Families and Friends Make Christmas Care Packages at Vernal Armory

By Geoff Liesik
Originally broadcast on KSL Channel 5 on November 28, 2012

VERNAL — There wasn't a pointy ear to be found, but the folks sorting through mountains of goodies and packing gift boxes Tuesday night at the National Guard Armory in Vernal — and the countless donors who supplied them — were thrilled to serve as Santa's elves.

"We don't have to ask. They come to us," said Stephanie Stensgard, referring to the dozens of volunteers and donors.

Stensgard and others in the Uintah Basin began looking for a way to visibly show their support for the nation's military after the Aug. 5, 2011, death of Marine Sgt. Daniel David Gurr. The 21-year-old Vernal native was shot and killed while on foot patrol with his unit in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

"As a community, we lost one of our own," Stensgard said.

The group found their opportunity to help out when another local Marine, Lance Cpl. Logan Weaver, called home from Afghanistan in late 2011.

"He had mentioned that some of the guys he was with were getting no (care) packages," Stensgard said. "So we formed a group to send packages to the Marines ... while they were deployed, and it grew from there to other platoons."

Support America's Military — the group formed by Stensgard and Weaver's mother, Kris Weaver — soon joined forces with the Sgt. Daniel D. Gurr Foundation. So far, the two organizations have shipped more than 300 care packages to members of the armed forces deployed overseas, including one shipment so far to soldiers with the Utah National Guard's 624th Engineer Company.

"It seemed only natural that we would adopt our local Guard unit that was deploying," Stensgard said.

About 150 members of the 624th Engineers left Utah in June for training at Fort Bliss, Texas. They have since arrived in Afghanistan's Paktika province, where they'll remain for nine more months.

Marandy Massey, a family assistance specialist with the Utah National Guard whose husband is deployed with the 624th, said she knows her husband and other members of his unit look forward to receiving the boxes sent by Support America's Military and the Gurr Foundation.
  "I know he's going to love seeing the candy, for sure, and I know that they all love the energy drinks," Massey said. "They've all been asking for those.

"The most important thing is, it's a package," she said. "They don't particularly care what's in it. The fact that someone cares enough to send something to them means a lot."

Most of the items in the boxes — from the candy to the caffeine and the baby wipes to the magazines — is donated by area residents and businesses, according to Stensgard. The rest is purchased with donated funds. Even the cost of shipping is covered by community fundraisers.

"Each box costs about $13.45 to ship, so it gets pretty costly," Stensgard said, adding that Uintah High School's wrestling team donated the proceeds from its Red and White Night to cover the shipping cost for the 44 Christmas care packages that were boxed up Tuesday night.

"It's just been overwhelming," said Red Jensen, whose son is in Afghanistan with the 624th.

"For somebody that has a child that's been deployed, it's very warming to know that there's this kind of support for them when they're out there," he said.

Utah Guard Engineers Support Theater Operations in Afghanistan

By Staff Sgt. Anna Rutherford

Originally published on the Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - In the center of a forward operating base in Paktika province, Afghanistan, is a place where many pass by, but few notice. Within the confines of a gated and fenced yard, several U.S. Army engineers work diligently, day after day.

Among towering stacks of plywood and materials, a lone forklift moves deftly, neatly organizing lumber. Although the scene looks more like a “Peanuts” character with clouds of dust, the forklift looks effortless in its purpose.

“From what I’ve heard, it was just kind of chaos around here,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Jared Ruppe of the 624th Engineer Company, Utah Army National Guard, assigned to the 178th Engineer Battalion, 411th Engineer Brigade. “They just started organizing right off the bat. They’re just trying to get everything to where it’s easier for us to do our job.”

U.S. Army Spc. Paul Gibbs, 624th Engineer Company, Utah Army National Guard, assigned to the
178th Engineer Battalion, 411th Engineer Brigade, winds up a ratchet strap on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, Nov. 15, 2012. Gibbs, a Spanish Fork, Utah native, works as a carpenter in the bill of materials yard and assists with vertical construction operations within the area of operations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Anna Rutherford, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

The bill of materials yard or “BOM yard” on Forward Operating Base Sharana, was a drastically different place in previous years, with more materials than Army engineers knew what to do with or were able to find space for. Today the yard is neatly organized with portions of the yard looking more like a heavy duty version of Home Depot or Lowe’s. With business booming, the engineers are happy to have the tidiness.

