PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON NATIONAL GUARD
Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, are scheduled to be honored in a mobilization ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m., in Pendleton.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF #2), located at 2100 Northwest 56th Drive.
Approximately 60 Soldiers will mobilize for deployment to Kuwait. The company will transport personnel and equipment throughout the region using CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
“We’re going to support the units that are over in Kuwait, doing some air movement and heavy lift and re-supply of equipment for them,” said the unit commander, Capt. William Liebhaber.
The company is comprised of Soldiers from several detachments of the 1-168th Aviation, including Det. 2 Headquarters and Headquarters Company; Det. 1 Bravo Company; Det. 2 Delta Company; and Det. 2 Echo Company. They will join with other Soldiers from Washington and California for this deployment.
Scheduled to attend the ceremony will be Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, on behalf of Oregon Governor Kate Brown; Oregon Rep. Greg Barretto (District 58: Umatilla, Union and Wallowa Counties); John Magana, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice (Pendleton office); Brig. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon; Mr. Dave Stuckey, Deputy Director, Oregon Military Department; Col. Gregory Day, Commander, 82nd Brigade; and State Command Sergeant Major Shane Lake, among others.
The event is open to the public.
The 1-168th Aviation has a long tradition of answering the call to duty. The unit recently provided CH-47 Chinook helicopter support to wild land firefighters during the 2015 fire season in August. They have previously deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan in both 2005 and again in 2010.
“Whether fighting fires here at home or supporting federal missions overseas, this unit lives our motto, ‘When we are needed, we are there!” said Stephen Bomar, Director of Public Affairs, Oregon Military Department.
