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Spc. Brandon Jedlenski of Brainerd joined the Minnesota National Guard a year after he graduated from high school in 2007 — to be like his father who has been in the Guard for 27 years.
On Thursday, Jedlenski joined approximately 70 soldiers in the Brainerd-based Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor, in the Central Lakes College gymnasium to take part in a departure ceremony in front of a crowd of family members, friends and community members.
“The hardest part is saying good-bye,” said Jedlenski, who will leave behind his wife Jenna, whom he married on March 5. “We have a lot of family around so that will help.”
The soldiers and their families will have to say good-bye again Friday as they’ll depart Brainerd at 9 a.m. to be on their way to Fort McCoy, Wis., for training.
The Brainerd soldiers are part of what the Guard is calling the second largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II. The Brainerd company is one of six companies of Bloomington’s First Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, also known as the “Red Bulls.” The brigade is deploying 2,400 soldiers and deployment ceremonies are planned throughout the state, with the next local ceremony scheduled June 3 at Camp Ripley Recreation Center for the Little Falls soldiers.
Lt. Col. Brian Melton said the soldiers’ mission is to support Operation New Dawn, the drawdown phase of U.S. military operations in Iraq. He said the soldiers’ role is to ensure military equipment is prepared to depart the theater of operations in Iraq. The Brainerd-based soldiers will provide base defense in Kuwait and perform route security operations in support of U.S. forces.
Melton said the soldiers will train at Fort McCoy to become one team and the training will be more difficult. Melton said the soldiers in the brigade are devoted to their mission. He said hey’ll perform well and he is confident that the mission will be a success.
Before the program, about 30 Brainerd Patriot Guard members stood at all of the Central Lakes College entrances, lined with American flags, as people entered the campus. The Patriot Guard also surrounded the soldiers with flags as they entered the gymnasium. The program started with the posting of the colors by the VFW and American Legion Color Guard, the National Anthem, an invocation and a Native American Drum Group.
Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerfd, said, “What do you say to Minnesota men and women who’re making huge sacrifices? To soldiers who give so much so we can have our freedom. But then I remembered what one of the (soldiers/veterans) said at a veteran’s program a few years ago at the Brainerd High School ... he said it was up to each one of us to make sure we give them a gift and that gift is five words for us to say to them, ‘Thank you for your service.’ That is such a small gift to give to you (soldiers) for what you do for us.”
Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Brainerd, said his heart goes out to all the soldiers for what they do for our country. He told the soldiers, “’I fear no evil for you as God will be with you. He is here for you to protect you.”
Brainerd Mayor James Wallin and Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson, who both served in the military together years ago, thanked the soldiers for their service and talked about their support of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign that began for connecting soldiers and their families with the community for support, training, services and resources. The mayors told the families to not be afraid to ask for help because the program is there to help families in need of anything, such as mowing the lawn or counseling.
Olson said to the soldiers, “This program is here to alleviate your concerns while you’re gone.”
It will be the first deployment for some soldiers and for others it will be their second or third deployment. For Staff Sgt. Matt Krebsbach of Brainerd, it will be his third deployment, but the first deployment for his wife, Amanda, and her son Cole, 12.
“We’ll be gone for a year, but it goes fast for us,” said Krebsbach. “I worry more about the family and making sure that they’ll be OK.”
Amanda Krebsbach said she has a lot of family and friends in the area to help her.
Matt Krebsbach said while deployed he will be in charge of the operation sections where he’ll manage the “big picture.”
The deployment is a first for Spc. Robert Hoeller of Princeton, who will leave behind his wife Trisha and their 2-year-old son Mason. Hoeller said they have family nearby to help his wife and son around the house. Trisha Hoeller said she plans to attend the Family Readiness meetings.
Hoeller said his job will be in maintenance.
As part of the statewide deployment, AT&T is donating 10,000 prepaid phone cards to the Minnesota National Guard for the 2,400 troops. AT&T also announced the launch of the 2011 Cell Phones for Soldiers program in stores across the state. Under the cell phone program, consumers can bring their old cell phones into any AT&T Mobility store for recycling. Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit organization that uses funds from recycled cell phones to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members to give them an affordable way to connect with their families, and the project also helps the environment.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
