Governor visits Hoosier Guardsmen at Fort Stewart, Georgia

FORT STEWART, GA - Governor Mitch Daniels visited Friday and today with members of Indiana's 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart, Georgia and participated in a departure ceremony.  More than 3,000 Indiana Guardsmen are scheduled to depart for Iraq early next month.

"I think the weekend at Fort Stewart was a mixture of emotion and inspiration.  It's tough to say farewell to the best citizens we have, the 76th Combat Brigade, but also very uplifting to hear one military person after another testify to how qualified and ready they are for the duty that awaits them.  We did our best to thank them individually and as a group and we tried to thank as many family members as we could from the thousands that came down.  We have a big responsibility to them while their loved ones are gone and we will live up to it. We know their family members will do honor to Indiana in protecting us and our freedoms," said Daniels.

The governor arrived Friday and heard an update on training the Guardsmen have received, then had dinner with brigade leaders and soldiers, including Specialist Eddie Proctor of New Whiteland. Proctor's younger brother, Sergeant Joseph Proctor of Indianapolis, was killed by enemy fire on May 3, 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom after distinguishing himself by exceptionally heroic conduct. In 2006, Governor Daniels awarded Sgt. Proctor's family with the Silver Star award, the third highest honor awarded for valor to a member of the United States Armed Forces.  It was the first Silver Star awarded to an Indiana National Guardsman since 1969.

This morning, the governor met with soldiers and their families at breakfast and participated in the departure ceremony with Major General R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General of Indiana.

"This is an appropriate sendoff for a tremendous group of men and women that represent the finest qualities of citizenship – they do Indiana proud," said Daniels.

The governor is returning to Indiana this afternoon.

Listen to the governor's impressions from his time at Fort Stewart here: http://www.in.gov/gov/uploads/030108GovfromFortStewartGeorgia.mp3

Source: Governor's Office Press Release