Politics & Government

Planning Director Beyard: Merry Christmas from Kuwait

Westminster's Planning Director Thomas Beyard is serving in the military, he expects to be home this summer.

Westminster's Department of Planning, Zoning and Development Director Thomas Beyard, 56, departed for a 400-day rotation with the Maryland Army National Guard in late summer.

Beyard joined the Guard in 1997 after years with the Army Reserve. He has worked for the city of Westminster for close to 24 years.

Until his return, his position is being filled by interim Director Steve Horn.

Find out what's happening in Westminsterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Beyard sends occasional correspondence to Patch and we will post his letters and photos as we receive them.

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Find out what's happening in Westminsterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hello,

Another week in Iraq, but you could never imagine the week we had. As I am sure you saw on television (at least I did), the war in Iraq is over.  Operation New Dawn is finished and I am now at a military base in Kuwait, where I will likely be for the remainder of my deployment. I expect to return home next summer.

It was kind of surreal at Taji the end of the war. At its high point in the past eight years, Taji housed over 40,000 Soldiers and civilians. On the last day, Taji had less than 50 Soldiers. As we sat in the dining facility on the last day, we took historical photos - the last six Soldiers in my unit, the last AH64 Apache crews, etc. I stayed my last night in a housing facility in Taji called the Taj Mahal, Camp Taji.

I flew out of Taji on the last CH-47 Chinook that left Taji. We had a full load, as we had air traffic controller, aircraft maintainers and others with us, plus a lot of baggage. I had the opportunity to sit in the seat between the two pilots. I had a great view as we flew. The sun went down and it was dark when we finally crossed the border and landed in Kuwait. The pilot flying the Chinook was a very experienced Chief Warrant Officer, but he still kept a lucky monkey on the dash that his son gave to him on a previous deployment, but he still kept with him. He rubbed it on me to pass on good luck.

Now a little about Taji. It is a former Iraq Republican Guard tank base located about 10 miles north of Baghdad. Taji’s other claim to fame is that is home to Chemical Ali, one of the notorious henchman in Saddam Hussein’s regime. Chemical Ali was best known for masterminding the gassing of the Kurdish people in the north of Iraq and his brutality. 

I am very proud of the Soldiers of my unit. They just completed the impossible mission. They supported  the war’s operational maneuver, plus they cleaned and cleared Taji, while simultaneously relocating the entire unit to Kuwait. They completed this historic, no-fail mission due to their professionalism, dedication to duty and pure courage. I thank every Soldier for their sacrifice and effort, but I also thank their families for their support and constant encouragement.

I thought some photos would be fitting of my last day in Iraq. First, the Taj Mahal at Camp Taji. Second,  is me with an American flag on the the back ramp of a CH47 Chinook out of Taji. Third, is the pilot of our CH47 Chinook with his lucky monkey on the dashboard.  Fourth, is the last six Soldiers of my unit at breakfast at Taji. Fifth, is me with the famous 29th Division logo on the back  ramp of a CH47 Chinook out of Iraq.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Less than  a week to go. No snow predicted  here, only sunny and warm weather in the  day and a chill at night.  No white Christmas for us!!!

Regards,

Tom


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