Photo By Rick Rzepka | Lt. Col. Greg Anderson, 426th Brigade Support Battalion Commander, rides along the...... read more read more
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By Spc. Rick Rzepka
COMBAT OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – "I am Quartermaster; my story is enfolded in the history of this nation, sustainer of Armies."
The 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, has been selected by the 2008 Quartermaster Honors Panel as a Distinguished Unit of the Quartermaster Regiment. The 426th BSB is the only unit to have won the annual honor twice.
Since 1993, the award has recognized units with a Quartermaster lineage that have significantly contributed to the proud heritage of the Army and the Quartermaster corps.
The "Taskmaster" battalion's history, longevity, campaign and battle streamers, and unit citations were all taken into consideration in determining this year's winner.
"The 426th BSB is a proven winner," said Col. Michael S. McBride, 1st BCT commander. "This battle-hardened unit deserves the honor as being named as the 2008 Distinguished Unit of the Quartermaster Regiment," he said.
The "Taskmasters" trace their 90 year history to the 326th supply train, an element of the 101st Division of the Army. From the beaches of southern France to the jungles of Vietnam, the 426th has continued to support victory into the Iraq theatre, where the battalion is currently deployed.
The "Taskmasters" provide logistical sustainment support to the maneuver elements of the Bastogne Brigade Combat Team, said Command Sgt. Major Lester Stephens, the 426th's top NCO. "There's a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment that goes into our daily duties here," he said. "The Soldiers in this organization are definitely deserving of this award. They don't complain, they just execute."
Along with supplying Bastogne Infantrymen with much needed provisions, the "Taskmasters" have found themselves preparing brigades from the 4th Iraqi Army Division to take on more logistical responsibilities.
"We've been doing a lot of condition setting for the Iraqi Army to improve their logistics," said Lt. Col. Greg Anderson, 426th BSB commander. "In order for them to be self sufficient they need to rely more on their own logistics systems," he said.
Recently "Taskmaster" Soldiers spent time at an Iraqi army base, teaching the basics of driving humvees and performing vehicle maintenance.
"Our soldiers enjoy it," said Anderson about working with Iraqi soldiers. It is satisfying for Soldiers to see the progress that the Iraqis are making, he said. "They hold our Soldiers in very high esteem."
Over time, the Quartermaster's mission has evolved from mule-skinning and repairing shoes, to shaping the course of combat in Iraq. Yet the overarching mission of the Quartermaster Corps has held fast; to support the Soldiers on the ground.
"What we do isn't glamorous stuff, but without it, nothing else can happen," said Anderson. "It is certainly an honor to be recognized."
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2008 10:53 |
| Story ID: | 19771 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 374 |
| Downloads: | 287 |
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