“The first three months we were taking one or two orders a week,” said Ruppe. “I want to bet we get close to 12 a week.” 

Business for the BOM yard means customers coming in with requests for building materials. This could mean items as large as stacks of plywood, to items as small as screws and nails. 

Standing tall near the entrance to the yard is a large wooden facility. Rays of light shine through the loft windows lining the wall near the roof. Inside, the floor is as immaculately swept as a sawdust-covered floor could be. Within the confines, 624th soldiers work intently and briskly inside the wooden cathedral. Few words are spoken above the whirring of power tools and the clattering thumps of lumber, but each soldier moves with ease, needing little instruction.

“This is our truss factory right here,” said Ruppe, of the immense structure. “We don’t build the trusses here, but we get the gussets ready for our platoon and they come in and build the trusses so it’s nice for them to have the gussets already prefabricated.” 

Although Ruppe is an Army school-trained plumber, he is a long-haul truck driver out of Vernal, Utah. Ruppe believes that his civilian experience serves as an asset to his duties in the BOM yard.

“I like doing this (job at) the BOM yard a lot better (than other jobs),” he commented. “It’s something I’m familiar with. I love the unit I’m in. It’s a bunch of hard-working soldiers, and we work hard, play hard. It’s been really fun.”

Ruppe isn’t the only soldier to find team cohesion in the work he does. In the off-duty hours, U.S. Army Spc. Paul Gibbs, a native of Spanish Fork, Utah, and a carpenter with 624th, finds contentment in spending time with his fellow BOM yard workers from the unit.

“I usually go hang out with the other guys from the BOM yard,” he said. “We usually play cards, dominoes, maybe go play pool or pingpong. It’s pretty relaxing.” 

And much like the cohesive machinery that keeps the BOM yard running, the soldiers of the 624th find a mechanical cohesion all the way from the command level to the most junior enlisted.

“It (the unit) has some pretty great leaders,” said Gibbs. “I enjoy working with them and they make life pretty easy. They really look out for us.”

In the meantime, the Utah engineers will continue to organize the BOM yard, while supporting the missions of coalition forces throughout the area of operations – fully maintaining the spirit of cohesion both internally and externally.

Payson Soldier Reenlists While in Afghanistan

By 1st Lt. Stephanie Sefren, 4-1 Brigade Special Troop Battalion

See more photos here.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- A member of the 624th Engineer Company, Sgt. Travis Thomas, recently reenlisted in the Utah National Guard while deployed to Paktika Provice, Afghanistan.

Thomas was sworn in by Lt. Col. Ollar, commander of the 4-1 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, taking the oath inside of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter Nov. 19.


Lieutenant Col. Ollar, left, commander of the 4-1 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, administers
 the oath of reenlistment Nov. 19 to Sgt. Travis Thomas, of Payson, right, a member of the
624th Engineers, Utah Army National Guard, currently deployed in Afghanistan. 

 Reenlisting for six years, Thomas is a 21E, heavy-equipment operator. He is currently in the 624th Vertical Construction Company and works in Paktika Province with the 2-203rd Afghan National Army Engineer Coy as the Embedded Training Team noncommissioned officer in charge.

His unit has completed numerous construction projects in Afghanistan including road repairs, the commissioning of a new Brigade operations center and multiple force-protection measures.

Thomas also leads training for the Coy and has established a maintenance program and coordinated for eight specialized classes featuring subject-matter experts throughout the area of operations in order to prepare Aghani soldiers to take the lead as engineersonce Coalition forces depart.

Utah Air Guard Airmen Return Home from Middle East Deployment

By Senior Airman Lillian Harnden

SALT LAKE CITY — Family members welcomed home 12 members of the 130th Engineering Installation Squadron as they returned from deployment at the Salt Lake City International Airport, Nov. 16.

Returning Guardmembers served a six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom throughout several forward operating bases in Afghanistan.


Twelve members of the 130th Engineering Installation Squadron pose for a group

 photo as they returned from deployment at Salt Lake International Airport Nov. 16.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Harnden)

Heidi Ward, a working mother of three boys and wife of returning Guardsman Staff Sgt. Christian Ward, said she is relieved that her husband came home in time for the delivery of her fourth baby, which is due any day.

