FORT DRUM, N.Y. (May 28, 2015) -- Soldiers assigned to 1st and 2nd Battalions, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), gathered in formation to celebrate their history during a combined Meritorious Unit Commendation ceremony held May 21 on Fort Drum.
"Today we had Maj. Gen. Jeffery L. Bannister, commander, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum, who awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to 1st and 2nd Battalions, 87th Infantry Regiment," said Capt. John Goodwill, commander, A Company, 2-87 Infantry.
Adorning their unit colors were Soldiers of 1-87 Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, who were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation streamer for exceptional meritorious service during their most recent deployment to the Ghazni and Kabul provinces, Afghanistan.
Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-87 Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation certificate and citation for exceptional meritorious service during their most recent deployment to Logar Province, Afghanistan.
The MUC is awarded as a streamer when 65 percent of a unit's personnel deploy, and as an emblem or MUC certificate and citation when less than 65 percent of the unit's personnel are deployed.
"Our Soldiers, under whatever conditions, need to be prepared to deploy anywhere in the world and fight," said Lt. Col. Joe Escandon, 1-87 Infantry commander. "Today's awarding of the Meritorious Unit Commendations is just another example of getting a mission, going (overseas), accomplishing that mission, and the Army recognizing the efforts of our Soldiers and what they've done."
The day also marked the two units' first 87th Infantry Regiment Day, an event that set another historic milestone for the regiment.
"(The 87th Infantry Regiment Day is) very significant for the division simply because the 87th Infantry Regiment is the foundation of 10th Mountain Division," Escandon said. "It was the first unit of the 10th Mountain Division and is the base for the unit's history."
Soldiers began the event with a regimental run where the two battalions combined their units to bolster esprit de corps and regimental spirit and to celebrate their history.
"Today is an opportunity for our two battalions to come together to share and appreciate our lineage and history," said Lt. Col. Jonathan Chung, 2-87 Infantry commander.
During the final event, a leader's call, they discussed the future of their 87th Infantry Regiment Day celebration and signed into action next year's events.
"We (signed) a charter that will lay out the things we are going to do in the future on an annual and semi-annual basis," Escandon said. "So this event, which should take place again next year, should be much more robust. We expect a regimental run, sports competitions to foster friendly rivalry, and a Family barbecue and family readiness group event."
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