1/34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion receives unit commendation

Courtesy Photo | Retired Army General John W. Vessey Jr., with the assistance of 1st Brigade commander Col. Eric Kerska, attaches the Meritorious Unit streamer to the battalion colors at a ceremony, Aug. 15, at Camp Ripley, Minn. The 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion was awarded the commendation for its exceptionally meritorious conduct during the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployment in 2006. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Trisha Betz)  

CAMP RIPLEY, MN, UNITED STATES

08.15.2010

Courtesy Story

Minnesota National Guard

By Pfc. Trisha Betz

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. -- The 1/34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award after the unit’s 22-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the fall of 2005 to the summer of 2007. The award ceremony was held at Camp Ripley, Minn., Aug. 15.

“The battalion is here to receive the award for their meritorious service on their 22-month deployment to Iraq,” said 1st Sgt. Rick A. Lindner, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt.

The MUC is the second highest award a unit can receive in the U.S. Army. It is awarded only to units that display remarkable meritorious conduct in the performance of exceptional service, heroic deeds, and/or valiant actions while supporting the war effort for a minimum of six consecutive months.

“This award means more to the Soldiers that were in Iraq serving on the ground,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce L. Stowe, the Command Sgt. Maj. of 1/34th BSTB. “To them, it’s a sign of unit integrity, and pride in the work they did as a unit.”

Four star retired Gen. John W. Vessey Jr. agreed, stating in his comments as the reviewing officer that having received this award for exceptional meritorious conduct in combat the unit had set a new standard for itself and that he fully expected the unit to be awarded it again on its next deployment.

During the ceremony, a red streamer was placed on the battalion’s flag, representing the unit award. It will fly in honor of the Soldiers that earned it. In addition, all Soldiers that served in the 1/34th BSTB received a red ribbon with a gold border to wear on their Army service uniform. Soldiers that served during the Deployment to Iraq will be allowed to wear the award throughout their career. New Soldiers in the unit will be able to wear the ribbon only while serving with the 1/34th BSTB.

The order reads as follows: By Order of the Secretary of the Army, for exceptionally meritorious service during the period 01 April 2006 to 11 July 2007 the Brigade Special Troops Battalion and its subordinate units displayed exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During its sixteen months of continuous operations, the battalion operated thirteen radio relay stations, conducted over 2.9 million miles of convoy operations, completed over 1380 convoy escort team missions, and maintained and operational readiness rate of over ninety-five percent. Additionally, the unit cleared more than 220 miles of highway, and in doing so, denied the enemy sufficient cover to emplace improvised explosive devices and explosively formed projectiles. Further, the unit improved existing tactics, techniques and procedures within the Iraqi Theater of Operations, decreasing the effectiveness of Anti-Iraqi Forces attacks. The battalion’s outstanding performance of duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects distinct credit upon the unit, the 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 34th Infantry Division.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2010
• Date Posted: 08.17.2010 14:17
• Story ID: 54720
• Location: CAMP RIPLEY, MN, US