decorahnews.com exclusive: How Decorah High School accompanied the 322nd Engineering Battalion to Afghanistan

Military units that head off for deployment typically take on a nickname for their unit.

In the case of the 322nd Engineering Battalion, headquartered in Decorah, the name they chose was "The Beast."

But when the soldiers arrived in Afghanistan, they discovered there was another unit with that nickname.  That's when the soldiers decided to name their unit "Viking"--a fact that has been reported previously.

But the extent of that affiliation with Decorah hasn't been widely known until now.

In addition to taking on the name, 322nd Engineering unit soldiers contacted Decorah High School Principal Kim Sheppard, who not only agreed to let the 322nd call itself "Viking," but she sent a Decorah High School flag to Afghanistan, which was hung in the headquarters of the 322nd.

Sheppard also sent over a "Thor" stuffed doll--which became the mascot of the 322nd in Afghanistan.  "Thor" went along with the soldiers when they went out on convoys.  He also popped up whenever the 322nd took a group photo.

"It was sort of a 'Where's Waldo?' kind of a thing," says 322nd Captain Troy King.

King says Waldo survived the deployment to Afghanistan--as did all of the soldiers--so when the 322nd returns to Decorah, King will make a point of returning "Thor,"--giving the mascot back to Sheppard and Decorah High School