Command Sergeant Major takes Wheel on Convoy Mission

Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Andrews, senior non-commissioned officer with the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Martin, Ga., native, chains down a tactical vehicle on a flatbed to be transported for repair Oct. 14 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. (Photo by: Staff Sgt. Leticia Mitchell)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

10.13.2010

Courtesy Story

224th Sustainment Brigade

Story by: Staff Sgt. Leticia Mitchell

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Soldiers with the 319th Transportation Company, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), gathered around at convoy staging lanes to listen to their commander’s safety brief for their mission Oct. 13 at Contingency Operating Base Adder.

Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Andrews, command sergeant major of the 110th CSSB, and a Martin, Ga., native, joined the 319th Trans. Co. on the convoy.

Andrews has been on several convoys with his subordinate units, and he said that he has about four more to go on before his unit redeploys.

“I’m only as strong as the personnel I surround myself with,” he said.

Andrews said he enjoys being around his Soldiers and helping them complete the mission.
When the convoy rolled out, flatbed trailers carrying crated cargo were escorted by “gun trucks ” and armored MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles with machine guns in rotating turrets. The cargo included mail and supplies for soldiers and civilians.

“For some reason everyone seems to think that a command sergeant major sits behind a desk and attends meetings,” said Staff Sgt. Leticia Mitchell, a mortuary affairs non-commissioned officer with the 110th CSSB, and a Lithonia, Ga. native, who was also a truck commander and driver of Andrews vehicle. “Going outside the wire is the hardest job of all, simply because you’re leaving your comfort zone, and there’s also the fear of the unknown.”

The mission consisted of downloading and uploading a variety of equipment, such as tactical vehicles, containers, generators and more. All soldiers, including Andrews, went many hours without food and sleep in order to complete the mission.

“We don’t expect praise in return for what we do,” said Sgt. Tammy Grider, a truck driver with the 319th Trans. Co., and a Savannah, Ga., native, who served as the convoy commander. “All we know is that there’s a mission to accomplish and all soldiers will work together to get it done.”

• Date Taken: 10.13.2010
• Date Posted: 10.31.2010 08:27
• Story ID: 59162
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