Plains Guardian

By Staff Sgt. Ray SimmonsOriginally printed in the February 2000 Plains Guardian Capt. Jose “Joe” Llamas had already served his country during World War II and was eligible for retirement from the Kansas Army National Guard when he was called to duty in Vietnam in May 1968. “I have to go with my men,” he said. He was killed on Aug. …

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By Sgt. Michael Steed Kansas Army National Guard Public Affairs FORT POLK, LA – “With 67 troops, we will support 5,000 Soldiers from 22 states, turning in 717 pieces of equipment they have been using in the box for three weeks,” said Capt. Sarah Patterson, commander of the 170th Support Maintenance Company, Wichita, Kansas, For their annual training, the 170th …

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On May 11, the first graduate of the Synchronous Training and Academic Credit program received an associate’s degree from Salina Area Technical College, validating the partnership between the school and the Kansas National Guard. This partnership is the first of its kind to give Soldier attending the Allied Trades course at the Regional Training Site Maintenance the opportunity to earn …

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By Sgt. Michael Steed 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment It’s no secret that the Army has a new physical fitness test coming soon. The old test is being revamped and replaced by the Army Combat Fitness Test with six events rather than the current three. The new test includes three repetition maximum dead-lift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg …

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By Pfc. Victoria Williams 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment The Kansas National Guard Heartland Preparedness Center in Wichita opened its doors to local high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students April 11. Display tables set up by local colleges, service members and law enforcement lined the walls of the armory. Some of the colleges that were represented included Wichita …

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By Capt. Lauren Orr 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Kansas Army National Guard Public Affairs There was an atmosphere of patriotic camaraderie in Leavenworth High School the evening of May 25: kids with small American flags, many older attendees sporting shirts, vests, or hats displaying reminders of their military service. The occasion was the 35th Infantry Division Band’s Memorial Day …

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By Maj. Benjamin Gruver No one wants bad things to happen, especially in their own communities. However, for two Kansas National Guardsmen, the devastation of recent floods was a rejuvenating experience. Torrential rains and thunderstorms hit Kansas in late May, and flooding became an imminent danger for several communities downstream from levees and dams that were close to overflowing. With …

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By Capt. Robert Taylor Idaho Army National Guard Two companies from the Kansas Army National Guard’s 891st Engineer Battalion are currently completing a rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, to prepare to conduct future real-world missions during unit deployments. The 242nd Engineer Company, based in Coffeyville, and the 772nd Engineer Mobility Augmentation Company, based in Pittsburgh, are …

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By Capt. Robert Taylor Idaho Army National Guard If Kansas Army National Guard Sgt. Christopher Rectenwald is at work, he’s likely saving someone’s life or standing by ready to do so. As a civilian, he works as a paramedic for the Jefferson County Ambulance Service, located about an hour outside of Kansas City. As a member of the Kansas Army …

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By Staff Sgt. Emily Amyotte 190th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Family, food and friendly competition–that’s what Master Sgt. Lucretia Cross, 190th Civil Engineer Squadron operations manager, holds near and dear to her heart and what brought her the opportunity to compete on Food Network’s Family Food Showdown. Cross’ family owns and operates a Topeka-based southern-style food truck, Snoutherns, with …

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