By: 1st Lt. Matthew Castiglione
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – The 220th Transportation Company, 77th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command cased their colors here during a ceremonial transfer of authority with the incoming 89th Transportation Company, 77th Sustainment Brigade, 310th ESC.
“Road Master 6, sign in for duty,” said Capt. Ariel V. Rivera, commander of the 89th Trans. Co. Capt. Adam D. Ziegner and 1st Sgt. Anthony Delpozzo, the outgoing 220th Trans. Co. leadership, cased their colors. Once this was done, Capt. Ariel V. Rivera and 1st Sgt. Shirley D. Fisher, leaders of 89th Transportation Company, unfurled the guidon for the incoming command.
The ceremony marked the offical end to 220th Transportation Company’s tour and recognized 89th Transportation Company’s assumption of command over the mission and responsibilities. The 89th Transportation Company will provide logistical support to the Iraqi theater of operation in support of Operation New Dawn.
Lt. Col. John Holzapfel, commander of the 394th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, bid farewell to the 220th Trans. Co. and welcomed the Road Masters. Holzapfel said the Road Masters had impressed him during their short time at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
"They have hit the ground running since their arrival a week ago," he said. "You have demonstrated to me and the others here at COB Speicher that you are an aggressive and no nonsense unit, and I have no doubt that you will take the mission to the next level.”
Rivera thanked the 220th Transportation Company for the outstanding transition in authority and expressed his excitement over assuming command of the mission and working with the 394th CSSB.
The 89th Transportation Company soldiers went on their first mission the day after their arrival to COB Speicher.
Since then, they have completed six missions and logged more than 18,927 miles. This will be the fifth tour in Iraq for 89th Transportation Company.