81st Civil Support Team (CST) vehicles parked outside the Bismarck Event Center, during an exercise, Bismarck, N.D. Oct. 17.
Contents
- Civic Leader Day
- Order of Martin of Tours Award
- Civil Support Team Trains with Bismarck Fire Department
- Camp Grafton Host CBRN Training
- THE “164th MARINES”
- Attention Retirees!
- Veterans Voices
- The Highway 1806 Bridge
- Columbarium Ribbon Cutting
Civic Leader Day
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, N.D. state legislators, elected officials, N.D. National Guard honorary commanders, community leaders and stake holders participated in Civic Leader Day activities, Fraine Barracks, Oct. 18. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Lt. Col. Dan Murphy, Joint Operations Center (JOC) deputy director, gives a briefing to Lt. Governor Tammy Miller and others on the JOC during Civic Leader Day activities, Fraine Barracks, Oct. 18.
The event, hosted by the N.D. adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, allows participants to interact with senior N.D. National Guard leaders and learn about the National Guard.
Activities included a discussion of N.D. National Guard initiatives, Air and Army National Guard component capability briefs and a tour of Fraine Barracks.
Sgt. Domonic Delaney, 81st CST, shows equipment used by the team in the field during Civic Leader Day activities, Fraine Barracks, Oct. 18.
Also included was a tour of the Joint Operations Center, 81st Civil Support Team Facilities and the ND Department of Emergency Services Homeland Security - State Radio.
Sgt. First Class Chris Keller, 81st CST, speaks to Lt. Governor Tammy Miller and others during Civic Leader Day activities, Fraine Barracks, Oct. 18.
Order of Martin of Tours Award
Col. David Johnson, state chaplain, and Maj. Alan Roehrich, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade officer in charge, awarded Chaplain Maj. Justin Fenger with The Honorable Order of Martin of Tours during Chaplain Development Training at the Fargo Readiness Center, Oct. 23. (National Guard story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jill McGough, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)
Left to right: Maj. Alan Roehrich, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Maj. Justin Fenger, chaplain, and Col. David Johnson, state chaplain at Chaplain Development Training at the Fargo Readiness Center, Oct. 23.
Fenger was recognized due to his 2021 mission within the 1-188 Air Defense Artillery Regiment. He volunteered to mobilize to the National Capital Region, where he was the sole Chaplain for the Battalion and Brigade Task Force, providing over 2,500 hours of religious support coordination for 400 military personnel outstanding religious support and pastoral care to those in his charge.
According to the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, “the Honorable Order of Martin of Tours is awarded to those chaplains and religious affairs specialists who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence, selflessly served soldiers and families, and contributed to the promotion of the Army Chaplaincy.
Civil Support Team Trains with Bismarck Fire Department
The 81st Civil Support Team (CST) conducted a joint exercise with the Bismarck Fire Department for training on familiarization, detection and decontamination of hazardous materials at the Bismarck Event Center, Oct. 17. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The 81st Civil Support Team (CST) conducts a meeting with the Bismarck Fire Department during an exercise at the Bismarck Event Center, Oct. 17.
81st Civil Support Team members assist each other donning protective suits during a joint exercise with the Bismarck Fire Department for training at the Bismarck Event Center, Oct. 17.
The exercise scenario began when the city's fire department requested assistance in identifying a suspicious substance at the Bismarck Event Center causing people to become sick.
An observer controller speaks to the team members outside the arena at the Bismarck Event Center, Oct. 17.
United States Army North observer controller trainers were on hand to make to watch and grade the 81st CST. These observer controllers provide units with feedback to improve standard operating procedures and tactics, techniques and procedures.
Members of the 81st CST send pictures and chemical readings back to supervisors outside the arena at the Bismarck Event Center, Oct. 17.
The 81st CST supports civil authorities at domestic incident sites with identification and assessment of hazards, advice to the incident commander, and facilitating follow-on military forces during emergencies and incidents. The CST is capable of detecting and identifying chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives.
North Dakota’s 81st CST team, comprised of 22 full-time Army and Air Force National Guard personnel, was authorized by the Department of Defense November 2004.
Camp Grafton Host CBRN Training
Celebrating The Workforce
The 68th Troop Command Headquarters held a potluck lunch to express appreciation and gratitude for the hardworking men and women of the Directorate of Facility and Engineering (DFE) at Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 17. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, Human Resource Specialist 68th Troop Command)
Lt. Col. Matt Voeller, 68th Troop Command Officer in Charge, left, came up with the idea to honor the people who serve the installation.
