California’s 749th CSSB 'Goldminer' battalion assumes mission of Georgia’s 110th CSSB 'Liberty' battalion

Photo By 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy | Lt. Col. David Ceniti, commander of the 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Sacramento, Calif., resident, salutes alongside the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. David Scheideler, commander of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sust. Bde., and a Beatrice, Neb., native, in Memorial Hall Jan. 12 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

01.23.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy 

224th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Service members gathered to witness the transfer-of-authority ceremony between the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), in Memorial Hall Jan. 12 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

Soldiers with the 749th CSSB’s “Gold Miner” battalion assumed their mission of providing the administrative, logistical, munitions, transportation and maintenance support required for all units passing through the 749th CSSB area of operations.

“I want to take a few moments to recognize and thank the Liberty team [110th CSSB], who has served extremely well during this very turbulent time, and added a very indelible mark during this chapter in history,” said Col. Lisa Costanza, commander of the 224th Sust. Bde., and a Long Beach, Calif., native.

“They have undergone several task organization changes through their RIP TOAs [relief-in-place/transfer-of-authority processes], units being off-ramped, the impact of RDoF [responsible drawdown of forces], and regardless of the challenges and obstacles put in front of this team, they have done extremely well and have quite a long list of contributions.”

During Costanza’s remarks, she praised the unit’s successful management of convoy movements, ammunition supply point operations, fuel and subsistence, and their resilience in their mission.

Costanza told the 794th CSSB that their bar has been set, acknowledging that the race will be long and hard, and will pose many challenges for the incoming unit to overcome.

On Feb. 5, the soldiers with Georgia’s National Guard “Liberty” Battalion, headquartered in Tifton, Ga., were mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The battalion’s history dates back to 1966, and has proudly served in a National Training Center rotation, Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, OIF, and now OND.

“This is an exciting day as the 110th CSSB hits the end of their mission and prepares to return home to Tipton, Ga.,” said Lt. Col. David Scheideler, commander of the 110th CSSB, and a Beatrice, Neb., native.

“The 749th CSSB from Benicia, Calif., takes the reins and begins their mission with a whole new set of challenges. The outstanding leadership team of Lt. Col. [David] Ceniti and Command Sgt. Maj. [Paulo] Vaka has highly trained and motivated Soldiers.

The 749th [CSSB] is prepared to accept and accomplish every mission asked of them. I know I am leaving the Soldiers and the leadership of our subordinate companies in excellent hands, knowing that Soldier care and mission success are foremost on their list of priorities.”

Scheideler spoke to the key role the 110th CSSB played in the transition from OIF to OND, accepting every mission and accomplishing every task no matter how complex.

“The 110th made a difference, and your missions were profound,” concluded Scheideler. “You have become a very important part of military logistics history, and the citizens of both the United States and Government of Iraq owe a debt of gratitude to you. The 110th performance and sacrifices throughout this deployment were crucial to the development of a sovereign, stable and safer Iraq.”

The soldiers with the 110th CSSB will now return home with their heads held high, knowing their mission is complete with a job well-done.

Today, the soldiers with California’s National Guard, headquartered in Benicia, Calif., assume command of this vital mission. The 749th CSSB’s history dates back to 1947 when it served in the 49th Infantry Division.

In keeping with the California gold rush history as well as the honors and lineage of the 49er Goldminer Division, the 749th CSSB has adopted the same Goldminer nickname; this connects the battalion to its past service in the 49th Infantry Division, as well as the California gold rush history.

“Today’s ceremony marks the transfer of authority for the 110th CSSB to the 749th CSSB,” said Lt. Col. David Ceniti, commander of the 749th CSSB, and a Sacramento, Calif., native. “For the Goldminer Battalion, Operation New Dawn is its first deployment in its 63-year existence. Over the past several days, I have visited each company who serves in various ongoing missions and operations, and have found the soldiers in these companies doing an outstanding job. I am equally impressed to see Guard, Reserve, and active duty quartermaster, transportation, and ordnance soldiers working side by side as one team of sustainers.

“The 749th will now pick up the torch where the 110th left off, and will continue to push forward in order to complete our sustainment mission,” he said.

• Date Taken: 01.23.2011
• Date Posted: 01.23.2011 09:27
• Story ID: 64051
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