13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Courtesy Story

By Capt. Ryan Cook

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq – The 263rd Quartermaster Company, based out of El Paso, Texas, has recently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 263rd, now under the 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 96th Brigade's command, has a mission to provide essential laundry, shower and clothing renovation services to members of all the armed forces, allied forces and contractor personnel in the country of Iraq.

The unit, with more than 100 Soldiers currently deployed, but not all assigned Soldiers are originally from the 263rd QM Company, or even from Texas. Many members of the 1013th Quartermaster Company based in North Platte, Neb., transferred to the 263rd QM Company in order to deploy. Soldiers from the 974th QM Company in Amarillo, Texas, and the 877th QM Company in Albuquerque, N.M., also deployed with the 263rd QM Company.

The unit left El Paso Aug. 12 for mobilization training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The unit spent five weeks at Camp Shelby preparing for their deployment to Iraq. This training included weapons training, hand-to-hand combative training, convoy training and many other training events to better prepare the unit for their time in Iraq.

"The trainers were surprised how highly motivated we were. We accomplished all tasks assigned," said Sgt. Laborne Bannister from Harvey, La.

The unit is currently stationed at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, but because the unit is providing services throughout Iraq, 263rd QM Company Soldiers are spread among 16 sites across the country. The 263rd QM Company is scheduled to return to El Paso in early August 2010.

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