“I feel it is an honor to be the first since 1968 to get called into action,” said First Lieutenant Dan Allen, 30, a platoon leader with Company C. “We as a unit understand the significance and the importance of it.” 

After the Virginia Army National Guard company was mobilized on Sept. 3, the infantrymen trained at at Fort Benning, Ga., and Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.

“The training was good. It was very rigorous, very concentrated. After the 48 days at Fort Polk, soldiers were prepared to deploy anywhere besides Fort Polk,” joked the Captain Michael Patterson, company commander, and a parole officer for the state of Virgina.

After the training, the infantrymen deployed to Slavonski Brod, Croatia, as part of Operation Joint Guard.

On Nov. 1, the 29th Division company replaced a 10th Mountain Division (Light) company, and assumed responsibility of securing a Sava River Bridge, which connects the Bosnian Serb community of Srpski Brod with the Croatian town of Slavonski Brod.

The bridge is important to the peace process. “It was one of the things agreed on in the in Dayton Peace Accord, to have free travel between the two countries,” explained First Sergeant Bennie Dancy, of Washington, D.C.

The bridge is among only a few that cross the Sava River, and is the last under Stabilization Force control, according to Dancy, who as a civilian is a supervisor with the Washington Metro Transit Authority. 

“Strategically it’s an important asset,” he said.

“We don’t just stand here like stone,” said Specialist Alan Bishop, a rifle grenadier on the bridge’s Croatian side. “Sure, we want to show a presence, but at the same time we want to keep the people who are our friends, to stay our friends. We’re wanted on this side. I can’t speak for the other side.” added Bishop, 25, of Fairfax, Va., a meter reader for the city of Vienna.

“I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to help others. It’s why I joined the Guard. We’re always helping people, be it flood details or tornadoes,” said Allen, who works in the Pentagon as a public affairs officer. Members of the unit believe in what they are doing, Allen said. “My little girl asked before I left why I had to go. Why I didn’t want to spend Christmas with her? I explained to her that I had made a commitment and I was going to live up to it. But I also told her I was doing for other little girls like her. So they will be safe and get presents just like her for Christmas. She gave me a big smile,” he recalled.

Specialst Alan Bishop (middle), rifle grenadier with 3rd of the 116th Infantry, receive holiday greetings while on duty at Sava Bridge from Command Sergent Major Lewis Emory, (left) Task Force Pershing, and Colonel Bill Ingram (right) Task Force Pershing commander.

The infantry soldiers add a diversity of knowledge and expertise to their mission. “Our unit is made up of soldiers from every facet of life — doctors, lawyers, bank managers, computer analysts, transportation specialists, and police officers. We all blend together to form a team,” said Darcy.

The company, “Team Stonewall”,   based in Leesburg,Va., traces it’s lineage to the Stonewall Brigade, commanded by General Stonewall Jackson in the Civil War. 

Being part of military history can draw a lot of attention. “It can have its ups and down. Every other third day, weather permitting, we have a general or a dignitary visiting the bridge. But the soldiers don’t mind, they like the attention,” said Patterson.

The company also is helping maintain security at Camp McGovern, near Brcko, and is part of a Quick Reaction Force at Camp Sava North.