TAG Line June 5, 2020

Fallen Hero Saluted in Grand Forks

On June 2, Grand Forks Police Officer Cody Holte, 29, was honored in a funeral service at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks that drew thousands of mourners. Holte died in the line of police duty on May 27. He also served in the N.D. Army National Guard as a first lieutenant with the Lisbon-based 815th Engineer Company, Holte was posthumously awarded the N.D. National Guard Legion of Merit and the Woodrow Wilson Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award at the prayer service. The Keeble award is earned by N.D. National Guard Soldiers or Airmen who display courage, fortitude, and determination to protect or defend life, limb or property. He was interred at Augustana Church Cemetery near his hometown of Halstad, Minn. Top photo: Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Landman, 188th Army Band, performs Taps during the funeral service.

Sgt. Mark Kubat, right, of the N.D. National Guard Funeral Honors, places the final touches on folding the U.S. Flag with a Grand Forks Police Department officer during Cody Holte's funeral service in Grand Forks on June 2.

Spc. Roberto Keim, 815th Engineer Company, stands guard during a prayer service for 1st Lt. Cody Holte in Grand Forks on June 1.
Sgt. David Hathaway on the keyboard accompanies Spc. Augustus Tandberg who sang during Cody Holte's funeral service in Grand Forks on June 2. Both Soldiers are members of the N.D. National Guard's 188th Army Band based in Fargo.

Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, delivers eulogy remarks during 1st Lt. Cody Holte's funeral service in Grand Forks on June 2.

Staff Sgt. Jon Rambow, 817th Engineer Company, was one of two N.D. National Guard Soldiers who rappelled from the ceiling of the Ralph Engelstad Arena in honor of 1st Lt. Cody Holte. Holte was Air Assault qualified and often participated in rappelling demonstration events.
Members of the N.D. Patriot Guard stand by outside of the Ralph Engelstad Arena in honor of Cody Holte on June 2.

Guard Supports Fargo During Protests

On May 30, Gov. Doug Burgum signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Fargo, West Fargo and Cass County. The order activated the N.D. National Guard to assist local authorities with the “unlawful activity and the risk to people and property due to civil disturbances”. About 200 Soldiers from the 131st Military Police Battalion served on state active duty in downtown Fargo the evening of May 30.

A Fargo-area Pastor visits with N.D. Guard Soldiers who were on duty in Fargo on May 30.

Change of Leadership in Guard's COVID-19 Response

The Grand Forks-based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery (1-188th ADA) recently replaced the 68th Troop Command as the lead element providing command and control in the N.D. National Guard's COVID-19 response. The 1-188th ADA is divided into Team East (Fargo) and Team West (Bismarck).

Capt. Cody Brekken, officer-in-charge of Team East, briefs the commander and staff of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment during the June 3 Commander's Update Brief (CUB) in Fargo.
Maj. Preston Schaffner, 81st Civil Support Team, administers a COVID-19 test to his brother Maj. Chance Schaffner, 164th Regional Training Institute at Camp Grafton Training Center on June 1.

Basic Training Prep

Twenty new Soldiers along with ten guests from the N.D. Army National Guard’s Bismarck-based Recruit Training Company participated in a 2.5-mile ruck march along a mountain bike path east of Bismarck's Pioneer Park on May 29. The march, led by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Hoefer and Sgt. Samuel Kroll, is designed to help prepare recruits for the physical fitness components of Basic Combat Training. It also serves as an introduction to basic military training to those considering enlisting in the Army National Guard.

Recruits from the N.D. Army National Guard’s Bismarck-based Recruit Training Company follow a mountain bike path located east of Pioneer Park during a ruck march in Bismarck on May 29.

Recruits from the Recruit Training Company negotiate the hills along the mountain bike path during a ruck march in Bismarck on May 29. The ruck began and ended in Pioneer Park.

Spc. Bryce Egli of the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge) carries the Recruit Training Battalion’s colors during a 2.5 mile ruck march in Bismarck on May 29.

Ruck March Video

COVID-19 Testing in Minot

The N.D. National Guard assisted in mobile COVID-19 testing in Minot on June 3. The mission is a part of the National Guard's continued support to the state and local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spc. Kelsey Gillen, 957th Engineer Company, helps direct traffic into the COVID-19 mobile testing site in Minot on June 3.

Spc. Phoenix Schaefer, 816th Military Police Company, helps direct traffic into the COVID-19 mobile testing site in Minot on June 3.

Spc. Merwin Sulley, 817th Engineer Company, halts a vehicle in preparation of administering a COVID-19 test in Minot on June 3.

Spc. Collin Ahmann, N.D. Army National Guard's State Medical Detachment, administers a Covid-19 test in Minot on June 3.

Minot Testing

COVID-19 Testing Fort Totten

The N.D. National Guard assisted in mobile COVID-19 testing at Fort Totten on June 2. This was part of a testing mission that spanned across the three cities of Fort Totten, St. Michael and Wood Lake of the Spirit Lake Nation. This mission is a part of the National Guard's continued support to the state and local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Top: Spc. Zachary Bucher (Right), 1st Battalion 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Lt. Cmdr. Linde Monson, with the U.S. Public Health Service assigned to Spirit Lake Health Center, work as data collectors at the COVID-19 mobile testing site at Fort Totten on June 2. Left: Spc. Daniel Johnson (Left), 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Shelby Gillette, from the Spirit Lake Health Center, work as data collectors at the COVID-19 mobile testing site at Fort Totten on June 2. Right: Spc. Sullivan Ade, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, administers COVID-19 testing at Fort Totten on June 2.

COVID-19 Testing St. Michael

The N.D. National Guard assisted in mobile COVID-19 testing at St. Michael on June 2. This was part of a COVID-19 mobile testing mission that spanned across the three cities of Fort Totten, St. Michael, and Wood Lake of the Spirit Lake Nation.

Spc. Makenzie Kotchman, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, administers a Covid-19 test at St. Michael on June 2.

Spc. Carter Strand, 816th Military Police Company, works as a data collector at the COVID-19 mobile testing site at St. Michael on June 2.

Sgt. Rachel Bakkechurch, 816th Military Police Company, and Spc. Samuel Honeyman, 142nd Engineer Battalion, work as data collectors at the COVID-19 mobile testing site at St. Michael on June 2.

Spc. Samuel Honeyman, 142nd Engineer Battalion, works as a data collector at the COVID-19 mobile testing site at St. Michael.

COVID-19 Testing Wood Lake

The N.D. National Guard assisted in mobile COVID-19 testing at Wood Lake N.D. on June 2. This was part of a testing mission that spanned across the three cities of Fort Totten, St. Michael and Wood Lake of the Spirit Lake Nation. This mission is a part of the National Guard's continued support to the state and local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sgt. Scott Dockter, 1st Battalion 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, receives a Covid-19 specimen and prepares it for transport to the N.D. Department of Health lab at Wood Lake on June 2.

Testing in Medora

Newly promoted Sergeant Major

Congratulations to newly promoted Sgt. Maj. Matthew Waldner, North Dakota Army National Guard's G-4. Above, Waldner is promoted by his father, N.D. National Guard retired Soldier Frank Waldner. Bottom: Waldner family.

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CREATED BY
Charles Highland