US Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) recently visited members of the Wyoming Army National Guard’s 115th Field Artillery Brigade, including soldiers from the 2-300th Field Artillery Battalion, who are currently deployed in the Middle East.
According to Barrasso’s office, more than 100 Wyoming service members are stationed at three bases in Jordan and Syria, providing long-range precision fire support for both conventional and special operations forces in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. These soldiers represent 16 different communities across Wyoming, including Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette, Rock Springs, and Green River.
During his visit, Barrasso had the opportunity to tour the base and joint training center, share a meal with the troops, and hold a town hall discussion. He also received a security briefing from military officials regarding the current challenges in the region.
Barrasso emphasized the importance of personally visiting deployed Wyoming troops, a lesson he first learned during his 2007 Thanksgiving visit to Iraq with the late Sen. John McCain.
“It just meant a lot to them to have someone from home say, ‘Thank you, people at home are thinking of you,'” Barrasso said.
As a gesture of appreciation, Barrasso presented each service member with a challenge coin, a symbol of honor and recognition in military and public service.
In addition to visiting the troops, Barrasso also met with King Abdullah II of Jordan. The king, who has previously visited Jackson Hole and Cody, shared his appreciation for Wyoming and expressed condolences on the recent passing of former US Senator Al Simpson.
Barrasso noted that Wyoming flags could be seen throughout the brigade’s quarters, symbolizing the strong connection between the deployed troops and their home state. He also recognized some familiar faces, including a senior legal officer he had known since childhood and a brigade colonel who graduated from Cheyenne East High School.
To bring a bit of home to the troops, Barrasso shared updates on Wyoming high school basketball tournaments, drawing cheers and groans from soldiers based on their teams’ results.
The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. While Jordan has long been an ally of the United States, its strategic location near conflict zones, including Israel, Gaza, Syria, and Iraq, presents ongoing security concerns.
Barrasso acknowledged these challenges, stating:
“They are in harm’s way, and they are keeping us safe and free at home.”
Barrasso regularly visits deployed Wyoming troops, making trips during Thanksgiving and whenever new deployments occur. Last year, he visited troops in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
“I just go there to thank people for what they’re doing,” Barrasso said. “They’re a long way from home.”
With input from Sheridan Media, Cowboy State Daily, Wyoming News Now, and Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
