Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | Third Sustainment Brigade command team, Col. Ron Novack (left) and Command Sgt. Maj....... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Just two days younger than the U.S. Army, the service’s quartermaster corps celebrated 238 years, June 16. Deployed soldiers gathered to observe the branch’s birthday during a ceremony held in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
“We wanted to make sure that even in a wartime environment we can still provide customs and traditions to honor those who came before us,” said Sgt. Maj. Ricky Davis, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade support operations noncommissioned officer in charge who spearheaded the quartermaster birthday celebration, June 17, at Kandahar Airfield. “We used soldiers based on their [military occupational specialty] for certain parts of the program.”
The program included a history of the quartermaster corps, followed by special recognition to the corps’ Medal of Honor recipients. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade soldiers also recited a theatrical rendition of the quartermaster creed.
Pfc. Kaylee Capone, an automated logistics specialist who works in the brigade’s supply and service section participated in the celebration of her corps. As the youngest quartermaster soldier in her unit, the 20-year-old Tarpon Springs, Fla., native, shared excerpts of Army quartermaster history and joined her command team to cut an embellished birthday cake.
“This was a positive experience for me to be able to celebrate the birthday for the first time, especially in a deployed environment,” said Capone. “It was an honor to be a part of this, sharing it with our unit and everyone we work hand-in-hand with.”
For many soldiers present, this was their first time taking part in a quartermaster birthday celebration.
Spc. Dionndra Harris, a shower, laundry and clothing repair specialist, said that taking the time out of her busy schedule to celebrate with her fellow quartermasters helped strengthen the sense of pride she’s had for her corps since joining the Army two years ago.
“I’m proud to be a quartermaster,” the Birmingham, Ala., native said. “Because we help the people on the [front] lines. If they didn’t have us, it would be difficult for the warfighter to get supplies, clean water, clothes and rations.”
Davis, of Temple, Texas, has been a quartermaster for 27 years and said this was also this first time he’s formally celebrated his branch while deployed.
“This gives soldiers the opportunity to learn some history of the Army, and at the same time it’s resiliency for soldiers because it allows them to ‘take a knee’ in the middle of a combat environment,” said Davis. “No matter what their MOS is, soldiers need to take pride in what they do, and our celebration showcased that pride.”
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2013 04:53 |
| Story ID: | 108868 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Hometown: | FORT GREGG-ADAMS, VA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | PHILADELPHIA, PA, US |
| Hometown: | TARPON SPRINGS, FL, US |
| Hometown: | TEMPLE, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 237 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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