“It was harder than I thought it would be, but we’re just very proud of him and glad he is able to do his part to defend our country,” said Ward.

Tiffany Santistevan, wife of Senior Airman Dave Santistevan, expressed feeling “immediate tears and excitement” when she saw her husband coming down the stairs.

“It was so surreal,” said Tiffany. “It’s been so long that it’s hard to believe that it’s over. I am absolutely relieved and feel like I can just breathe again.”

Tiffany also had advice for military wives with husbands about to deploy.

“Just make sure you have a strong support system and stay focused on the positive,” she said. “I recommend disconnecting from the military news because it does make it hard not knowing where he’s at and not knowing when the next time is you’re going to get to talk to him.”

Tiffany’s husband, Dave Santistevan, a returning member of the 130th EIS, described what his first deployment was like.

“The experience is like being blindfolded there,” he said. “Going there, not knowing too much about it, just living everyday life, sleeping in tents and going out to forward operating bases, it’s different there—a lot of things I haven’t experienced before.”


Kenley, daughter of Master Sgt. Greg Taylor, waited to welcome home

 her dad as he returned from deployment at Salt Lake International Airport Nov. 16. 

(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Harnden)

Master Sgt. Greg Taylor, a team chief with the 130th EIS who just completed his fifth deployment, explained his impressions.

“Things are what you make of it while you’re deployed,” said Taylor. “You keep busy. You stay occupied. You take whatever challenges come at you and adapt, overcome and succeed at those challenges. You learn from those challenges.”

Taylor also explained why this deployment was distinct from others.

“It was different because we were Airmen embedded with the Army,” said Taylor. “We learned how to be Army. We were working side by side, working for the Army this time.”

Additionally, Taylor provided advice to first-time-deploying Guardmembers.

“Go with a positive attitude. Stay busy,” he said. “Take the challenges head-on. Get involved and make yourself useful over there. Before you know it the time will have gone by. You’ll have bettered yourself and you’ll be on your way home.”

Brig. Gen. Dallen Atack, Assistant Adjutant General—Army of the Utah National Guard, expressed pride in returning Guardmembers.

“We’re just so proud of what they did,” said Atack. “We know they were really living in the Wild West out there. They had some real challenges on this deployment but they all came home and they all came through it. They did a tremendous job. It’s nice to have them all home and all safe.”

Commander of the 130th EIS, Lt. Col. Kevin Tobias, revealed what some of those challenges faced by his Airmen.

“They were in the thick of it a lot more than others,” said Tobias. “They were at different forward operating bases and in smaller groups. Three of our Guardsmen were under fire at one time. The Army is trying to give them combat awards for it.”

Tobias also boasted about their accomplishments while deployed.

“I’m very proud of what they’ve done,” continued Tobias. “They represented the 130th and the Air National Guard very well. There was a group of them that was Team of the Month one month. They went above and beyond. They worked really hard the whole time they were there. They left a good impression with the Army.”

As the second batch of 130th EIS members to return in the last 30 days, the 130th is now all back together as a unit, and their commander described his relief at having them all back.

“I’ll sleep better,” said Tobias. “It feels good not to have anybody in harm’s way.”

Click here for a local news story about the return of the 130th EIS.

Utah Guard Hosts 57th Annual Veterans Day Concert

By Senior Airman Lillian Harnden

Click here for photos of the concert.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah National Guard hosted the 57th annual Veterans Day concert at the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center Nov. 10.

The event, entitled “Looking Forward,” highlighted the sacrifices made by military veterans and their families throughout the history of our nation. Special attention was given to young Airmen and Soldiers, who represent the future of our country and its defense.

“We dedicate these performances tonight, and our performances in uniform in the future, to those who have served in this uniform in the past – whose shoulders we stand upon here tonight,” said guest speaker Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, the Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard.


Major Gen. Jefferson Burton, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard gives
the keynote address at the Utah Guard's Veterans Day concert Nov. 10.
 (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Lillian Harnden)

“To all those who are currently serving, may our hearts be drawn to those who are in harm’s way tonight,” added Burton. “May we ponder them and their families and think about them, and may they be in our prayers. We pledge that we will continue to uphold the motto of the National Guard which is, ‘Always Ready, Always There.’”

