Tagging along for news

Becky always has interesting entertainment for me.

The 1063rd Support Maintenance Company of the Montana Army National Guard was activated May 3. Becky covered the event for the Billings Gazette and I tagged along. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

An impressive ceremony took place in the Billings Armed Forces Reserve Center at 11 a.m. although I would like to say 1100 hours. I think.

The newest unit of the Montana National Guard is described as a subordinate unit of the 190th combined sustainment and support battalion-Billings and headquartered in Billings.

Subordinate elements are located in Dillon and Harlowton.

Other elements listed are in Kalispell, Libby and Havre.

Company commander of the 1063rd is Captain Chase Ragen, Townsend, with 1st Sergeant Jason Ludwick, Cody, Wyo. There are approximately 158 soldiers in the unit. It was first time we had witnessed Passing of the Colors.

History of the 1063rd spans 59 years when it was first activated in Missoula.

Mission is described to have platoons for automotive, ground support equipment, missile and electronics repair, recovery missions, as well as an attached test, measurement and diagnostic equipment section.

One advantage of the 1063rd is allowing more opportunities for women, specifically in the eastern half of Montana, to become soldiers.

We thought it great when Mrs. Ragen and Mrs. Ludwick were each presented with a bouquet of red roses. Youngest person at the ceremony, sleeping through it all, was the 16-day-old daughter of the Ludwicks.

Of course I had to compare the 1063rd in Billings with the 163rd in the Flathead.

I remembered the late Ed Hula and Dick Walsh recalling incidents of their years as members of the 163rd Unit of the National Guard. It was made up of young Flathead residents who enlisted at the start of World War II. A sign near Rose Crossing was placed when Highway 2 was designated in memory of the 163rd several years ago.

It was good to visit with Lu Hula concerning more details about the National Guard 68 years ago. Lu and Ed were married in July, 1941. She recalled that just one week after Ed joined the National Guard all members were conscripted into the regular U.S. Army. They were sent to Australia in March, 1942, and they went from there to New Guinea. We did not use the word deployed in those years.

The Hulas and I visited the Montana Historical Society building in Helena several years ago. We were disappointed when wanting to see the designated 163rd room. The room was unlocked for us and we were again disappointed to learn items were not placed. Ed had contributed memorabilia for display there.

I was interested in the new Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery at Laurel. Flags from each of the branches of the service are arranged in a circle near a visitor parking lot.

Several veterans have been interred there since groundbreaking took place in May, 2008. Voters approved the cemetery in 2006. It is located adjacent near the Masonic Temple property and is just past the Laurel Cemetery.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.