AUSA Kuwait Chapter 8601 - 1st in an Operational Theater

AUSA sponsored a get together for the 444th in September 2008. The 444th is a reserve unit from Pittsburgh responsible for running the mail service, personnel documents, and processing for individuals going to Iraq and has detachments ast Arifjan, Buehring, and Virginia. This was the first time all members were in one place since their arrival in-theater.

There were between 65 amd 80 soldiers at the event, as duty allowed. The Camp Virginia chaplain, CPT Otis Thomas attended, but all others participants beside a USO rep and AUSA-Kuwait Randy Williams were members of the unit. This was the first time that the 444th soldiers have been a part of an AUSA-Kuwait outing, according to the command group.

The unit had a great BBQ. They organized games for the soldiers and provided prizes to first & second place finishers. Gifts were provided by AUSA, with sixteen great local souvenirs donated by the Dar al-Ithar al Islamiyya (Islamic House of Heritage) thanks to the generosity of Sheikha Hussah Sabah Salem al-Sabah, and by the USO - they six really nice IPODs and several gift certificates from some food court vendors.

Randy Williams reported that he enjoyed mixing with the soldiers, and appreciated the chance to talk about AUSA. The soldiers were already aware of the clothing locker at the LSA, but did not realize that ASUA-Kuwait was behind it. The Commander presented Randy Williams a certificate of appreciation that Randy accepted in the name of the AUSA-Kuwait Chapter.

The 444^th Commander is MAJ Antoinette Rainey. XO is CPT Bronwyd Odhner, and 1SG is Michael Wagner. Both XO and 1SG joined are joining AUSA and designating AUSA-Kuwait as their Chapter.