lowboy trailers, and M35-2 1/2 ton cargo trucks," said Knox. "In 1993, when the unit became Bravo Co., 38th Main Support Battalion, the unit equipment started to change extensively."
As Knox prepares for redeployment this month, he will also prepare to celebrate his 40-year anniversary in the Indiana Army National Guard this February.
"It was only seven miles from home, and at the time the unit had the military occupational specialty I wanted to make a military career in," Knox said. "The staff and its non-commissioned officer leadership were outstanding and did a great job of mentoring the younger enlisted Soldiers. Their leadership has made me what I am today, and that is why thirty nine years later, I am still giving advice and mentoring the younger Solders who join the unit."
As Knox was finishing his first 20 years in the 138th, Sgt. 1st Class Neil Brown, the readiness non-commissioned officer for the 138th and a Brazil, Ind. native, was just beginning his 20-year career in 1989. B
Brown said that he joined Bravo Company during his senior year of high school. He said that the decision was actually pressed upon him by his father, a retired Readiness NCO and first sergeant of Bravo Co., 38th MSB, Thomas Brown.
"Join the Indiana Army National Guard at the Brazil unit as an 88M," Brown's father told him.
"It is my hometown unit and the local community supports the Brazil unit in every way possible," said Brown.
As Thomas Brown should know just how the community supports the 138th, since not only was he a truck driver, a squad leader, and platoon sergeant but also the Recruiting and Retention noncommissioned officer for the unit while it was Bravo Company, according to his son.
"He helped build the unit from the community during his years as a very successful recruiter," Sgt. 1st Class Brown said.
Another local community member who joined the Brazil unit in 1979 was Sgt. Gary Nuckols, motor vehicle operator. Although Nuckols had a break in his service, he has still served the same unit for 20 years.
"It was 10 miles from my home, and the unit had good leaders," said Nuckols. "I can remember wearing solid green uniforms and the first thing you loaded for the field was the beer cooler," he said. Nuckols admits uniforms and priorities have changed over 20 years.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert McKenzie, unit maintenance officer for the 1218th TC, said equipment has changed over the course of his 30-year career.
"I can still remember thinking that because we were the National Guard we would never see the "high speed" equipment the Army had," said McKenzie. "We were always five to six years behind our active components. Now we have the same equipment."
After 31 years in the same National Guard unit, the theme of changing equipment and changing of the unit mission is evident as Sgt. 1st Class Joe Cortinas, from West Palm Beach, Fla., and a member of the 1218th TC recalls the changing face of the unit.
"Things seemed smaller, our main mode of transportation used to be the M151 Jeep as compared to today's behemoth M1070 Heavy Equipment Transport," said Cortinas. "Our unit transformed over the years from air defense to transportation."
As a mechanic for the 1218th, Sgt. Alan White, of West Palm Beach, Fla., understands firsthand the importance of serving the same unit regardless of equipment changes and challenges. Over his 24 year career in the same unit, White has enjoyed the challenges.
"The unit is my family, plus it has challenged my career, improved my skills as a Soldier and a person," he said. "I can pass on my expertise to new Soldiers in the unit, not only as a non-commissioned officer but also as a teacher."
Sgt. Willie Daggins, a light wheel mechanic for the 743rd Maint. Co., and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native, is currently attached with the 1218th. Daggins has spent 28 years with the same unit and has enjoyed working within the unit because of its friendly atmosphere and being close to home.
"The biggest change I've seen is that the vehicles have become more difficult to repair and maintain. The location of the unit never changed, only the people."
Unit supply sergeant for the 1218th, Staff Sgt. Agnes Thompson, from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is no stranger to changing faces but still feels part of the family during her twenty five years serving in the unit.
"Everyone assigned to this unit has made me feel like family," she said. "It is a unit that makes all Soldiers feel at home when they are not at home with their family."