Army Reserve unit marks milestones
875th gets Superior Citation; Ashenfelter earns top promotionBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Some Fort Dodge based Army Reserve soldiers received a prestigious award Saturday, and witnessed one of their own get promoted to a lofty enlisted rank.
The members of the 875th Replacement Company received the Army Superior Unit Citation in recognition of their work during a year of active duty at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Also Jeff Ashenfelter, the company's highest ranking enlisted member, was promoted from first sergeant to command sergeant major. For a noncommissioned officer, there is just one higher rank - sergeant major of the Army - and only person holds that title at a time.
The promotion came with a new job that will take Ashenfelter away from the unit he's been part of since December 1989.
So his departure was also commemorated Saturday. He formally handed over his responsibilities in the local unit during an old military ritual in which the guidon, the unit's small blue flag, was passed from Ashenfelter to his replacement, Acting 1st Sgt. Jason Irving.
Beginning Monday, Ashenfelter will be part of the 1-340th Training Support Battalion in Arden Hills, Minn.
''I will miss you greatly, but I won't be far away,'' Ashenfelter told the assembled troops in the Fort Dodge Army Reserve Center.
The afternoon ceremony also included presenting the Army Commendation Medal to Sgt. 1st Class Thane Hanson.
Lt. Col. Jeff Ash, from the 649th Reserve Support Group, said it's ''real rare'' that four major events in the history of a military unit are marked at once as happened Saturday.
The unit award
The 875th Replacement Company specializes in getting soldiers ready for duty overseas. In October 2005, it reported to Fort Bliss. During the next 12 months, its soldiers readied 4,000 troops for duty in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
Capt. Melinda McGregor, who was the unit's commander while it was at Fort Bliss, said the troops worked from 4:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Friday. During that time, they had to make sure the deploying troops had all the proper training and medical exams before they left the United States.
''They're an awesome unit,'' McGregor said. She was back in Fort Dodge Saturday for the award ceremony.
Ash was one of the soldiers who went through the replacement center operated by the local troops.
''They had to get us there, get us fed, get us to the right places,'' he said. ''It was pretty seamless. It just went and you didn't notice what they were doing. It's a credit to the unit that they were unnoticed in such a way.''
In recognition of the honor, a red streamer was attached to the unit's guidon. All of the unit's soldiers are entitled to wear a ribbon on their uniform commemorating the award.
Ash said the Army Superior Unit Citation is a ''tough one to get.''
Ashenfelter moves up
Family members yanked the old insignia from Ashenfelter's uniform as he stood before rows of soldiers he's helped to lead for 19 years. Then they attached his new rank and unit patches.
Ash challenged the troops to maintain the spirit and professionalism Ashenfelter developed in the unit.
Ashenfelter has served in the military for more than 23 years, including duty in the Army, Iowa Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
His new assignment is a four year obligation. He said Saturday he hopes to serve a total of 30 years before retiring.
He served in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991.
While at Fort Bliss during the last active duty assignment, he was selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. In 2007, he went back to Fort Bliss, the site of the academy. He graduated from it in May.
His duties at the Minnesota unit begin Monday. He and his family will continue to live in Fort Dodge.
Army Commendation Medal
Hanson was honored for filling in for Ashenfelter at the local unit while he was away at the academy. The award citation states that his ''performance reflects great credit on himself.''
''I feel great,'' Hanson said. ''I feel good about it. I feel good about anytime I can do something extra for the unit.''
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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FDTROOPER
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08-24-08 11:25 AM
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Outstanding!!! Job well done.
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kaleidoscope
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08-24-08 3:04 AM
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Congratulations! Your dedication and hard work on behalf of the citizens of Iowa and the United States do not go unnoticed. Thank you for serving!!
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