Troops honored at send-off
1/24/09 | 17 comments

Troops honored at send-off


Baldacci stresses help for military families as 82 soldiers ready for deployment
By Meg Haskell
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Lt. Col. Diana Dunn of Glenburn, her son Marcus (seated on lap), 9, her husband, Jim Dunn, and other family members applaud Maj. Gen. John W. Libby as he speaks to the 286th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion during a send-off ceremony for the battalion at Peakes Auditorium in Bangor on Saturday afternoon. The battalion, made up of 82 soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard, will deploy to Afghanistan for one year. Buy Photo

BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor High School auditorium was alive with energy, anticipation and emotion on Saturday as 82 soldiers of the Maine Army National Guard’s 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion gathered with their families, friends, state officials, the state’s entire congressional delegation and other well-wishers for a ceremonial sendoff.

The unit is headed to southern Afghanistan after a few weeks of specialized training in Fort Hood, Texas. Their total length of deployment is expected to be one year.

Commanding officer Lt. Col. Diana Dunn of Glenburn said in an interview before the event that the group’s mission is to provision troops in all of southern Afghanistan, working out of the huge multinational military base in Kandahar.

“Food, fuel, water, ammunition, equipment, construction materials, repair parts … most of our work is planning,” she said. “It’s basically like managing a Hannaford, a Home Depot, a Poland Spring water plant, a NAPA parts plant on steroids, and a fuel farm.”

Dunn, a 20-year veteran of the Army, is the first female to serve as the commanding officer of a Maine Army Guard unit headed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Once there, she’ll assume leadership of about 600 American troops engaged in the provisions mission, assuring the availability of essential supplies to about 10,000 U.S. troops serving in the region.

Attending and speaking at the capacity-crowd event were Gov. John Baldacci, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree. Also on hand to honor the troops was Maj. Gen. John W. Libby, adjutant general of the Maine National Guard, and other military leaders.

Baldacci praised Libby for his leadership, calling members of the Maine Army Guard “some of the most capable men and women anywhere in the world.”

The governor noted that more than half of the soldiers headed for Afghanistan have deployed at least once before, and stressed the importance of supporting the families left behind so the troops can focus on their assignment.

Members of the congressional delegation also paid deep tribute to the families of the deploying soldiers, and assured the troops of the support of the American public and its political leaders.

“There is no cause more noble than that of defending our nation’s freedom and extending freedom’s blessings around the world,” Collins said. Collins also expressed appreciation for American troops helping to improve conditions for women in Afghanistan, long oppressed by the Taliban.

Michaud, recently renamed chairman of the health subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, told the troops he is dedicated to improving health care services for veterans.

“We will live up to our commitment to each and every one of you when you need those services,” he said.

Libby reminded the soldiers that the new administration of President Obama is committed to winning the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

“There is no question of the validity of your mission,” he said. “We are liberators, not occupiers.”

Seated toward the back of the packed auditorium was 31-year-old Sgt. Dakin Magoon of Enfield. He was flanked on one side by his mother and stepfather, Sue and Victor Morin of Passadumkeag, and on the other by his wife, 26-year-old Amanda Magoon. The couple’s 8-month-old daughter Kloie, dressed in ruffled pink and lime-green “fatigues,” giggled, grinned and flirted throughout the long speeches, staggering happily between the laps of the doting adults.

Dakin Magoon deployed in 2004 to Iraq.

“It’s a little harder this time,” he said. “Before, I was single. This time I have a wife and a kid.”

Amanda Magoon said she’s proud of her husband’s service to his country and is prepared to weather his absence with the support of extended family.

“All I need is regular communication from him; that’s really important to me,” she said.

Commanding officer Dunn, a 42-year-old mother of three, will be separated from her own children — ages 18, 16 and 9 — during her deployment, but she knows the family be well cared for by her husband, Jim. She plans to stay in regular contact.

“We’ve got webcams, Skype, text messages, all these things,” she said. “I’m an electronics addict.”

While friends and family members are concerned about her leaving her family behind, Dunn said such separations are simply part of the military commitment.

“I see other soldiers, male soldiers, leaving their children behind all the time,” she said. “It’s always hard.”

The troops will spend time with their families before flying to Fort Hood on Tuesday.

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Comments
17 comments on this item
On 1/24/09 at 10:58 PM, yillda wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hi Diane, I hope you get to read this. This is Jill, I used to babysit the girls when they were little. I wish you well, stay safe and we'll see you when you get home. God bless you and Thank You for your service.

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On 1/25/09 at 12:09 AM, Lost_And_Confused wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Remember the family assistance program ... They are there to support you while your loved one is deployed ... Also I have to say that while your loved one is deployed never forget to send them care packages and make it fun while doing it :-)

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On 1/25/09 at 12:10 AM, Lost_And_Confused wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thank you for your service and be safe

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On 1/25/09 at 6:36 AM, anncjoy3112 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thank you all for your service to our country. Be well and be safe.

