Send-off ceremony held for 817th Engineer Co. in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Members of the 817th Engineer Co. (Sapper) of the North Dakota Army National Guard were honored by state officials during a send-off ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Jamestown Civic Center.

About 125 members of the company headquartered in Jamestown will mobilize to the U.S. southern border for a year-long mission to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s border security operations.

North Dakota Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and senior Guard officials were among those speaking at the event, praising the 817th Engineer Co. and the families, friends and employers who support the members’ efforts. The 188th Army Band of the North Dakota National Guard performed, prayers were said, and the U.S. and North Dakota flags were presented to the 817th to take with them.

“On behalf of Gov. (Doug) Burgum, your commander-in-chief, and myself, we are so grateful for your service,” Miller told the 817th members.

She said every great organization has great leaders, singling out the North Dakota National Guard leaders in attendance and the state’s congressional delegation.

“We know strong leadership and a strong military is important,” she said. “It’s especially important right now. We have one of our closest allies fighting back against terrorists and you know we stand in full support of our ally Israel. At the same time, Putin continues his misguided war in Ukraine and China grows even bolder in its posture toward Taiwan and the rest of the world. Here on home soil, we have waves of illegal immigrants coming across the southern border, and we know the 817th is going to fulfill your mission on the border with great success.

She noted that as the soldiers prepare to deploy, their families also serve.

“Your duties on the southern border means you’re going to miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other important family events, and your families are going to have to take on a lot of those duties themselves,” Miller said. “The sacrifice of a soldier is a sacrifice shared by the entire family, and that support is so essential so our guardsmen and women can serve at the highest level.”

According to the North Dakota National Guard, the 817th Engineer Co. was formerly Company B, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion. Among its missions, it deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and two soldiers were killed in action. The unit was reorganized in 2006, redesignated the 817th Engineer Co. (Sapper) and deployed again to Iraq from 2007-2008. The unit has supported multiple state active duty missions including flood duties in 2009 and 2011 and duties related to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

Hoeven recalled the 817th’s deployments as the 141st and as the 817th and when explosives were used to break up an ice jam on the Missouri River at Bismarck.

“The National Guard represents the finest men and women in our country. The work they do each day to protect our nation, both at home and abroad, does not go unnoticed,” he said in a news release issued later. “I’ve seen firsthand the work of our Guard at the southern border and they have provided invaluable service during this immigration crisis. I know the 817th Engineer Company will continue this good work. We need to secure the border, because border security is national security. Not only that but their work to assist CBP will help better address the humanitarian crisis at our southern border, including by helping to fight back against human and drug trafficking.”

Cramer said he appreciated Hoeven’s reference to the policy that made the 817th’s deployment necessary.

“There are a lot of wars and we as a nation sometimes, well, we’ve always taken a leadership role … preserving freedom around the globe because of the blessings we enjoy at home,” he said. “As the most blessed nation in the world, we feel a global responsibility. And our guard has always stepped up to that when it’s called.”

Cramer said one of the things that strikes him the most about the border challenges is that most of the people coming across illegally are doing so for their families and it’s hard not to be focused on the children. He said Guard and Customs and Border Patrol personnel have compassion in their work, which also sends a message.

“And I for one, am so glad that the North Dakotans that are at the border protecting Americans, are also protecting children who aren’t Americans,” he said. “At least yet. Because I think that projects strength as much as our military might. And that the love of freedom as Abraham Lincoln said, the love of freedom is what keeps us free as much as our military might.”

A representative for Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who was unable to attend, read his prepared remarks. Armstrong expressed gratitude for the 817th’s service, adding “The reputation and expertise of this company is well known as you’ve been called on numerous times domestically and abroad. The strength of the North Dakota National Guard lies with our dedicated service members who defend our communities, our state and our country. The strength also lies with the family members, the community and our employers.”

Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, said the 817th has always performed at a high level and expected it to take the mission to “the next level,” as did other units supporting border efforts, the 957th Engineer Co.’s Multi-Role Bridge Co. and currently the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment.

He encouraged families to ask for help if they need it during the deployment and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson, senior enlisted leader for the Guard, said it’s important to have a support plan of people to rely on.

“I cannot thank the friends and families enough that have come here to support the soldiers of the 817th Engineer Company,” said Capt. Ricky Kuhn, company commander.

Kathy Steiner has been the editor of The Jamestown Sun since 1995. She graduated from Valley City State College with a bachelor’s degree in English and studied mass communications at North Dakota State University, Fargo. She reports on business, government and community topics in the Jamestown area. Reach her at 701-952-8449 or ksteiner@jamestownsun.com.