Photo By Spc. Joseph Green | A Soldier wears the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - The 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, cased its colors and uncased new colors in a ceremony to symbolized the brigade’s re-designation as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade here July 30, 2015.
The Brigade has seen many transformations since its initial activation. Its first re-designating was from the 101st Abn. Div. Support Group to the 101st Abn. Div. Support Command, Feb. 3, 1964. Then the unit re-designation from the DISCOM to the 101st Sust. Bde., April. 21, 2005. Although, they were re-designated in 2005, they didn’t don the brigade’s patch until June 4, 2010.
The event also served as a patching ceremony for the “Lifeliners,” where the Soldiers in the formation donned the very familiar “Old Abe,” the 101st Abn. Div. patch.
In February, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno directed sustainment brigades to be aligned to each division echelon. The transition is meant to maximize unit cohesion and mission command effectiveness between divisions and their logistical enabler.
“Today is a long time coming; probably about ten years too long,” said Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, commander of the 101st and Fort Campbell. “‘Old Abe’ was the original patch of this brigade going all the way back to its activation on July 1, 1956, as the 101st Airborne Division Support Group right here at Fort Campbell.”
“The 101st Sustainment Brigade patch was a symbolism of the modularity transformation in the Army that we were going to during war time,” said Col. Kimberly J. Daub, the Lifeliner commander.
Even with a different patch, the Lifeliners tried to maintain their lineage and history with the 101st Abn. Div. The patch kept ‘Old Abe’ in the center of their symbol, the compass rose.
With the multiple transitions, the brigade never lost sight of the division it lived and fought with.
“The Lifeliners have been an integral part of every major conflict,” said Daub. “They have supplied troops with food and water, filled aircraft and trucks with fuel, medical aid for Soldiers, rigging capability for both paratroopers and slingload operations, mechanics to keep the Army’s engines roaring, and financial support to keep the bills paid.”
Lifeliners wore the 101st Sust. Bde. patch for more than 5 years and taking it off is a “bittersweet” moment, said Daub.
“There is much pride in the patch we are about to take off and will be a part of all of those who wore it and those who died in combat wearing it. It will have a place in history,” she said.
The fact that sustainment brigade has been an integral part of this division, no matter which patch is worn, resonated in both Volesky and Daub’s comments.
“The Lifeliner’s mission is far from over – there’s far more history to be made,” said Daub. “Today we see one more transition, by moving back to the 101st Airborne Division patch, it’s like coming home for us.”
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2015 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 173617 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lifeliners: new patch, new name, same mission, by MSG Mary Rose Mittlesteadt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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