The program included performances by the Utah National Guard’s 23rd Army Band, led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Denny Saunders, and a 600-voice Granite School District high school combined choir.


The 600-voice Granite School District Combined High School Choir performs 
at the 57th annual Veterans Day concert Nov. 10  at the University of Utah's
Jon M. Huntsman Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Harnden) 

Dr. Carol Goodson, music specialist for the Granite School District, described her impressions of the concert and its impact on the performing choir students.

“It’s a way for our students to perform where it has more meaning,” said Goodson. “It’s an opportunity for them to learn about the military firsthand, to know what they experience and what they do for us and to develop that feeling within themselves of pride in the military.”

“Awesome!” was how Goodson described the choir.

“The thing that is most impressive about this concert is that this is the only thing we do as a whole school district, and they get to do it in a way that develops their patriotism,” she continued.

During the program, Zions Bank presented its third annual Veterans Service Award to recently retired Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, the former adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, for his lifetime of service and support of military veterans.


Zions Bank Veterans Service Award presentation, left to right, with Brian Garrett of Zions Bank,
 Retired Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, adjutant general of the
Utah National Guard, and narrator Jill Shepherd. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stacey Berg) 

As a new addition to this year’s concert, the Utah National Guard, in partnership with the Utah Parent-Teacher Association, recognized the winners of an essay contest for children of currently serving military members. The theme of the contest was “Why I Am Proud to Be a Military Brat.”

The following elementary, middle school and high school students were selected as the contest winners and were formally recognized at the concert:

   • Brian Walker, a fifth-grader at Sage Hills Elementary in Saratoga Springs
   • Josiah Ortega, of Excelsior Preparatory Academy in Eagle Mountain
   • Madeline Buhman, a senior at Timpanogos High School in Orem


The three Utah PTA essay-contest winners were recognized at the Veterans Day
concert: Josiah Ortega, third from left; Madeline Buhman, center; and
Brian Walker, third from right. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stacey Berg)

Americans originally celebrated Veterans Day as the anniversary of the end of World War I when major hostilities of World War I were formally ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. It was not officially titled Veterans Day until 1954 when the holiday was reestablished as a way to honor all veterans, both living and deceased, who have served throughout U.S. military history.

Chairman of the concert committee, Lt. Col. Marc Savageau, stated attendance at the annual Veterans Day concert is usually between 4,000 to 5,000 persons; however, he estimated the attendance this year to be slightly less due to heavy snowfall that day. The concert was funded by the Honorary Colonels Corps and by donations from numerous local businesses.

The concert’s master of ceremonies, Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, described the importance of honoring Veterans Day and related his favorite portion of the concert.

“We enjoy what we enjoy today because of what veterans have done for us,” said McIntire. “We do this concert to honor them. As a veteran myself, it’s nice to be remembered and be a part of that brother and sisterhood of those who served.

“One of my favorite parts of the event is the Armed Forces Medley and seeing veterans jump up, clap and sing their Service song,” McIntire continued. “That means a lot, especially seeing the older veterans, the ones in wheelchairs and walkers. Watching them try to stand up when their service song is played is very inspiring and very touching.”

Retired Utah Guardsman among Eleven Veterans Honored at University of Utah

By Lt. Col. Hank McIntire

Click here for other local news coverage of this event.

SALT LAKE CITY — Eleven veterans were honored Nov. 9 in a special ceremony at the University of Utah.

Included in that group was retired Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Ewell (front row, fifth from left in the photo below),  of the Utah National Guard, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ewell fulfilled 59 combat missions in 2005-2006 as part of the a route-clearance team of Engineers trained to detect and remove improvised explosive devices.

Ewell's vehicle was hit six times by IEDs during his time in Iraq. As a result of these incidents he suffers from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as broken vertebrae and the loss of sight in his right eye.

