Lt. Col. Landers and wife Melody (L) and
Sgt. Donald Keith Heiney (R)
Lt. Col. Kevin P. Landers Sr., husband of the former Melody Morrison Wilson of Grantsville, WV and son-in-law of Melvin Morrison of Pullman, WV and the late Sharon Morrison, deployed in late February to Iraq only to find out within weeks that he would be sent on to Afghanistan.
Due to the unusual situation, going from one theatre to another in one deployment, the 4th Engineer Battalion has CNN with the Associated Press traveling along for the transition.
Lt Col. Landers redeployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom as part of the Governance Assessment Team assessing the capacity of the Iraqi Government for Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus.
See CNN story and video interview with Lt Col. Landers  here
Deployed with Lt Col. Landers is Sgt. Donald Keith Heiney, son of Janet Heiney of Grantsville, WV and the late Donald Heiney.
Sgt. Heiney graduated from Calhoun County High School in 1999. He later joined the National Guard in 2003 and went on active duty in 2004.
Heiney's military education includes, R2C2 Sapper, Explosive Ordinance Clearance Agent, Airload Planner, US Air Force Airlift Planner, Warrior Leader Course, Small Arms Maintenance, Combat Lifesaver.
His previous assignments have been, Bamberg, Germany 2004-2007 with 54th En, Camp Ramadi Iraq November 2005-November 2006, Fort Carson Colorado 2007 to present.
His military awards and decorations include: 1 Army Commendation Metal, 1 Army Achievement Metal, Good Conduct Metal, National Defense Service Metal, Global War on Terrorism Metal, Army Service Ribbon, 2 Oversea Ribbons, Iraqi Campaign Metal.
Sgt. Heiney is married to the former Christan Darlene Bierman of Brush, Colorado. They reside in Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO.
Commander, Lt. Col. Landers' PSD-Personal Security Detachment
Some of the 4th Engineer Battalion's
fleet used in the search of roadside bombs
Lt Col. Landers military education includes the command and general staff college and the engineer officer basic and advanced courses at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
His previous assignments include: Platoon Leader, 72nd Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia; Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer, 43rd Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia; Company Commander, 5th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Deputy Inspector General, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; instructor at the National Geospatial Intelligence College (NGA), Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 30th Engineer Battalion (Topographic) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
His military awards and decorations include: the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the United Nations Medal - Somalia, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge.
The Landers' reside in Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO with their two sons Kyle, 17, and Justin, 12.
|