"Day in and day out, during blizzards, on long drill weekends, overseeing construction projects, the RJB Armory DFE staff works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the building tenants have a safe, comfortable place to work, so that we can focus on our mission,” said Voeller.
“The 68th Troop Command staff was honored to host an appreciation luncheon to the facilities staff as a sign of our gratitude for their hard work. The DFEE staff embody the North Dakota National Guard’s (NDNG) motto, Always Ready, Always There every day.”
The DFE staff currently has nine employees, some as newly hired as one month and others with more than 20 years of experience.
“ALTHOUGH THE SERVICEMEMBERS AND STAFF ALWAYS EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR OUR TEAM, THE LUNCH WAS A WELCOME BREAK FROM THE TYPICAL WORKDAY, SAID MR. ROY PETERSON, PHYSICAL PLANT DIRECTOR AT RJB ARMORY. “IT WAS A GREAT REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.”
Full time staff members of 68th Troop Command spent their lunch enjoying conversations with their coworkers and expressing gratitude for all the hard work that the DFE staff do each day.
The 68th Troop Command's potluck lunch served as a strong reminder of the bonds that exist within the military community. In taking the time to simply enjoy good conversations the soldiers and civilian staff reinforced their mutual respect and appreciation for each other's vital roles in supporting the mission of the armory.
“Today, we celebrate the exceptional people who make RJB Armory a great place to work and serve," Lt. Col. Voeller, said to close out the event.
THE “164th MARINES”
When the National Guard Bureau put out the call to all states for “items or stories of unique historical significance” to display at the NGB Heritage Room, the storied 164th Infantry Regiment was the answer. In a display consisting of Army and Air National Guard items, the story of North Dakota’s “164th Marines” should be an attention grabber. (National Guard story and photos by Shirley Olgeirson, N.D. Guard Historian)
The 164th Infantry Regiment was the first U.S. Army unit to offensively engage the enemy during WWII – when it landed on Guadalcanal 81 years ago on October 13, 1942.
Nicknamed the “164th Marines” by the Marines themselves, the 164th Infantry Regiment earned that respect during the Second Battle for Henderson Field on October 25-26, 1942, when they fought shoulder to shoulder with the Marines on Guadalcanal. Because the Marines were forbidden from wearing patches on their uniforms after 1945, the Soldiers of the 164th were, for many decades, among the only service members authorized to wear the 1st Marine Division patch.
The second shadow box contains the interpretive panel used by the North Dakota Highway Department at rest areas along Highway 2 as it stretches across the state from Grand Forks to the Montana border. The 164th Infantry Memorial Highway is a lasting tribute to the heroic regiment.
Attention Retirees!
ND1000 Leads to Enlistment Program is an assistance program encouraging current and former members of the NDNG to actively assist in enlisting and accessing new Soldiers and Airmen into the N.D. Guard.
If you have an Air Guard recruit call - Tech Sgt. Adam Cohls at 701-818-5265
If you have an Army Guard recruit - download the ND Guard app and enter the lead under "ND1000." After your submission, a ND1000 assistant agreement will be generated and when that lead enlists/accesses, you will receive $1,000 in lump sum.
Let's work together to ensure the positive growth and development of our organization!
Veterans Voices
Veterans Voices on KX News is showcasing many of our North Dakota veterans.
The Highway 1806 Bridge
The Highway 1806 bridge over the Cannonball River just outside the city of Cannonball, ND, was dedicated Oct. 23 as the Pvt. Albert Grass WWI Bridge. (National Guard story and photos by Russell Larson, N.D. Guard Historian)
Albert Grass enlisted July 22, 1917, in Company I, 2nd Infantry Regiment, North Dakota National Guard, Bismarck. The 2nd ND Infantry was disbanded in France in October 1917, at which time the soldiers of Company I were transferred to the 161st Ambulance Company, 41st Infantry Division.
Grass was then assigned for a short time to the 164th Infantry Regiment before being transferred to front line duty with Company A, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was killed in action at Soissons-Paris Road, July 18, 1918. Initially buried in Romagne Cemetery, France, his remains were returned to Cannon Ball, North Dakota, in May 1921.
Pvt. Albert Grass was cited in for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services and was entitled to wear a silver star on the WWI campaign medal.
According to the Bismarck Tribune, October 12, 1917, he was the only living male blood relative (grandson) of famed Chief John Grass of the Sioux Tribe.
The Fargo Forum noted on Sep 18, 1918, that “So far as known, Albert Grass was the first Standing Rock Indian from Sioux County to lose his life in action.”