Reeves deploys to Afghanistan

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Spc. Gene Reeves, of Cape Girardeau, is one of nearly 93 Missouri National Guard Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan with the 1138th Engineer Company, of Farmington.

The unit -- which draws Soldiers from the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau -- is part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and will be conducting route clearance missions.

Soldiers spent 29 days training at Camp Crowder and Camp Clark for pre-mobilization training that allowed them to learn necessary skills for deployment. Training conducted there included weapons qualifications, route clearance operations and tactics, battle drills and warrior tasks.

Currently, Soldiers are finalizing appropriate training for deployment at Fort Bliss, Texas, including squad and platoon battle drills and tasks while being in vehicles and environments similar to that in which they will encounter while deployed. After mobilization training, the Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in mid-August.

Reeves has been with the Missouri Army National Guard for two years and is a combat engineer. He has six years prior service with the U.S. Air Force.

This is his first deployment with the Missouri National Guard, said Reeves.

"I am proud to serve my fellow Soldiers and my country," said Reeves. "I look forward to getting back home to my Family."

While deployed, the company will fall under the command and control of the 120th Engineer Battalion, Oklahoma National Guard. The Soldiers are scheduled to return in the spring of 2013.

Reeves works for Alliance Water Resources. He is supported in his military career by his wife, Chrystal; his children, William, 22, Andy, 21, Steven, 18, Dustin, 16, Jordan, 11, and Noah, 10; and his parents Gene, deceased, and Marie Reeves, of Jackson, Mo.

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