Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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December 17, 2012

304th on Afghanistan soil

By BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — The Bluefield Daily Telegraph learned Sunday afternoon that the 304th Military Police Company of the U.S. Army Reserve has arrived in Afghanistan.

“The 304th is now in Afghanistan and are adjusting well,” Jamie Peck, leader of the 304th’s Family Readiness Group stated in an email message.

The Bluefield-based company was activated earlier this year, and left for Fort Bush, Texas on Aug. 23. After a short stay in Texas, the company received additional training before being deployed.

The 304th was constituted on Jan. 6, 1942 as a prisoner of war escort, re-designated as an MP Escort Guard Co., on April 1, 1942, and remained that way through the end of World War II. The company was based in Kentucky before relocating to Bluefield on April 4, 1963.

The company was ordered into active military service in May 4, 1991, deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Shield where it operated a prisoner of war camp during Operation Desert Storm. The 304th was deactivated on May 4, 1991, and reverted to reserve status on May 4, 1991.

The unit was activated again on July 2, 1996, and deployed to Germany until March 27, 1997. The unit was activated again from Dec. 6, 2002 to Dec. 5, 2003, for duty at Fort Stewart.

Before leaving for Fort Bush, Captain Jared Peck, unit commander, said the company will be in Afghanistan for about nine months.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

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