Local Guard unit earns merit commendation

FLORENCE - Major Eric Burrage recalls the question someone asked upon his return from a tour in Iraq as commander of the 115th Signal Battalion's Company A.

"Someone asked me once, 'How did your soldiers handle it over there?' " Burrage said during a ceremony Sunday afternoon where the company received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Burrage said that question brought many thoughts to mind.

Those thoughts included what he refers to as the company's "first-class service," despite the practically daily mortar and rocket attacks and searing Iraqi desert heat they endured.

He thought about Staff Sgt. Phillip Gunter's ability to listen to a damaged generator run over the phone and diagnose the problem. That helped reduce the amount of dangerous convoys that would have been needed to go to the generator and diagnose the problem.

Burrage mentioned numerous electrical, plumbing and building support projects that remain to this day in Iraq.

He recalled when 1st Lt. Bill Smith was hit by mortar fire and knocked to the ground. Smith's first thoughts at that moment were concern about others' safety and whether the shelling had knocked out the signal service.

Finally, Burrage came up with the best description he could think of, to answer the question of how his solders handled their tour of war in Iraq.

"They fought and served like they were from northwest Alabama," he said.

The 124 members of Alpha Company were presented the award, which came about through the recommendation of the commander of the highly acclaimed Army First Infantry Division known as The Big Red One, said Col. Glenn Cottles, former 115th Battalion leader.

"What Alpha Company did was nothing short of spectacular," Cottles said.

The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service for at least six continuous months during a period of military operations against an armed enemy, according to an Alabama Army National Guard release.

Two other signal units in Alabama have received the award for their duty in Iraq. They are Company C, 711th Signal Battalion, of Foley, and Company B, 279th Signal Battalion, of Guntersville.

Brig. Gen. Brooks Hodges pointed to the American flag the solders wear on the right shoulder of their uniforms. He said it represents soldiers in the Guard who have given their all throughout our nation's history.

Members of the 115th's Company A certainly have earned their place among them, Hodges said.

"Let there be no doubt that this is a rare commendation that is reserved for the best of the best," Hodges said. "Every one of them did their job honorably and every single solder returned home safely."

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.