Bravo Company called to duty

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Youngstown

While members of Bravo Company 237th Support Battalion are making sacrifices overseas, they know their friends and family are making sacrifices at home.

Several hundred friends, family and employers of the battalion filled the Chestnut Room at YSU’s Kilcawley Center on Wednesday morning for a Call to Duty Ceremony.

The ceremony was in honor of the 88 Army National Guard battalion members — who will depart for a year in Afghanistan in January — as well as their loved ones, said Battalion Commander Capt. Shaun Robinson.

“This gives us the opportunity to also recognize our families,” he said. “It’s easy to say the soldiers sacrifice, but often the families’ sacrifices are forgotten.”

Robinson said the battalion, based in Austintown, recently arrived home from Fort Shelby in Mississippi and will spend about a month at Fort Irwin in California before heading to Afghanistan. Once there, they’ll be responsible for vehicle- and equipment- maintenance tasks.

Army Col. John C. Harris addressed the crowd and said, “It’s time, so let’s get it on and get it started so we can start counting down the days until we bring these folks back home.”

Harris told the soldiers they all are helping to write history.

“We make you the best, then put you next to someone just like you,” he said. “You’re a part of the best ground force in the history of the world.”

“Make sure when you’re out there doing your missions every day, you earn that hero’s welcome [home,]” he added.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, said he, along with the rest of the United States Congress, was proud of each member of the 237th.

“You’re unselfish, and that’s the highest value we have in this country,” he said. “Parents, you raised unselfish young men and women. ... We are deeply proud to represent you in Congress.”

Robinson also spoke of the unselfishness of the men and women in his battalion.

“You put the needs of your country ahead of your own needs,” he said. “As long as we have soldiers willing to put their country ahead of themselves, the U.S. will remain the greatest country on Earth.”