Water purification Soldiers take initiative on equipment turn-in

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

07.31.2009

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — One company of Soldiers here took the initiative in turning in more than $1 million in excess Army equipment in advance of timelines for the withdrawal of equipment from Iraq.

Soldiers of the reverse osmosis water purification unit ROWPU Platoon, 574th Quartermaster Support Company, 395th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, turned in excess containers, pumps, hoses and other end-items and basic issue items valued at $1.1 million dollars, June 19.

"This whole project was a team effort, and I am very proud of my Soldiers for their hard work," said Staff Sgt. Shane Hatton, platoon sergeant, ROWPU Platoon.

Hatton, a native of Newton, Kan., and Sgt. Juan Lopez, ROWPU Platoon non-commissioned officer, led the project.

"I love working with Soldiers and getting down and dirty with them," said Lopez, a native of Miami, Fla. "We all worked hard on this, and I am very proud of these guys."

Some of the end items turned in included 22 "ISU 90s," four-door containers sized for travel on aircraft; two "MILVANs," military owned 20-foot demountable shipping containers; more than seventeen 500-foot hoses associated with the Tactical Water Distribution System; two pumps; 40 miscellaneous water hoses and one Forward Area Water Production System.

Soldiers completed the turn-in of excess equipment at the end of their mission with the Oasis International Waters, Inc., water bottling facility on base. The platoon has been providing filtered water to the plant, operated by Al-Morrell Development, a Utah-based corporation, for the past 13 months, and the platoon's mission ended July 17.

"You know that nice bottled water the Army gives you?" said Hatton. "It used to be Iraqi pond water and now it's the nice, clean water we all drink every day."

Much of the leg work was done by Spc. Kizzy Hopkins, a native of Newark, N.J., and Spc. Kenneth Arnold, a native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., said Hatton.

"Neither one of them holds a leadership position, but both of them are natural leaders and always take initiative in their duties," Hatton said.

The turn-in of excess equipment also added 3,500 cubic feet of storage space to the ROWPU site, and garnered the company some extra recognition. The 574th QMSC was recognized as the best company inspected by the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command for the command supply discipline program.

"No one could be more proud of these Soldiers and their service to their comrades and country," said Hatton.

• Date Taken: 07.31.2009
• Date Posted: 07.31.2009 07:23
• Story ID: 36998
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