Change of Command for Historic Macon-Based 148th Brigade Support Battalion

Photo By Maj. William Carraway | Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers of the Macon-based 148th Brigade Support Battalion assembled at their Macon Armory Dec. 7, 2019 to welcome Lt. Col. Luke Gaspard as their new commander. Left to Right: Gaspard; Lt. Col. Grant Minor, outgoing commander and Command Sgt. Major John Barnard, command Sergeant Major of the 148th BSB  

MACON, GA, UNITED STATES

12.07.2019

Story by Maj. William Carraway 

Georgia National Guard

Lieutenant Colonel Luke Gaspard assumed command of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 148th Brigade Support Battalion from Lt. Col. Grant Minor during a ceremony at the battalion’s Macon armory Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Colonel Matthew Smith, commander of the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat praised the work of the 148th under Minor’s leadership.

“Bottom line, what you have accomplished over the past couple of years has been incredible,” said Smith. “The entire brigade depends on your success and you rose to the occasion.”

Minor, a veteran of multiple Afghanistan deployments, has commanded the 148th BSB Wishmasters since October 2016 and supported the 48th IBCT through an eXportable Combat Training Capability exercise at Fort Stewart as well as a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk. In the course of his Ga. ARNG career, Minor has served as the surface maintenance division chief and distribution management branch chief for the Georgia National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Marietta, Ga.

Smith presented Minor with the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his outstanding leadership and efforts as the rear detachment commander during the 48th IBCT’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2019. Minor thanked Smith for his mentorship and Command Sgt. Major John Barnard for his support before recognizing his Soldiers.

“Soldiers of the Wishmaster Battalion, thank you for preparing me over the past three years,” said Minor. I thank you for your flexibility, adaptability, ingenuity and capacity. You are great Americans and you are heroes. I thank you, and I thank your families for their sacrifice.”

Minor concluded his remarks with words for his successor.

“Welcome back to the Wishmaster Battalion,” said Minor addressing Gaspard. Good Luck to you. I have full faith and confidence that the Wishmaster Soldiers will continue to perform alongside you.”

Gaspard, a resident of Marietta, Ga., is a graduate of North Ga. College and State University who has completed assignments of increasing responsibility in the 148th from company leadership to support operations officer. An infantry officer, Gaspard has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
In his remarks following the assumption of command, Gaspard thanked Minor for his support and recognized senior leaders for entrusting him with the command.

“I would like to thank Col. Smith and the Georgia National Guard for the opportunity to command this battalion,” said Gaspard. “It is exciting to be a Wishmaster again.”

The 148th Brigade Support Battalion is based in Macon, Ga. The Brigade consists of four organic companies and six companies that support the organic battalions of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Headquarters Company and Company C are based in Macon. Company A is based in Dublin while Company B operates out of Jackson.

The 148th BSB traces its lineage to the earliest militia units of Monroe County, Ga. which served in the Seminole War and American Civil War. The unit mobilized to Europe during World War I and served in the Pacific Theater as Company A, 193rd Tank Battalion during World War II. The 148th was activated for federal service during Operation Desert Storm and deployed to Iraq from 2005 to 2006. From 2009 to 2010, the battalion served in Afghanistan and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2019
• Date Posted: 12.08.2019 12:27
• Story ID: 354671
• Location: MACON, GA, US
• Hometown: FORSYTH, GA, US
• Hometown: MARIETTA, GA, US