Kennedy visits, meets Guardsmen

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Everyone appreciates recognition, and military personnel are no exception.

That's what U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) found out when he choppered into New Ulm to meet with, and hear briefings from, local National Guard personnel Saturday.

The purpose of the visit was "to see what the National Guard's needs are," according to Kennedy district director Mark Matuska. Kennedy previously visited units in St. Peter and St. James. Matuska said the congressman plans to visit units in Montevideo, Marshall and Camp Ripley in the coming days.

In a speech at the National Guard Armory in New Ulm that night, Kennedy announced the passage of a U.S. House resolution he co-sponsored with Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) recognizing armed forces reserves and National Guard for their contributions to national security in the aftermath of September 11.

"It's hard to defend every plane, every pipeline...," Kennedy told the crowd. "....The National Guard plays an important role."

Arriving on a chilly but sunny Saturday afternoon in two Army National Guard helicopters, the second district Republican and some of his staff met with local leaders and National Guard personnel at New Ulm Municipal Airport.

The congressman later received a briefing from Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bertrang, commander of the 125th Field Artillery Battalion in New Ulm. Bertrang gave an overview of the battalion's missions, its personnel strength, its history, recent and upcoming training events, some unit achievements and a timeline for its annual NATO deployment to Norway.

Kennedy said the U.S. "must do more than defend," adding that he was pleased to see U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"Someone once asked George Marshall if the U.S. had a secret weapon that was going to help us win World War II," he told the crowd. "Marshall said 'Our secret weapon is that we have the best kids in the world'."

During the briefing, Bertrang and Col. Dennis Lord said the battalion is below state average in turnover, but said keeping officers is sometimes tough because many National Guard leave the Army for jobs in the private sector.

Bertrang also noted that the battalion recently won a state award for having the best food service section. He also said it was ranked sixth highest out of 45 similar unit comparisons in the country, received an outstanding score in a training evaluation and a 92.1 percent score on an organizational readiness exercise--the highest score in the state.

The number of National Guard personel on active duty has changed since Sept. 11. In Minnesota, there are National Guard personnel providing security at regional airports, patrolling the skies and the Canadian border, Lord said before introducing Kennedy to the crowd.

"It's nice to have a visit," Bertrang said of the visit. "It's nice to have him see instead of hear. It's nice that he took time out of his schedule and visited the 1-2-5."

Earlier in the day, Kennedy went on a tour of New Ulm led by Mayor Arnold Koelpin. The mayor told of the city's history and background, giving anecdotes about the Turners, the 1862 Dakota war, the Hermann monument and the Schell's brewery.

During the tour, the bus took a turn off State Highway 15 and drove down Shag Road, past the proposed site for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern railway switching yard.