Kilgore Guard unit receives seven Bronze Stars

From left, Sgt. Randal Pemberton just received his Bronze Star from Colonel Randall E. Davis, deputy commander for the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Pemberton's son, Shawn, checks out his dad's medal as Pemberton's mom, Cheryl, looks on. The soldiers were treated to a hamburger lunch and the Kilgore Lions were on hand to do the serving, here Lion Bobby Bittick and Pat Nault serve. These were the National Guard awards each soldier received for their tours in combat. Colonel Randall E. Davis, deputy commander for the 56 Infantry Brigade Combat Team said yesterday at the National Guard Armory in Kilgore that all soldiers deployed to Iraq from that brigade were now back in Texas.

Thursday afternoon, the 125 soldiers who returned to the Kilgore Armory on Wednesday were treated to lunch by the East Texas Chefs Association.

As part of the festivities, as these soldiers gathered together waiting anxiously to be released to head to their home towns across Texas, Col. Davis made award presentations to individual soldiers and the entire unit.

Seven soldiers were awarded the Bronze Star during the ceremony. One of these soldiers was Sgt. Randal Pemberton from Amarillo. Pemberton had his three-year-old son Shawn waiting on him when he arrived in Kilgore. Pemberton's mom, Cheryl Pemberton was also in Kilgore to greet her son.

Pemberton said receiving the Bronze Star means a great deal to him but it was not an individual accomplishment. "We served as a unit over the last year and that is why we were able to complete our mission," said Pemberton. "Without those other men an women this would have not been possible."

Also during the ceremony, soldiers who have served their first tour in a war zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan receive awards and those serving there second tour receive a special award.

Capt. George Hurd, public information officer for the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team said a great many of the soldiers in this brigade will be going back to Iraq in the next couple of months. "This was not by or- ders, these men and women who are going back are volunteers," said Hurd. "Soldiers have their different reasons for signing up, to me 911 was like Pearl Harbor, I will be going back for my third tour, in my second war.

Hurd, who lives in Ft Worth said his wife works for the Texas Ranger organization. "I would like to kick back and watch a baseball game," said Hurd. "But I know there are other things that need to be done in Iraq."

I feel we have won the war, but even in other wars, the job is not done until the rebuilding process is finished said Hurd.

Pemberton said now that his tour is done he will go back to work as a tanner in Amarillo.

On hand to pass out awards during the ceremony was Kilgore Mayor Joe T. Parker.

The Kilgore Lions Club provided their services during lunch. Lion Travis Martin did the cooking and other Lions pitched in to serve the soldiers and their families lunch.