Guard seeks to honor Gulf War GIs

DEXTER, Mo. -- In an effort to recognize the effort and service of soldiers who served in Desert Storm, members of the 1221st National Guard Transportation Unit in Dexter are trying to assemble funds to erect a stone monument commemorating its soldiers who served in the conflict.

The 1221st Transportation Unit in Dexter was alerted early during the Middle East conflict and spent a lengthy amount of time overseas.

Consisting of soldiers whose jobs vary from mechanics and truck drivers to communication specialists, the transportation unit is a virtual backbone of all military operations, responsible for hauling everything from troops to supplies during wartime.

Sgt. 1st Class Rick Holden, the full-time readiness support non-commissioned officer in the Dexter unit, first proposed the idea of a monument when he was assigned to the 1221st two years ago.

"When I got here I asked the soldiers if they might be interested in trying to get a monument," Holden said.

Can't solicit funds

Holden said the goal of purchasing and erecting a monument is a difficult one to obtain, as it is a private effort and the Guard is not allowed to solicit funds for the project.

"We've had a few soldiers getting the word out that have contacted a few area businesses and have gotten support for the project, but I don't know how far away we are from the goal," Holden said.

Existing plans are for a stone monument bearing the names of all the soldiers in the entire 1221st Transportation Unit who served overseas during the conflict to be set in front of the unit's building in Dexter.

Though Guardsmen are not allowed to ask for donations, Holden thinks it is a project worthy of effort due to the nature of service and length of time the unit spent in the Mideast.

"A lot of our soldiers who served in Desert Storm are still here," Holden said.

The cost is projected at $5,100, and the amount accumulated at this point is between $600 and $700.

The unit's public relations director, Spc. Marissa Jenkins, said the monument will honor roughly 147 soldiers who served in Desert Storm from this area, as opposed to just being limited to members of the 1221st.

"The unit would really like to get this monument put up before April of next year," Jenkins said.

People can donate to the project by sending donations to: 1st Sgt. Dennis Rodgers, 1258 Perch Drive, Wappapello, Mo. 63966.