The Dodgeville-based U.S. Army Reserves’ 469th Engineering (Mobility Augmentation) Company returned home from Afghanistan Friday, and among the more than 100 soldiers who were welcomed home was Jessy Moore, a Fennimore resident and volunteer of both the local fire department and rescue squad. Upon his arrival in Fennimore Friday afternoon, Moore received a personal escort through the city, sitting on top of a fire truck.
Last year, the 469th soldiers were activated and, after training, assigned to the 863rd Engineering Battalion in Afghanistan. They conducted route clearance missions, including looking for improvised explosive devices in two Afghanistan provinces.
Sgt. Moore and his fellow soldiers arrived in Madison by plane early on Friday. They boarded buses for a ride down Highway 151 to Dodgeville, where they were individually released to family and friends during a brief welcome home ceremony at Dodgeville High School. More than 500 well-wishers attended the event.
Moore returned to Fennimore just after 1 p.m. Aug. 26. He was greeted at Rayovac, by police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. There he hopped on board a Fennimore fire truck for his escort around the city. His girlfriend, Ashley Rice, also of Fennimore, joined him on the truck.
The 469th Engineering Company is a subordinate unit of the 389th.