JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - The colors of the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion were gracefully cased after the end of the 12-month tour during the Transfer of Authority ceremony, March 27 at the supply support activity center, Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
“Now that we have officially cased the colors, it is important to note that as the battalion is scheduled to inactivate over these next several months, this will be the last deployment for the mighty Log Warrior battalion,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Bohn, commander of the 13th CSSB, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and an Orono, Minn., native.
The TOA ceremony signified mission accomplishment by covering the importance of the 13th CSSB’s achievements and marking the beginning for the 352nd CSSB.
“The 13th CSSB has a proud history of answering our nation’s call, and we are ending this chapter on a high note, and personally, I can’t think of a better way to go out,” Bohn said.
In the past 12 months, the 13th CSSB was accountable for logistical support to the United States Forces-Iraq by operating major distribution activities on JBB and Victory Base Complex, Iraq. Throughout the responsible drawdown of forces, the 13th CSSB controlled plans that restored the theater’s support structure both on JBB and VBC, each serving as main logistical hubs.
“I absolutely know we have accomplished our mission by providing outstanding uninterrupted sustainment support, responsible retrograde and expeditionary support to our customers here on JBB,” Bohn said.
During the ceremony, Bohn said he thought this day would never come, but today marks the end of his unit’s mission here in Iraq, and after 24 years of service, he has never been more proud.
“I am proud because we accomplished what we said we were going to do, we said that we were going to practice offensive logistics, work hard, play hard and support responsible drawdown and Operation New Dawn,” Bohn said.
The 13th CSSB supported the sustainment mission throughout Iraq, including Joint Base Balad and Victory Base Complex, along with being accountable for more than 10 military units and several hundred U.S. government contract workers daily. Even more remarkably, this “team of teams” did it all without even one casualty throughout the entire time in theater, Bohn said.
The 352nd CSSB is now ready, willing and able to relieve the 13th CSSB of their deployment responsibility and inherit their duties.
Bohn said he is confident that the 352nd CSSB will continue the development and pursuit of excellence that his soldiers worked so hard to achieve, and he has no doubt the new team will continue to raise the bar.
“The 352nd [CSSB] is committed to maintaining the 13th [CSSB]’s legacy, honoring their devotion to world-class support by finishing strong,” said Lt. Col. Debra Jenkins, commander of the 352nd CSSB, and an Atlanta native.
“As we like to say in the 352nd [CSSB], we got this,” Jenkins said.