I am writing to update you on the adventures of the Bravo Beasts during this excursion to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. We have embarked on our cross country odyssey to participate in our Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRE) so that the Army can certify that we are ready to perform our mission in Bosnia with no problems. I can confidently say to you today, that your soldiers are ready to excel. Bravo Company continues to set the standard by which the 2-224th measures itself.

Our 1st day’s travel was cut short by a massive thunderstorm system between Macon, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. Instead of staying at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, we stayed at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. On Monday we were able to make it to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi before we were, once again, stopped by thunderstorms. Once stopped at Keesler, those thunderstorms turned into Tropical Storm Allison and we have been stuck here since then. Although we all miss our families terribly, we are ready to get to FT Polk and fly missions with our active duty counterparts in the OH-58D Scout helicopter units that we will deploy to Bosnia with.

It’s the soldiers in B Co that make this a successful cohesive team. Stellar members of this team include Crew Chiefs like SGT Chris "Honey, how do you like my new tattoo!?!" Dennis training all of us on the proper wear and maintenance of our new gas masks; and junior pilots like WO1 Jesse "The Bod" Ramirez who has handled all of our impromptu ground transportation requirements; and senior pilots CW4 Frank "Are you going to eat that?" Northrop and CW4 Larry "I went to Basic Training at Polk when the Cavalry still had horses!" Hirschi who continue to provide level headed guidance to me and the rest of the unit.

Your soldiers have risen to the occasion once again and they make my job a very enjoyable one. We will fly safe and come home to our families soon. Take care and we will check in with you later.....
 
 

Sincerely,

NEAL J. EDMONDS
CPT, AV, VaARNG
Commanding