Story by Spc. Brandy Mort, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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Capt. James Caniff, Commander of Detachment 1, Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation speaks to the crowd gathered during a departure ceremony for the unit in Frankfort, Ky., July 10, 2013. The unit will deploy to the Middle East to conduct medical evacuation missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT Ky. – Friends, family and Service members of the Kentucky National Guard packed the Army Aviation Support Facility in Frankfort, Ky., July 10, to honor the Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation as they prepare to deploy to the Middle East. The unit will fly UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters in support of medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and training missions throughout the region.
Det. 1 is a platoon sized MEDEVAC element and are attached to C. Co 2/238th out of Shelbyville, Ind. They last deployed overseas in 2009-2010 to Kosovo.
“We have been preparing for this mission for three years,” said Capt. James Caniff, Det. 1 Commander, “And I can say without a doubt we will be the most prepared and proficient unit doing this mission.”
To see more photos from the departure, click here.
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Chief Warrant Officer Tyler Johnson smiles with his daughter at a departure ceremony for Det. 1, Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation in Frankfort, Ky., July 10, 2013. Approximately 20 Soldiers of the unit will train at Fort Hood, Texas prior to deploying to the Middle East. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Most of the Soldiers deploying will be leaving children, one child recently turned six months old. One Soldier in particular laughed as his daughter toured the inside of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter prior to the ceremony.
“Leaving behind your child is always extremely hard,” said Chief Warrant Officer Tyler Johnson, a pilot assigned to the unit. “But it’s a sacrifice military children have to face. I’m proud of how strong my daughters will be after enduring this.”
Another Soldier is leaving behind her five year old daughter. She is thankful of how much technology she will be able to use in order to stay connected to her daughter.
“I’m going to miss Cora,” said Sgt. Heather Mehltretter, Flight Medic assigned to the unit. “But I’m happy that I will be able to use Skype or FaceTime to at least be able to see her face.”
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Staff Sgt. Jacob White embraces his wife, Jill, during a departure ceremony for Det. 1, Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation in Frankfort, Ky., July 10, 2013. White and other Soldiers of the unit will deploy to the Middle East to perform medical evacuation mission in the region. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Kentucky's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini joined Caniff in thanking the families and friends of the unit for the support and to remind the Soldiers of the quality training they have recieved in order to conduct the mission with the expected unbridled service of the Kentucky Guard.
The ceremony concluded with the audience joining Maj. April Brown in the tradition of singing ‘My Old Kentucky Home’.
The 2-238
Th will head for Fort Hood, Texas for final preparations before deploying to the Middle East.