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Soldiers surprised by weekend deployment

by Staff Sgt. Kelly McCargo

FORT GORDON, Ga. (Army News Service, Feb. 19, 2003) -- The call caught everyone by surprise during a four-day weekend, but after a flurry of activity, the 63rd Signal Battalion received a tear-streaked, brass-band departure Feb. 16.

The battalion received its flight date to the Central Command area of operations 10 days earlier than projected, and soldiers scrambled back to post from as far away as Florida. More than 500 family members, friends and fellow Lightning Warriors attended the farewell ceremony before the troops were bused to Bush Airfield.

The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colo., also received deployment orders Feb. 15. Last week, about 1,300 soldiers at Fort Riley, Kans., received deployment orders, including those with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and 937th Engineer Group. Seven more Army Reserve units also received orders to mobilize through Fort Riley and deploy.

At Fort Gordon, Ga., the 63rd Signal Battalion soldiers were alerted late Feb. 14 and told to attend a 5 a.m. formation. Many of the soldiers had departed the area to visit with family members.

At 5 a.m. Saturday, leaders informed the soldiers of the new flight date and several things had to be accomplished on that day: Every soldier living in the barracks had to be completely moved out; their personal belongs crated and put into storage; their privately owned vehicles annotated and secured in the vehicle holding area.

Both the soldiers living off and on post had to have their duffle bags put into one of several waiting Light Military Transport Vehicles.

Even though the soldiers and their families had been preparing for this moment for several months, there were very few dry faces at Gym #3 on Feb. 16.

"This is what we've been training to do," said Sgt. 1st Class David Boone, B Co. 63rd Sig. Bn., cable platoon, platoon sergeant.

Boone has deployed to Korea three times and has done a routine tour in Kuwait.

"Many of the soldiers are worried, but I know they will do a good job," he said.

The scene at the departure ceremony: excited young children, wearing dessert camouflaged Kevlar helmets, tangled themselves around their crying mothers legs; DCU clad men and women gently stroked their spouses arm in an effort to console them; visiting mothers and fathers, with red-rimmed eyes, attempted to look cheerful for their DCU clad sons and daughters. All the while the Fort Gordon Signal Band gently played background orchestra music

Tears flowed steadily as the 63rd Signal Battalion guidon was sheathed-officially declaring their departure.

"Right Face," shouted Lt. Col. John Rutt, battalion commander. "Forward, March."

The soldiers marched out of the gym and boarded the awaiting buses.

The buses streaked toward Bush Airfield, surrounded by the flashing blue lights of the Richmond County Police Department squad cars.

There was no brass band or tear-streaked spouses waving goodbye as soldiers boarded the plane, but nevertheless the troops said they were eager to begin this deployment.

(Editor's note: Staff Sgt. Kelly McCargo is with the 93rd Signal Brigade. Information also provided by the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office and III Corps PAO at Fort Hood, Texas.)