By Sgt. Aaron LeBlanc
1st Sustainment Brigade
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Lt. Col. Randall Beauregard Bradford of Alexandria, La., known to his many peers simply as "Beau," is the commanding officer of the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. With well over 1,300 troops in its ranks, Bradford's 'miniature brigade,' as it is sometimes called, is currently the most robust battalion in Iraq.
Bradford was born in New Orleans, La. in 1964. In 2005, he helped to deliver his birthplace from the worst natural disaster in U.S. history as the commander of the Louisiana National Guard's 773rd Military Police Battalion.
"I was proud of our ability to rapidly mobilize and deploy to the Louisiana Superdome prior to flooding," Bradford recalled. "We saved thousands of lives by providing security at the Dome, along with distribution of MREs and bottled water, and played an integral part in moving persons from the Dome.
"From there, we were on point of the convoy providing MREs [military meals ready to eat] and water to persons at the Morial Convention Center," he continued. "We secured the MSR [main supply route] for the transports, formed distribution points, and subsequently directed and oversaw an immediate and timely evacuation of all persons from that venue."
The 773rd remained in New Orleans for six months following the storm. "We performed a law and order mission in high visibility areas such as the French Quarter, the New Orleans Central Business District where we demonstrated great readiness, reliability, and relevance as a Military Police Battalion during the most difficult of circumstances," Bradford said.
The mission of the 165th in Iraq is arguably among the most complex missions assigned to any comparable unit in the theater of operations today. In addition to moving every class of supply down some of the most dangerous roads in the world (and providing for their own security), the 165th bears the brunt of the logistics effort that allows Camp Taji to function.
The 165th's 536th Maintenance Company is responsible for the largest and most comprehensive maintenance operation on the base, and boasts command and control of one of the largest Supply Support Activity warehouse complexes in the country.
A detachment of the 297th Transportation Company, also belonging to the 165th, is responsible for the administration of the Camp Taji Central Receiving and Shipping Point, or CRSP Yard. The 165th's 515th Transportation Company has, for the past year, been responsible for the delivery of all diesel fuel, MOGAS, and JP8 on Camp Taji, and a good chunk of the same in the surrounding Multi-National Divisian - Baghdad area.
Soldiers pulled from various units within the 165th are spear-heading the effort to turn over U.S. Army Humvees to the Iraqi army, and are quickly nearing the 2,000th Humvee transferred since the 165th's arrival in May. The headquarters element of the Battalion is knee-deep in a new program to help their Iraqi counterparts, the 6th Motorized Transportation Regiment, form a more effective and efficient logistic apparatus.
Even in the face of all of this, Bradford sees providing for those in his charge as the most important part of his job. "The most important part of being a battalion commander in Iraq is taking care of Soldiers and maintaining the values of the Army I serve and the values of the great men and women that I serve with, which are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage," Bradford said.
To achieve A-list results, Bradford advises calling on A-list Soldiers. The commanding officer of the 165th prefers a style of command that relies heavily on the professionalism and expertise of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers organic to his battalion, and he encourages the commander set to inherit his battle space to "Draw from a pool of officers and senior NCOs that are at the top of their game – the best of the best - from which to build your winning team. Once you have those core leaders, learn quickly their strengths and weaknesses so you can capitalize on their strengths and figure out ways to mitigate any weaknesses. Mentor them and provide guidance; you'll be amazed at their results."
This formula for success has proven extremely effective for Bradford. But as any military leader would attest, no matter how fool-proof any given strategy may seem, how well a battalion commander's immediate subordinates perform, or no matter what technological or numerical advantage one possesses over one's enemy, the heartbreaking reality of war is that victory demands sacrifice.
This harsh reality is a lesson that the Soldiers of the 165th recently learned first-hand as on, August 8, 2008, Sgt. Jose Ulloa of the 515th Transportation Company was killed in action during a deliberate combat logistics patrol. Such events are often described by commanders as the most challenging to handle; Bradford is no exception.
"The other day, a brave young man from this Battalion died near here," said Bradford. "I know who he was and I know the name to be etched on a concrete grave marker. I consider the name and life that one day will be forgotten by all but the ones who loved him and/or knew him. I wondered, as I signed a letter to his spouse, as I have before, about these Soldiers, some who look like children and some who do not, and about a mother or father or wife or friend who on a clear morning, in the calm of their home, were struck with the pain of learning that someone they love isn't there anymore. My duty, as Battalion Commander to Soldiers, is my greatest challenge and one that I will always embrace."
Bradford continued, "this unit's very recent loss of a great Soldier, father, and son relates on a personal level to me. I was thinking: Suppose one morning you never wake up or that there is no tomorrow; did all family and friends know you loved them? I could die today, tomorrow, or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, wounds that I had caused or that someone may think they had caused me or friendships that needed rekindling or just three words needing to be said to someone. I made it a point to call, email, or write people close to me to tell them "I Love You" and have encouraged others to do the same in discussions."
With so much responsibility on his shoulders, Bradford unsurprisingly makes note of a few crucial sources of support, namely his God and his family. "My most vital sources of support are faith, family, friends, and my fellow Soldiers," he said. "I believe in the power of prayer and take strength from it. Spending time with my eight year old son and ten year old daughter always makes me happy. I love the laughter of and smile upon my little boy's and girl's face."
Bradford went on to explain that, "a reason I am here and missing the faces of my children and my wife is about preserving our rights and our freedoms. I have always given my best in the service of my country and state. Whether saving lives of those in the Louisiana Superdome or standing watch on the sands of Iraq, you can be sure that we will succeed with mission accomplishment."