Todd Breen is being honored as January's Lake Andes Veteran of the Month. Breen is a Veteran of Operation Desert Shield, first enlisting in October of 1981 with the United States Army at the age of 25. Breen was sent to Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA to complete both his basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). For his AIT, Breen was trained as a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 31M. Having an MOS 31M meant that Breen was trained as a multichannel communications equipment operator.

During Breen’s three years in the Army, he split his time evenly between two bases. After graduating from AIT school, he was sent to Fort Lewis in McChord, WA. While stationed at Fort Lewis, Breen worked with the air defense artillery unit. Eighteen months into his service, the Army decided that he was going to be sent overseas to the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach in Ansbach, Germany.

While stationed in Germany, Breen’s unit volksmarched in the mountains, completed various trainings, and he learned command of the 1st Armored Division, which was a constantly secure communication site. After 18 months in Germany, Breen returned stateside where he received his honorable discharge from the Army in October of 1984.

Breen felt that his time in the Army was different than most other young people’s experience. As he was already 25 in comparison to the usual 18 or 19 years old when he enlisted, he had already experienced a bit of life in the real world when it came to traveling. Breen also knew how to listen and be respectful of those that outranked him.

Six months after being discharged from the U.S. Army, Breen enlisted in the National Guard. While in the Guards, Breen continued as a communication MOS. He joined the National Guard 854th Engineering Company out of Wagner. As he had only been out of the Army for six months, he did not have to complete basic training. Breen continued to complete his monthly and yearly training while working for the Forest Service until one day in November of 1990 when he received a phone call from fellow National Guardsman, Larry Johnson. Larry asked Breen if he would be interested in joining the 740th Transportation Company out of Milbank deploying to Saudi Arabia as their unit did not have the necessary number of soldiers needed. Breen agreed and was one of 18 guardsmen who were not a part of the 740th unit that volunteered for the deployment.

The soldiers' first stop was at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO where they packed, sealed, stored, secured, and inspected everything that would be deployed with them before loading it onto rail cars to be sent to Oakland, CA. The team spent the next five months training in Colorado before going home for Christmas. After the holidays, the unit was deployed to Saudi Arabia. During the first month, the transportation unit was transporting ammunition and supplies to various areas in order to prepare for the ground war. The Air Force started heavily bombing Iraq on January 17th through February 24th, when the four-day ground war started.

As Breen was a part of the transportation unit, once the ground war began, the 300-truck convoy followed the tanks and Bradleys to Iraq. Each truck had one load for either a tank or Bradley. Once they reached their destination, the convoy dropped their trailers and made the 130-mile trip back to camp to pick up another load. As the convoy was approaching the Iraq border, they were met by Iraqi soldiers fleeing Iraq.

The conflict that had begun on August 2, 1990, and the 40-day war that ensued finally came to an end on February 28, 1991. During the duration of the unit’s war time, Breen’s unit logged 1,300,000 miles. His company hauled the most tons as well as being just one mission shy of having the most missions, both of which Breen was very proud to be a part of. After the war was over, the unit stayed overseas until June to assist with the transporting of ammunition and supplies back to port. Once Breen returned stateside, life continued as it had before deployment. He returned to South Dakota and worked part time for the Forest Service marking trees and battling forest fires in the Black Hills area.

After 20 years of military service between the Army and National Guards, Breen received his honorable discharge from the military in October of 2001.

Breen was born in Platte and was raised in Lake Andes, graduating from Lake Andes High School in 1974. Military service runs through both sides of Breen’s family. His great grandfather on his mother’s side was a Veteran of the Civil War. On his father’s side, Breen had several uncles that were WWII Veterans and cousins from both sides that served in the military. Breen’s brother, Kurt, is also a Veteran.

Hobbies that Breen has enjoyed over the years include pheasant hunting, Nascar races, traveling to the Northwest, and spending time with his English Springer Spaniels. Breen joined the Lake Andes Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) when he returned from deployment in 1991 and has been a continuous member since. He has also been a Lake Andes City Council member.

Thank you, Todd, for your service, and your willingness to share your story.