Ceremony in Dover marks departure of 110 soldiers headed to Iraq

    With the accompaniment of bagpipes and drums, mounted police and the roar of veterans’ motorcycles, 110 members of the Delaware National Guard’s 261st Signal Brigade marched onto Legislative Mall the morning of Oct. 3 as they prepared for deployment to Iraq.
    The 261st will be the first National Guard unit to maintain the military’s signal and communications network in Iraq, replacing an active duty Army unit that has been in the war zone for the past year. During their deployment, they will temporarily be known as the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, a unit that will encompass soldiers from other states and active duty Army personnel.
    The occasion recalled the historic deployment of Delaware troops during the Revolutionary War, which took place on The Green, only a few hundred yards to the west.
    It also was marked by almost unprecedented security measures, due to the presence of Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., whose son, state Attorney General Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III, is a member of the judge advocate general corps.
    Except for one short remark from his father, the younger Biden, who holds the rank of captain, drew no special attention during the ceremony. He stood in the middle of the formation with his fellow soldiers, all of who were dressed in camouflage uniforms and tan desert-style boots.
    The senator, speaking less than 12 hours after completing a debate against Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, said that in addition to addressing the troops as a senator as he had done many times before, this time he was speaking as a father. His son, Biden noted, had offered only one piece of advice beforehand: “Dad, keep it short, we’re in formation.”
    Biden, not generally known for giving short talks, followed his son’s advice and spoke only for about three minutes.
    In addition, the assembled soldiers and their families, numbering about 1,000 people, heard remarks from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Delaware National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala and 261st commander Brig. Gen. Scott Chambers. Congressman Mike Castle, (R-Del.), was in Washington on House business, and could not attend.

Families adjust to a year alone
    Like all those throughout America’s history who have sent loved ones into harm’s way, the 261st’s families were both proud of their soldiers and concerned for their wellbeing.
    “We’ve known this for about a year,” said Tina Newton of Frederica, mother of deploying Sgt. 1st Class Larry Lang, “so we’ve pretty much come to terms with it.”
    Lang’s wife, Tamara, said the family is ready.
    “He’s pretty much taken care of everything,” she said. “We just hope and pray that he’ll be in a safe place.”
    Spc. Kristina Page’s friend, Heather Halfern of Dover, said Page was a very devoted soldier – a “die hard” in her words – who had volunteered for the mission.
    “She’s scared and all,” said Heather’s mother, Sharon Hurley, “but she said she’s got to do what she’s got to do.”
    “We’re scared for her,” Hurley added. “They say it’s safe in Iraq where she’s going, but it’s not safe, no matter where they are.”
    Capt. Rodney H. Copes of Bear was one of those officers responsible for getting the 261st ready to go, said his wife, Cynthia.
    “He worked very hard at it,” she said. “It took him away for quite a bit. He put in some very long hours.”
    And even though she and their two children are prepared to spend a year without husband and father, it has not been an easy task, Copes said.
    “I’ve been adjusting,” she said. “It’s one of those things. You can’t prevent his going, so you pick up the pieces to keep the family running.”
    Choking back his emotions, Marine Corps veteran Wayne Copes of Dover said if it were up to him, he would gladly have gone instead.
    “If I could get back in, and take my brother’s place, I would,” he said, his voice breaking. “But I know he’ll be alright.”
    Sgt. Tom Johnson of Milford, a former member of the renowned 82nd Airborne Division, earned the coveted Combat Infantry Badge in 1991 while fighting in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. He’ll be returning as a communications specialist.
    “I’m looking forward to this,” Johnson said. “I want to contribute my experience to those who haven’t been there before.
    “We’ve been given a tremendous amount of training and support at all levels,” he added. “The people we’re deploying are some of the smartest soldiers in the military.
    “I’m proud to be one of them,” Johnson said.

‘Delaware salutes you’
    The departure ceremony was by turns both solemn and emotional. Vavala noted they were saying a temporary farewell to what he called the best citizen soldiers in the best unit of the Delaware National Guard.
    “You see before you ordinary Americans, called upon to perform extraordinary service on behalf of their country,” he told the crowd.
    “But,” Vavala added, “I submit to you they are anything but ordinary Americans, because they are just seven-tenths of 1 percent of our population currently serving in the military of the United States, the few among us prepared to defend our liberty and freedom.”
    The brigade had trained more than 12 months, Vavala said, to prepare for this deployment. Many had become skilled medics and had garnered extensive experience in hand-to-hand combat training.
    “Rest assured, they are ready,” he told the troops’ families.
    In addition, the general said, those left behind will have the full support of the 261st’s staff and its closely-knit family support group.
    “I thank you for all of your support to your soldiers,” he said. “You, and make no mistake about it, are making a huge sacrifice on behalf of your nation. It often goes unnoticed, but not here in Delaware.”
    At Vavala’s signal, the crowd broke out in thunderous applause and cheers as the departing soldiers bowed their heads.
    “On lonely nights in Iraq, they will recall this moment and your love,” he said. “Godspeed, God bless our military, and you soldiers of the 261st Theater Signal Brigade.
    “Delaware salutes you.”

No special provisions for Biden
    Before the 261st heads to Iraq, its members first will spend up to eight weeks in training at Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas.
    Delaware National Guard Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Len Gratteri said he could not discuss specifics of the 261st’s mission, other than to say its soldiers will be responsible for providing military communications support throughout Iraq.
    Biden, Gratteri added, will be working as a trial counselor, prosecuting soldiers who violate military law.
    The 261st also has taken no extraordinary steps regarding Biden, despite his position as state attorney general and the son of a prominent politician.
    “We’ve made no special considerations for him, nor has he asked for any,” Gratteri said. Any changes in Biden’s status should his father be elected vice president would be up to senior officers in the active duty Army, to which he now belongs.
    “I’m sure they’ve considered it and that they’ve got a plan,” Gratteri said.
    Editor’s note: Jeff Brown is the News Editor for the Dover Post of which the Transcript is affiliated.