By Staff Sgt. Constance A Oberg
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq— Soldiers with the 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), received their combat patch during a ceremony held Aug. 27 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq.
More than 70 soldiers were awarded the combat patch, which is given to soldiers serving in a combat zone for more than 30 days.
“This is my first deployment,” said Pfc. Eric Douglas, an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 394th CSSB, and an Omaha, Neb., native. “I am proud to finally wear a combat patch on my right shoulder.”
Douglas’s sentiment was echoed by Sgt. 1st Class William Anderson, support operations non-commissioned officer-in-charge with Headquarters and HHC, 394th CSSB, and a Dodge, Neb., native.
“It’s a good thing for soldiers to be recognized for serving their country,” said Anderson. “It shows we have served like our grandfathers before us. It puts you on a different level. I feel people back home look at you differently.”
Capt. Roy Stiff, commander of HHC, 394th CSSB, and a Greenville, Miss. native, said soldiers will always remember the combat patch ceremony.
“The patch ceremony was a successful benchmark,” said Stiff. “It will be something that they will always be able to reflect on in years to come.”