Subscribe
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan---It’s been a long road travelled. Over the past nine months the 1048th Transportation Company traversed more than 480,000 miles, supporting the sustainment and retrograde missions in Afghanistan. Their journeys, however, came to a halt, July 27, as a transfer of authority ceremony signified the completion of the Connecticut Guardsmen’s combat tour.
Taking the wheel is the California National Guard’s 1113th Transportation Co. The San Jose, Calif.-based unit will now continue their predecessor’s operations in Regional Command-South.
Lt. Col. Don Gillespie, 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander who presided over the ceremony, said that the Connecticut company exceeded the standards in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“During their time, they raised the bar in all aspects of the deployment, becoming a model company for the other transportation companies to emulate,” he said.
The battalion commander added that he expects and anticipates the new team to follow in the 1048th’s tracks.
“You have a large footprint to fill, not an easy task for any company,” said Gillespie to the 1113th Command Team, Capt. Walter Wade and 1st Sgt. Gerardo Alan. “However, I am supremely confident that you will fill that footprint and build upon the many benchmarks that the 1048th set.”
Wade said that the 1048th Command Team, Capt. Joshua Malaro and 1st Sgt. William Galluci, helped set his team up for success and that he will successfully continue the mission.
“We have travelled different paths to get to this point in time,” said Wade, as he also addressed his soldiers who stood before him. “But, we have arrived; we have arrived here together here as a company, a unit and a family. Our battle starts today, and our victory lies within each of every of you. Victory is defined as our ability to provide support to commanders and their freedom of action unhindered by logistics.”
Wade also said that his company’s victory will be accomplished through tactical and technical proficiency of combat operations and through unit pride. He bid farewell to the 1048th Transportation Company who returns to Stratford, Conn.
During an awards ceremony the day prior, The Purple Heart was presented to Mansfield, Conn., native, Staff Sgt. Alex Seretny, for wounds received when his unit encountered an improvised explosive device, June 14. Additionally, 52 soldiers with the 1048th Transportation Co. were awarded the Combat Action Badge for their active engagement with the enemy.
Col. Ron Novack, 3rd Sustainment Brigade-Task Force Provider commander, said he was proud of the 1048th’s accomplishments and applauded the unit for their successes.
“Remember that you wrote a part of history in our Army,” Novack said to the Guardsmen. “I would fight to serve with this company again.”
| Date Taken: | 07.28.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2013 04:51 |
| Story ID: | 110949 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, ALABAMA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | KALISPELL, MONTANA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Hometown: | STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Hometown: | TOLLAND, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 1,805 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Connecticut Guardsmen complete combat tour, transfer logistical mission to California-based transportation company, by SGM Tanya Lumbard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
