[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12399-S12400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WELCOME HOME 452D ARMY RESERVE ORDNANCE COMPANY

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to welcome home the men and women of the 452d Ordnance 
Company, an Army Reserve Unit based in Aberdeen, SD, and congratulate 
them on successfully completing their recent mission to Hungary in 
support of Bosnian peacekeeping efforts.
  The 452d is one of only six direct support ordnance units in the 
entire U.S. Army. The 452d is also a tier 2A high priority unit, which 
means that the members of this unit are well-trained, have adequate 
manpower, and have a high level of readiness. The men and women of the 
452d pride themselves on their ability to quickly and effectively 
mobilize when their country calls upon them.
  The 452d has an impressive history of serving the Nation. The 452d 
Ordnance Company was the first unit in the 6th Army to be deployed 
during Operation Desert Storm. The members performed extremely well 
during this mobilization and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation 
from the Secretary of the Army for their outstanding service. As you 
know, Mr. President, this is an extremely prestigious award with only a 
handful of National Guard and Reserve units having ever received it. 
Furthermore, the 452d was recently inspected and found to be performing 
at such an outstanding level that the unit is being recommended for the 
Meritorious Unit Commendation once again. Most units would be honored 
to simply be nominated for this award, and it is truly a sign of the 
452d's excellence that it may receive the award twice.
  In addition to helping lead coalition forces to victory in the Middle 
East, the 452d brought relief to many in their hometown of Aberdeen, 
SD, by aiding emergency management efforts in recent winter storms and 
flooding. The 452d is a shining example of how reserve units across the 
country are being called upon more frequently to serve their country 
both at home and abroad.
  The men and women of the 452d began their most recent, and perhaps 
most demanding, mission in March of this year when 83 members of the 
unit were mobilized for duty in Europe. For the past 8 months, these 
individuals were stationed at Taszar Air Base, Hungary, supporting 
peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia. Unit members were rotated into Bosnia 
from time to time, venturing inside one of the most politically 
volatile areas in the world.
  Of course, the soldiers who were mobilized were not the only ones who 
sacrificed in service to their country. The families of these 
servicemembers also exhibited extreme courage in facing new challenges 
and additional responsibilities in the absence of their loved ones. To 
help with that transition, the 452d Family Support Group provided 
guidance, assistance, and support. In fact, during the Persian Gulf 
conflict, the 452d Family Support Group received the Best Small Unit 
Family Outreach Program Award from the 96th Army Reserve Command. The 
452d

[[Page S12400]]

Family Support Group met every Wednesday to discuss the ways in which 
they could best support family members of the mobilized soldiers. On 
Saturdays, they frequently showed videos of the mobilized soldiers 
stationed in Hungary and provided access to e-mail for communication 
between soldiers and their family members.
  Each and every family member deserves recognition, but at the risk of 
leaving someone out, I would like to mention the following officers of 
the 452d Family Support Group: Sandy Robinson, South Dakota Reserve 
Family Support leader; Ronnie Evenson, unit leader; Becky Parker, group 
leader; Lois Beckner, group leader; Mary Ewalt, group leader; and Donna 
Schulte, assistant group leader.
  I would also like to mention the important service provided by the 
unit members who were not mobilized, but who remained in South Dakota 
and provided the ever-important moral support to their colleagues 
serving overseas. These individuals, including mechanics, 
administrative personnel, and others, continue to ensure that the unit 
is ready to serve their nation at a moment's notice.

  It is also important to recognize those employers who stood by their 
employees called upon to serve their nation. The commitment of 
employers like these allow our country to rely so heavily on its 
reserve and guard forces.
  It is with much relief and pride that I join the family members of 
the 452d and all South Dakotans in welcoming the following troops 
safely home from their mission. It is from this service that the 452d 
has formed a strong bond with the community of Aberdeen and the State 
of South Dakota, and I thank them for their service.
  Sgt. Brian Allmendinger, Spc. Joellen Allmendinger, Spc. J. Arlt, 
Spc. Travis Atkinson, 1st Sgt. Troy Beckner, Spc. Michael Bell, S.Sgt. 
Chad Bierman, Sgt. Kirk Bierschenk, Sgt. Scott Black, Pfc. Wileen 
Blacklance, Spc. Hollie Breitag, S.Sgt. Rodney Buck, CW2 Aaron Donat, 
Sgt. Eric Donat, S.Sgt. Joel Donat, S.Sgt. Mark Dunwoody, Sfc. Ronald 
Evenson, S.Sgt. Michael Ewalt, Sgt. Janel Fonder, Spc. Robin Freeland, 
Sgt. Calvin Gardner, Sgt. Chad Gardner, Sgt. Brian Grabowska, Sgt. 
Kevin Gustafson, Sgt. Daniel Haberling, Spc. Kristi Heintzman, S.Sgt. 
Brabdon Herold, Sgt. Adam Heyd, Spc. Joshua Horner, Sgt. Sean Johnson, 
S.Sgt. Stanley Kannas, Spc. Justin Kappes, Sgt. Daniel Karst, Sgt. 
Jyson Karst, S.Sgt. Daryl Kiefer, S.Sgt. Gary Kindle, Spc. Deric 
Knutson, Sgt. Deidra Kolb, S.Sgt. Gene Kopetsky, S.Sgt. Donald Kraemer, 
S.Sgt. Scott Lane, Sfc. Thomas Mailloux, S.Sgt. David Manning, Sgt. 
Philip Marnette, Spc. Rebecca McGannon, Pfc. Shawn Nash, Spc. John 
Naumann, Spc. Britt Nelson, Sgt. Jeffrey Norden, Spc. Benjamin Ochs, 
1st Lt. Kritina Ochsner, Sgt. Lance Ordal, S.Sgt. Darrell Pfeifle, Sgt. 
Jerry Plank, Spc. Derrick Quitsch, Spc. Jammey Rawden, CW4 Freddie 
Robinson, S.Sgt. Kevin Roush, S.Sgt. Jason Rydberg, Spc. Joshua 
Ryowski, S.Sgt. Todd Salfrank, Sgt. Robert Sayer, Sgt. Justin 
Scepaniak, S.Sgt. Paul Schilling, Sgt. Dawn Schlotte, 1st Lt. John 
Schulte, Sgt. Jeffrey Severson, Spc. Cassandra Shaffer, Sgt. Michael 
Stofferahn, Sgt. Kenneth Sutton, Sgt. Wade Taylor, Sgt. Tonda Thomas, 
S.Sgt. Terry Thue, Sgt. Joseph Thyne, W0C David Trego, S.Sgt. Chad 
Vetter, S.Sgt. Tamera Voss, Sgt. James Welch, Spc. Charles Willis, Sgt. 
Shannon Wright, and S.Sgt. Kenneth Young.

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