Here is a list of the 11 honorees for 2012:

James Hoyt Andrews
Marine Corps, Korea

Gil Booth
Army, World War II

Richard Lee Burns
Air Force, World War II, Korea

Richard S. Dixon
Army, Vietnam

Gordon L. Ewell
Army, Iraqi Freedom

Kimel P. (Kim) Fisher
Army, Vietnam

Edwin B. Herrneckar
Army, Vietnam

Charles R. Hughes
Army, World War II

Paul W. Smith
Navy, World War II

Joseph W. Stobbe
Army, Navy, World War II

Clyde E. Weeks, Jr.
Marine Corps, World War II

Utah Guardsman Honored as U of U Student Veteran of the Year

By Alexandra Burton
Originally published in the Utah Daily Chronicle

Click here for other local news coverage of this event.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell presented the Student Veteran of the Year Award Nov. 8 to Brent Taylor, a graduate student in education and a member of the Utah Army National Guard.

“We read about people like [Taylor] in books, in fiction, but not in real life,” Bell said as he introduced Taylor during a ceremony held in the Union Ballroom.

The award, which was given last night for only the second time, recognizes full-time student veterans who have demonstrated achievements in academics, national service and within their community.

“It’s about their contributions as a whole person, not just as a veteran,” said Roger Perkins, director of the Veteran Support Center. “Most people think of veterans as a group of people, but they are very cultured … There’s a special way to walk and talk.”


Student Veteran of the Year Brent Taylor, a member of the Utah National Guard,
accepts his award Nov. 8. Taylor is working toward a masters in public administration
and a doctorate in international relations. Photo by Erin Burns.

 Taylor received a $1,000 cash award and a military coin from Zions Bank, as well as a medallion from the Veteran Support Center. His name will be engraved on a plaque in the Veteran Support Center office.

“I feel honored to have received it,” Taylor said. “It’s special to represent all the veterans at the U. I’m very proud to be a veteran. You put on the uniform and it’s a very special feeling. It’s like no other job out there.”

Taylor said he and his wife made the decision for him serve in the Army nine years ago. He served in numerous positions, beginning as a counterintelligence agent for the Utah Army National Guard in 2003. He served in three tours, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, in addition to stateside tours. His military awards include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Since returning from service, Taylor serves on the city council in North Ogden. He has been involved in the political process and serves with young people in his church.

“The award is to recognize those who continue to serve outside of the military,” Perkins said.

During his acceptance speech, Taylor said that the best part of receiving the award was being recognized on the field at the football game on Saturday with his wife and kids.

“It really is a family affair, serving in the military,” he said.

Students and professors nominate veterans for the award, which a student committee narrows down to three candidates. The Veterans Day committee chooses the final recipient.

This year, 27 students were nominated for the award, two of which did not meet award qualifications and were disregarded. Perkins said that nominees must be full-time student veterans, have a GPA of at least 3.5 and have no criminal record.

Two runners up, Shane Leavitt and Rachel Evans, both graduate students, were also awarded with a cash prize.

Evans, a student in social work, specializes in working with veterans.

“It’s important to have this community,” she said. “As much as we give each other crap for our different branches in the military, it’s nice to have a group of people that get it.”

USU Leaders Sign Community Covenant in Support of Military

LOGAN, Utah — Officials from Utah State University signed a Community Covenant in support of the military during halftime of the Utah State-Texas State football game at Romney Stadium Nov. 3.

While dozens of Utah cities have signed the Community Covenant, Utah State is the first educational institution in the state--and one of the first in the U.S.--to do so.

On hand at the ceremony were Stan Albrecht, president of Utah State University; Noelle Crockett, vice president of USU extension; Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard; and recently retired and former Utah Guard adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, a Utah State alumnus and Cache Valley native.

The signing formalized an already-strong commitment on the part of Utah State University to support its student-veterans and their families.

"We're really excited for this partnership," said Albrecht. "We are are first university [in the state] to do this. Being a land-grant university, we have a presence in all 29 counties in the state. This reflects our commitment and interest in what the military does."

"We're trying to do everything we can to acknowledge [our veterans'] service by making the transition back as smooth as it can be and creating educational opportunities for them," added Albrecht. "And just as important is that the students sitting here in the stands get to see what we're doing."

The Community Covenant helps bring together the academic and military communities to more effectively recognize the contributions of student-servicemembers.

The overall goal of the Community Covenant program is to educate local leaders on the challenges that servicemembers and their families experience in all phases of deployment (before, during and after), provide them with information on programs available to help military family members and create a dialogue with the Utah National Guard and other military organizations to ensure that communities can meet the needs of servicemembers, veterans and their families.