Photo By Staff Sgt. James Martin | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (13 December, 2006)---Brig. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood speaks during...... read more read more
by Staff Sgt. James E. Martin
377th TSC Public Affairs Office
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait-- After five years of providing transportation support for Third Army/U.S. Army Central operations in the Middle East, the 143rd Transportation Command (Forward) cased its organizational colors during a deactivation ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 4.
"Today is a sad day, and it's a happy day. It is a sad day because it marks the end of the [Transportation Command's] forward element for which we have been here for five years as an enduring unit," said Brig. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood, 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward), commanding general. "It's a happy day because it marks the beginning of change. It marks the beginning of a transformation as we move to a transportation command to a sustainment command in support of the Army's modular structure."
Colors have been used by militaries around the world for centuries to identify who they were and to serve as a rallying point. Today the colors represent a unit's lineage and part in the U.S. Army's role of protecting the United States.
The deactivation ceremony included Soldiers and Sailors from 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) subordinate commands. The unit has been on the ground since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and was already present at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The 143rd TRANSCOM, supported by the units here today as well as the units and rotations before us, have accomplished a logistics feat that only rivals the enormous effort that were essential for success in World War II," Thurgood said.
During his address, Thurgood talked about the Red Ball Express. This was a convoy system set up in 1944 that moved supplies and equipment over hundreds of miles to ensure the Allies had what they needed to continue the fight.
"At its peak the Red Ball Express delivered 12,000 tons of supplies forward to the depots daily. When the Red Ball Express ended, our truckers had delivered 413,000 tons of supplies," Thurgood said. "Today we deliver 16,000 tons of supplies daily. Across lines of communication that are over 600 miles long, from the ports, up to Iraq ... and back again."
Some accomplishments of the 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) during the last five years include driving 138,000 convoys traveling more than 100 million miles. The unit also unloaded more than 600 ships and moved more than 8 million tons of cargo.
"Every truck load we deliver brings us closer to victory. Without our logistics capabilities the fine men and women at the tip of the spear would not be able to accomplish their jobs and the overall mission would fail," Thurgood said. "[This change] will make us more agile, more flexible and more capable to support the warfighter."
The deactivation of the 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) is one of many changes the Army is making to its unit structure as part of Army transformation.
"[This is the] first step in the transformation of the 143rd as we case the colors of the forward element today leading eventually to summer 2007 when we case the colors of the 143rd Transportation Command back in the United States," Third Army/U.S. Army Central Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy said.
With the deactivation, the roles and responsibilities the 143rd TRANSCOM (Forward) have been transferred to the 377th Theater Support Command (Forward). In the United States the unit will transform into the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in 2007.
"We are preparing for the future," said Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Robinson, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward), commanding general. "The mission has not changed; the warfighter still needs supplies and equipment. Those on the ground will not see any difference in the level of services we're providing."
Robinson was the commanding general of the 143rd TRANSCOM in the United States until he took command of the 377th TSC (Forward).
"We are moving toward multifunctional units capable of, for example, transportation, ordnance and quartermaster roles," said Robinson. "This is ultimately more efficient."
About 15 Soldiers of the approximately 70 who deployed with the current rotation will be redeploying back to the United States. Soldiers staying in theater will be assigned to subordinate units of 377th TSC.
"These Soldiers were mobilized on one year orders," Robinson said. "Most of them wanted to stay and we can use them."
| Date Taken: | 12.04.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2006 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 8505 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 582 |
| Downloads: | 344 |
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