By Staff Sgt.
Thomas Greene
278th ACR Public Affairs Office
Camp Buehring, Kuwait

Soldiers of Troop Iron Horse, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard, Sweetwater, have taken on an additional mission during their deployment to Iraq this year. The unit plans to fly and photograph an American flag donated by a local elementary school at every major destination during their tour.

Tellico Elementary School presented the flag to the unit at a special "send off" celebration held as the troop was preparing to embark to Camp Shelby, Miss., for pre-deployment training last December.
Sgt. 1st Class Brian Rasnake of Troop I said, "We will honor this flag all along our tour and present it and a certificate to the school when we return home."

Rasnake said, "The whole community has been supportive of the troop far and above what any soldier could expect. The cards and letters have had a very positive effect on the soldiers."
Speaking for the troop he wanted to thank all the supporters and Volunteer Federal Bank of Sweetwater who spearheaded fundraising efforts to pay for soldiers' transportation home for Christmas leave.

He also thanked all the good people who donated time and money on the effort.
While at Camp Buehring the unit left their mark when they staked claim on a six by 15-foot concrete security barrier and painted a troop mural on it.

 "Once we arrived we noticed that previous units passing through here had left their mark. As a troop we decided to come up with our own idea," said Rasnake. "We are a proud unit and once we agreed on the idea we got the materials together with some skilled Soldiers and we carried out the task." As a display of unity all members signed the mural.

The Monroe County-based unit is currently doing final preparation at Camp Buehring, Kuwait before departing north to Iraq where they will conduct convoy security missions as U.S. forces continue withdrawing troops and equipment from the country.