Fort Eustis Soldiers return from deployment in support of Operation United Assistance

FORT EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

03.23.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Teresa Gallagher 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - A redeployment ceremony was held for U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 53rd Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) at Fort Eustis, Virginia, March 23, 2015.

The 34 Soldiers returned from a deployment to West Africa in support of Operation United Assistance where they worked at Roberts International Airport and seaport, receiving and tracking inbound supplies and equipment sent from Europe and the U.S., and were responsible for downloading cargo including protective gear and delivering it to Ebola treatment units.

“We helped with every ETU unit that was built [in West Africa]; we were in control of everything that came in to support the locals and the Service members],” said Spc. Kristine Crosby, 53rd Trans. Btn. (MC) HHD, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) transportation management coordinator. “They welcomed us with open arms and it was really amazing to see how much we were able to help.”

Upon their return from Africa, the Soldiers stayed at the Langley Transit Center for a 21-day controlled monitoring period, where they were physically separated from family members and the general public as an additional precaution to ensure safety mandated by the Department of Defense.

“It was a little frustrating because we were so close to home, but we knew controlled monitoring was necessary,” said Crosby. “We needed to make sure we were not a liability to our family, friends and co-workers.”

Although the Soldiers did not come in direct contact with Ebola patients, they received specialized training with personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure, before deploying in October 2014.

While the Soldiers didn’t provide medical treatment for the infected citizens, Col. Randal Nelson, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) commander feels his unit played a vital part in the treatment efforts.

"When Ebola entered our conversations a few months ago, the disease was spreading quickly and the U.S. military was not just going to stand on the sidelines. [Our Soldiers] were well trained, and they were prepared to do this mission," said Nelson. "While this was a different mission, we made a difference for the families, the people in Africa and the world."

• Date Taken: 03.23.2015
• Date Posted: 03.31.2015 12:31
• Story ID: 158663
• Location: FORT EUSTIS, VA, US