Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Duncan | Lt. Col. Joseph M. Colacicco, commander, 701st BSB, 4th IBCT, 1st Infantry Division,...... read more read more
FORT RILEY, Kan. - As part of the inactivation process for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, the 701st Brigade Support Battalion cased its colors June 2 at Fort Riley’s Cavalry Parade Field.
The 701st BSB first activated in October of 1917, beginning its life as Machine Shop Truck Unit No. 332. The unit served with the 1st Infantry Division in World War II and Vietnam, earning six battle streamers and two Meritorious Unit Commendations. In March 2008, the 701st found a home in the “Dragon” Brigade.
After the command was formed and the traditional inspection of the troops had taken place at the June 2 ceremony, Lt. Col. Joseph M. Colacicco and Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald A. Wood, 701st command team, furled the battalion colors. Col. Peter G. Minalga, 4th IBCT commander, addressed the last battalion formation of his inactivating brigade combat team.
“Joe and Command Sgt. Maj. Wood and their team of logisticians and maintainers, subject matter experts, have proven themselves by demonstrating the expertise and professionalism required to inactivate a brigade combat team,” Minalga said.
“Diligent” battalion Soldiers have not only provided maintenance and logistics support to the brigade, but conducted missions and deployed Soldiers as part of the brigade’s regionally aligned force mission requirements on the continent of Africa and elsewhere.
The tremendous contributions and performance of the 701st and its Soldiers, whether as trainers and mentors for host nation partners on the continent of Africa or inactivation of the brigade, can never be overstated, Minalga said.
“These Soldiers represent the legacy of the 701st Brigade Support Battalion,” Colacicco said. “These are Soldiers and leaders who never forgot the middle name of the battalion, always dedicated to supporting the Dragon brigade and ensuring no mission failed due to logistical shortfalls.”
Colacicco also acknowledged his senior noncommissioned officer.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Wood, you are the command sergeant major I needed,” he said. “The Army got it right when they paired us up. Whether is be our 96-hour after arrival deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center, sitting on a hilltop watching the battalion occupy yet another brigade support area, walking the motor pool for the third time in a day or standing behind our trucks talking before we left for the day, you always provided a listening ear and good counsel, helping me remain steady and on track.”
The 701st BSB Soldiers’ and leaders’ last mission is to facilitate the divestment of all remaining brigade personnel and property. The 701st will remain in a provisional unit status through September 2015 as the unit processes remaining property, transfers Soldiers out and relinquishes buildings and infrastructure to complete the brigade inactivation.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2015 21:14 |
| Story ID: | 166207 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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