Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops

By Sgt. Emily Finn, 35th Combat Aviation BrigadeNovember 23, 2018

Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard Col. Charles Hausman, commander of the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, welcomes U.S. Air Force National Guard Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau at the 35th CAB's Adminis... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard Chaplain Jamilah Moss, assigned to the 1-108th Assault Helicopter Battalion, headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, leads U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade in prayer before breakfast at the 35th CAB's Admin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Shayne Fuemmeler, first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, from Sedalia, Missouri, initiates breakfast by grabbing the first plate at the 35th CAB's Administrative and Lo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Leif Thompson, far right, commander of the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, from Springfield, Missouri, discusses recent 935th ASB operations at the 35th CAB's Administrative and Logist... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Air Force National Guard Gen. Joseph Lengyel, center, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and U.S. Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, right, senior enlisted advisor to the CNGB, listen as U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Mary... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Air Force National Guard Gen. Joseph Lengyel, left center, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and U.S. Army National Guard Col. Charles Hausman, right, commander of the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, discuss a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard Col. Charles Hausman, right, commander of the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, gifts a 35th CAB aviation morale patch to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, left, senior enlisted advisor to ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Air Force National Guard Gen. Joseph Lengyel, right, chief of the National Guard Bureau, awards U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Karmen Walling, human resources sergeant assigned to Headquarters and Support Company, 935th Aviation Support... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, take a photo with U.S. Air Force National Guard Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Command Sgt. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait -- Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the senior enlisted advisor to Lengyel, shared a Thanksgiving breakfast with Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, who are deployed to the Middle East in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.

Breakfast was Nov. 22 at the 35th CAB's Administrative and Logistical Operations Center at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

U.S. Soldiers of many ranks attended the breakfast. Throughout the meal, Lengyel and Kepner talked with the service members asking questions about jobs, career goals and deployment life. They also discussed retention rates and Soldier readiness, which affects the National Guard Bureau's strength.

Army National Guard Spc. Tia Brown, a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th CAB, was in attendance.

Brown said she was nervous to meet Lengyel, as she has never met a four-star general before. She enjoyed talking with him and learning more about what the National Guard had to offer. She liked how open Lengyel and Kepner were to discussing Soldier issues and their sincerity in effecting what changes they can do to combat such issues.

Following breakfast, Lengyel presented his coin to seven U.S. Soldiers for their exceptional service during this mobilization. U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Nicholas Arrigoni, a flight medic assigned to C. Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, returned the favor by sharing his unit's morale sticker with Lengyel. U.S. Army National Guard Col. Charles Hausman, commander of the 35th CAB, also shared the brigade's morale patches with Lengyel and Kepner.

"Visits such as these are important to maintain morale during the holiday season," said U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Derrick Jennings, executive officer of the 35th CAB."Being away from family and friends is taxing on our service members. We are thankful for the opportunity to share this with Gen. Lengyel and our military family."

Related Links:

National Guard

Army.mil: National Guard News

National Guard Facebook