Pacesetter Battalion turns 67

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)
Courtesy Story

Date: 02.13.2010
Posted: 02.13.2010 15:38
News ID: 45315
Pacesetter Battalion turns 67

CAMP TAJI, Iraq —Soldiers of the 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) celebrated the unit's 67th birthday with a dining-in at the theater here Dec. 28.

Brig. Gen. Paul Wentz, commander of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), was the event's guest speaker.

The 541st CSSB was constituted as the 541st Quartermaster Battalion Dec. 19, 1942, and was activated Dec. 28, 1942, at Camp Stoneman, Calif. The battalion was broken up on Sept. 20, 1943, and re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 541st Quartermaster Battalion. The battalion was inactivated May 13, 1946, in Germany.

On Sept. 27, 1966, the Battalion was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 541st Supply and Service Battalion, allotted to the regular Army and activated Nov. 25, 1966, at Fort Riley, Kan. The battalion was reorganized and re-designated June 21, 1973, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 541st Maintenance Battalion. On Oct. 18, 2005, the battalion was reorganized and re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. The battalion's past includes campaign participation in World War I, World War II and three rotations supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The dining in gave the Soldiers a chance to celebrate this history and spend an evening away from the office.

The evening started off with everyone casually visiting and enjoying conversation while the official party arrived. Once everyone was present, the members of the mess passed through the receiving line and were introduced to the president and other members of the head table.

Once everyone was through the receiving line, the head table took their places and the ceremony began. Toasts were conducted, the grog was made, and dinner was served. After everyone finished their meal, there was a brief intermission for the tables to be cleared before Wentz gave his speech, and Lt. Col. Paul Dismer, the Battalion commander for the 541st CSSB, 15th Sust. Bde., 13th ESC, a native of Morgan City, La., presented him with a gift from the battalion.

They finished off the evening with some entertainment provided by Cpl. Joshua Moore, 3666 Support Maintenance Company, a track vehicle mechanic, from Gilbert, Ariz., and some games.

"It was a first-class event that paid proper tribute to the battalion's legacy, and the games were not half-bad either", said Capt. Shane Carter, the battalion's adjutant and native of Topeka, Kan.