Nemont
Well-known member
If you want a mission completed I guess you need to send some Montana boys.
Montana Guard unit takes over mission refused by S.C. unit
By The Associated Press - 10/21/04
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) - A Montana National Guard unit took over a fuel convoy mission that was refused last week by protesting South Carolina Army reservists, a Guard official and the spouse of the convoy commander said Wednesday.
''They did pick up the mission,'' Guard Maj. Scott Smith told the Daily Inter Lake. ''I can't elaborate any further.''
Smith, who identified the unit as the 639th Quartermaster Company based in Kalispell, said he expected to have more details later.
Cindy Regnier said her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Fulton Regnier, called Monday to say he had returned from the five-day mission and that none of the Guard members in the convoy had been injured. ''He believes when you're given an order, you do your job,'' she said.
The Army announced last week it was investigating the refusal to work by up to 19 members of the 343rd Quartermaster Company based in Rock Hill, S.C. The soldiers would not move supplies from Tallil Air Base near Nassiriyah to Taji, north of Baghdad, the Army said. The reservists claimed the aircraft fuel was contaminated, vehicles had insufficient armor and equipment was in poor condition.
Regnier said her husband was upset that she discussed the mission with the Kalispell newspaper. However, Regnier said she thought it fair that soldiers who carried out the convoy get recognition.
The 639th deployed in December to Colorado and left for Iraq in February.
Fulton Regnier, 42, was a brick mason at the time he was called up. He is asking the Army to reinstate him after a medical discharge seven years ago, Mrs. Regnier said.
''He loves the military,'' she said.