The Fort Knox community welcomed 95 42nd Clearance Company, 19th Engineer Battalion Soldiers home Tuesday during a redeployment ceremony at Sadowski Center. The Soldiers returned after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
During the invocation Chaplain (Capt.) Bernardino Yebra, the 19th Engineer Battalion chaplain, thanked the 42nd Clearance Company "Legends" for their courage and self-service.
"Lord thank you for their achievement," he prayed. "Lord thank you for their protection… thank you for their Families. Lord let them know no problems and difficulties can separate what you have joined together."
Brig. Gen. James Iacocca, the Adjutant General of the U.S. Army and executive director of the Military Postal Service Agency, said under the leadership of Capt. Jason Schwarz and 1st Sgt. Timothy Barksdale, the unit successfully completed the mission command of 75 percent of the clearance missions in three Afghan provinces--Bagram, Farah and Kabul.
"(The 42nd Clearance Company) provided clearance, reconnaissance and minesweeping to the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Cavalry Division," said Iacocca. "To the Soldiers, Families and friends of to the 42nd Clearance Company thank you, job well done, welcome home, happy holiday and be safe."
During the deployment the unit coordinated and conducted minefield clearance operations to assist friendly forces in the completion of critical missions throughout the theater of operations.
Lt. Col. Estee Pinchasin, the 19th Engineer commander, said during the last nine months the Legends served the country honorably.
"(You) made an incredible impact to Operation Freedom's sentinel by executing over 550 missions," explained Pinchasin. "Your legacy is truly enduring. Words cannot express how proud we are of all of you, and all you have accomplished. We are grateful to have you back with your Families, back to your Army Family and the 19th Engineer Battalion.
The 42nd Clearance Company, which is comprised of about 150 Soldiers, moved to Fort Knox from Bamberg, Germany in October 2013 where they were assigned for more
than three years under the 54th Engineer Battalion.
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