141 Brigade Support Battalion honored with Meritorious Unit Citation

Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Hanks affixes a Meritorious Unit Citation streamer to the 141 Brigade Support Battalion guidon as Lt. Col. Timothy Deckert, departing battalion commander, and Col. William Edwards, commander of the 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, look on during an award ceremony held at Kliever Memorial Armory in Portland, Ore., July 28. The battalion received the Meritorious Unit Citation for exceptionally meritorious service while conducting convoy operations in northern Iraq during their 2009-2010 deployment. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jalayna Lagomarsino, 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)  

PORTLAND, OR, UNITED STATES

07.28.2012

Courtesy Story

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

PORTLAND, Ore. – The 141 Brigade Support Battalion, 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation at Kliever Memorial Armory in Portland, Ore., July 28, in recognition of the unit’s efforts during their July 2009 - April 2010 deployment to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

According to the award narrative, the 141 Brigade Support battalion conducted convoy security missions for more than 100 fuel and water trucks that traveled over two million miles of key routes in northern Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General, Oregon was the senior officer in attendance at the 141 BSB ceremony.

“It is this battalion that makes the 41 Infantry Brigade a mighty brigade,” Rees said. “This battalion has earned its place in history.”

Col. William Edwards, brigade commander of the 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, remarked on both the historical significance of the unit award as well as its potential impact on recruitment.

“The addition of the Meritorious Unit Citation streamer to your proud colors will stand as a permanent display of your achievement and inspire future soldiers to join your ranks,” Edwards said.

Sgt. Eric Davis deployed with the unit as a specialist and worked the night shift in the Tactical Operations Center. Davis said it was good to be recognized for the unit’s effort and for what he described as, “an incredible amount of work.”

“I remember spending a lot of time in the TOC,” he said, adding that his non-commissioned officers spent even more time there.

The 141 BSB’s ceremony was the fifth of seven recognition ceremonies for units of the 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, which have received the Meritorious Unit Citation. Ceremonies have been conducted for the 1-82 Cavalry Regiment, the 2-218 Field Artillery Battalion, the 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 1-186 Infantry Battalion. The 41 Special Troops Battalion ceremony will be conducted in August, and the 2-162 Infantry Battalion ceremony is scheduled to take place in November.

The Meritorious Unit Citation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of duties for at least six continuous months during a period of military operations against an armed enemy. While service in a combat zone is not required, the service must be directly related to the combat effort.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2012
• Date Posted: 08.01.2012 21:24
• Story ID: 92529
• Location: PORTLAND, OR, US