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On 1/25/09 at 9:58 AM, Iseenow wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Godspeed

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On 1/25/09 at 10:32 AM, BobByn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

A woman commanding officer? This company is going to kick some butt! How do you like that TALIBAN!?

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On 1/25/09 at 10:50 AM, Rogue_Wave wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I cant believe the leader of Obamarama is sending more troops overseas after he swore he wouldn't. Be safe.

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On 1/25/09 at 11:02 AM, BlueCollarBob wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Rogue_Wave, the decision to deploy these troops at this time was made well before the election and you know it. Stop spreading lies.

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On 1/25/09 at 2:23 PM, Rogina wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hi Troop286th,

I am an aunt of one of your fellow soldiers. I want to say how VERY proud of him and all of you. May God bless you and keep you safe. We need a woman touch to make sure things get done but it takes ll of you to make it happen. May God watch over you and also your families.Come home safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 1/25/09 at 4:46 PM, lesamay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thank you for your service. Be safe and come home soon!!!!

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On 1/26/09 at 3:25 AM, Langsettranger wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I send my best wishes and prayers for a successful deployment and a safe and speedy return home to your families and loved ones to the troops of Maine Army National Guard’s 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and all Allied Forces.

May God watch over you all and protect you all in everything you do. From a US and Maine admirer here in the UK.

Best Wishes from DonB, Rotherham, UK.

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On 1/26/09 at 8:00 AM, biglake wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maine's ArmyNational Guards are the very best!!!!May God richly bless you and keep you. You are in my prayers and thoughts.Thank-You for your service to ou GREAT COUNTRY.

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On 1/26/09 at 8:01 AM, LincolnMOM wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

These articles make me sad for I was one of these wives and my daughter was 2 when they took her daddy to war in Iraq. I remember the day he left vividly in my head, and it is an undescribable feeling. I pray for these families that they are strong and make sure you keep in touch, it means alot more that you know. Communication now is alot easier for most of the troops have access to internet. I know as wives some girls I knew tended to feel sorry for themselves..."oh poor me"...but think of it this way how lucky you are you have your warm home, bed, tv, loving kids to hug at any time, and he is there most likely on a cot in a tent and in danger everyday. So just keep praying alot and loving your kids and send him lots of snail mail, family is a great support system too. My daughter was 31/2 when he got home...I will never forget that day either. God Bless you all for servng our country...and hopefully this mess will be over soon :(

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On 1/26/09 at 10:55 AM, auntterri wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

WE WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN, PRAYING FOR YOU, ALL

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On 1/26/09 at 11:44 AM, gadfly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Let us hope that Iragi patriots don't "honor" them on their arrival.

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On 5/13/09 at 10:33 PM, ericMA wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

My uncle Phil Bascom just wrote me a letter from Iraq. The troops that left from Maine arrived safely however he sent me a latest report from the ground. I wanted to share it with everyone. Its from the green zone on the BaghDad Iraqi border in Kawaitt in Saudi Arabia.

We are at Ali Al Salem.Kuwait awaiting travel to Iraq. It is a nice base with decent emenities. It is a staging area for Iraq and Afghanistan. We will do some additional training. Shoot our weapons to make sure they are good to go and then head down range. I am thinking that we will depart sometime around the 18th but not sure.

Very Sad and disturbing news at the Combat Stress Center (CSC), Camp Liberty, Iraq. From what I am hearing the soldier was experiencing stressors and allegedly the CSC staff recommended that he be relieved of his weapon-- probably while they planned for ongoing care. He Allegedly was then being escorted by one of his own unit members-- probably for monitoring. He somehow obtained another weapon and went back to the CSC for the shooting spree. This is all grape vine reports though. Nothing official. Reminds me of a school shooting. It sounded like the soldier was on his third tour. He was an older looking guy-- not sure of his rank. I got to wonder what was going through his head to do something so senseless. I especially feel for the victims families and the staff left behind. What a traggic loss. We are hearing that CSC out of another base is going to cover for Liberty. Again grapevine stuff.

This is probably the first fataility of mental health providers in either campaign with exception to a motor vehicle accident. I am sure security will be tightened around CSC facilities as a result.

sincerel,y

eric from Massachusetts

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On 10/11/09 at 7:50 PM, TEDofSWEDEN wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hope Diane or any of her family members read this. Im an old friend of Diane since 35 years back. last time I met Diane, Jim and the kids were in 1998 I think. Been trying to get in touch since then without any luck. Please tell Diane or Jim to write me. Ted Fischer from Sweden. tedfischer@hotmail.com.

Wish you well Diane in your service overseas.

*hugs from sweden*

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