By 1st Lt. Ray Aldaz
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Seven Soldiers from the 2025th Transportation Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), were awarded the Army's Combat Action Badge during a ceremony, Feb. 2, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq.
The Soldiers received fire during convoy operations around the city of Bayji, Iraq, during two separate instances of enemy fire in October. The unit suffered no casualties from these actions.
The Soldiers who received the badges are: Staff Sgt. Michael Roberson, a squad leader from Talledega, Ala.; Sgt. James Priest, an assistant squad leader from Albertville, Ala.; Sgt. Thomas Perrigo, a truck commander from East Aboga, Ala.; Spc. Jamie Parker, a driver from Banks, Ala.; Spc. Richard Gardner, a driver from Talledega, Ala.; Spc. Stenie Seals, a driver from Talledega, Ala.; and Spc. Joseph Deck, a driver from Sabastian, Fla.
Lt. Col. Steven S. Debusk, the 264th CSSB commander, pinned the badges on the Soldiers.
While these awards were being given to these seven Soldiers, the ceremony was indicative of the service of the entire company and the dangers that all drivers face, Debusk said during the ceremony.
The upcoming drawdown and increased operational tempo has all types of drivers on the road more often. Further, with the upcoming elections, drivers expect to see more insurgent activity disrupting sustainment missions. The drivers understand they must be more mindful of the hazards and rely on the training they have received to carry out their mission safely, he said.
Roberson said he was happy to be pinned and wanted this badge to add to his collection, for his teenage son.
"This award is really for all of the Soldiers who do the job, regardless of the risk they take," Priest said. "I am just truly glad that none of us were hurt and we were all able to come back. Hopefully, this will continue throughout our tour and we can return home safely to our families."