Infantry Division Honors Soldiers who Deployed

By Spc. Michael Gann
38th Infantry Division Public Affairs 

SHELBYVILLE, IN - Friends, family members and community supporters gathered Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 in Shelbyville for a Freedom Salute to honor the 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion for their service in Iraq. The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge our Army National Guard Soldiers, as well as those who have supported them during the recent military operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

  “We ask a lot of our Soldiers today, along with their families, who face just as hard of challenges in keeping the family balanced and maintained while their spouses are called away to fight,” said Maj. Gen. Richard B. Moorhead, commander for the 38th Infantry Division.

  “Your sons, daughter, fathers and mothers could not have accomplished the mission were it not for the support of everyone in this room. The hardships that were endured by your loved ones were minimized by your letters, phone calls and care packages,” said Capt. Aaron Fletcher, commander for Company D 2-238th GSAB.

  Each Soldier was presented with awards and gifts including a commemorative coin, a framed United States flag, and two service pins. One pin was for the Soldier and the other for each Soldier’s family member.

  Indiana National Guard Col. David Wood, commander of the 38th Aviation Brigade, was also given a Patriot Guard Riders flag by members attending the Freedom Salute to honor the Soldiers of the 2-238th GSAB.

  While in Iraq, the 2-238th GSAB “logged more that 4,000 flight hours, flew more that 1200 missions with more than 1,500 patients including National Guard Soldiers and Iraqi army, security and citizens, with 100 percent mission execution,” said Capt. Tim Stoner, commander for Company C 2-238th GSAB.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders look on at the flag as the National Anthem plays at the Freedom Salute ceremony Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 in Shelbyville, Ind. Photo by Spc. Michael Gann, 38th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Indiana National Guard Col. David Wood, commander of the 38th Aviation Brigade, displays a flag from the Patriot Guard Riders at the Freedom Salute ceremony Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 in Shelbyville, Ind. Photo by Spc. Michael Gann, 38th Infantry Division Public Affairs.

Source: Indiana National Guard

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