By Spc. Giancarlo Casem
50th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Hundreds of service members were in attendance to watch the transfer of authority ceremony between the outgoing 377th Theater Support Command and the incoming 1st Theater Sustainment Command at the Zone 1 gym at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 22.
Also in attendance was Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, Third Army/U.S. Army Central commander. He thanked the 377th TSC for all their hard work.
"You troops in front us, thank you for the magnificent job that you have done," Whitcomb said addressing the service members in formation. "You make it look easy; you get a lot of practice day in day out."
Whitcomb talked about some of the highlights of the 377th's tenure here in theater. The 377th TSC moved one-third of the Army's brigade combat teams, restating its relevancy. The 377th TSC also moved a tremendous amount of personnel, about the size of the population of Baltimore, Md., he said.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Robinson, 377th Theater Support Command commanding general, dedicated the transfer of authority ceremony to the service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
"I want to dedicate this ceremony today to the Soldiers and Airman who gave their lives this past year in accomplishing our mission," Robinson said. "These men advanced the cause of freedom and will forever remind us that freedom has a price."
He also gave thanks to his troops.
In his speech, Robinson commented on some of the milestones and important dates in the 377th's recent history, from its inception to March 2003 during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 377th TSC has had a continuous presence in the last four years here in Kuwait.
"This rotation has had its own challenges just getting formed with elements of three commands," he said. "It has been interesting to see the dynamics of team building since I first met the combined unit in May 2006, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. We did form a very effective team."
The 377th TSC served as a force support package unit with an ongoing support mission to deploy with the Third Army/U.S. Army Central.
As the 377th colors were cased and the 1st TSC's colors were uncased, the transfer of authority was completed. The 1st TSC now had the reins.
"First of all I thank you all for attending this transfer of authority ceremony today," said Brig. Gen. Kevin Leonard, 1st Theater Sustainment Command commander. "It is a special day for the Soldiers of the 1st (TSC) Team and marks another milestone in the history of this great command."
Originally activated as the 1st Logistical Command in October 1950, at Fort McPherson, Ga., it was first deployed to Polters, France in 1951 during the Berlin Crisis. In 1962, the unit returned to the U.S. and was assigned to III Corps, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
After redeployment, it deployed once again, this time to Vietnam in April 1965. Its mission was to act as the logistics command and control headquarters for all units in the theater. In 1970, the unit redeployed to Fort Lee, Va., and was re-designated as the 1st Field Army Support Command and was later re-designated to the 1st Corps Support Command.
In 2006, the 1st COSCOM was re-designated as the theater sustainment command. The 1st TSC currently has Soldiers deployed around the world in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Egypt.
"As most of you know, the 1st TSC was created as a theater sustainment command in the best traditions and history of our military and in its brief existence has established its own traditions and claims to the historical legacy of those that came before us," Leonard said. "The Soldiers standing before you display the maturity and heritage of our forward deployed command. It is our honor to support our fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility."
As the 377th's command drew to a close, Robinson offered his last words.
"The 377th has been here and, through each rotation, one tenet has held true," he said. "A command is only as good as each trooper in the command. We have the best. Our units have been superb in the many and varied missions they accomplish."
Leonard vowed to maintain the same level proficiency and professionalism displayed by the 377th TSC.
"We see ourselves on the front lines of this struggle and we pledge to do all that is humanly possible to continue the tradition of service this unit has established in defense of our nation, its people and our heritage," Leonard said. "We will move forward with one mind focused on the mission, one heart willing to serve and one purpose, Patton's Own, Always Forward and Always First."
As the ceremony drew to a close, service members present had the opportunity to hear something for the last time.
"For my last time," Robinson said. "I say, can do."