Courtesy Photo | Members of the 1245th Transportation Company, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army...... read more read more
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ADA, Okla. – In a ceremony called historic by both active-duty Army and National Guard leadership, Oklahoma National Guardsmen of the 1245th Transportation Company (TC), Special Troops Battalion, 90th Troop Command, removed their Thunderbird patch and replaced them with those of the 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood on August 7.
“This gives us a unique training opportunity,” said Capt. Aaron Knott, commander of 1245th TC, adding that his unit is the first Oklahoma Army National Guard unit to begin a five-year training cycle under an active-duty unit.
Switching the familiar Thunderbird patch for the larger 1st Cavalry Division patch signifies a unity of effort to build closer relations between active duty and National Guard forces, build stronger cohesion and share resources and ideas.
This year, the 1245th will begin training on the 1st Cavalry Division’s mission-essential tasks on drill weekends. In 2017, they will join the 1st Cavalry Division’s Special Troops Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas, for annual training. According to Knott, of Weatherford, Texas, the 1245th, which up until now fell under Oklahoma’s 345th Combat Service and Support Battalion, has received six extra drill days and 21 extra annual training days to meet the new training requirements. The unit will now be assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
The 1245th is a medium truck company with the ability to haul containerized and non-containerized cargo; palletized, dry and refrigerated cargo; break bulk cargo; water products and ammunition. The trucks have palletized loading systems designed to offload supplies quickly and efficiently in a combat environment.
Even though the Oklahoma Soldiers had to give up their unit insignia, Knott said, “We are still Guardsmen.”
Col. John Zenker, brigade commander of 90th Troop Command, spoke to the Soldiers in formation during the ceremony, reassuring them that even though they were donning an active-duty patch, they were still Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers.
“This is a great opportunity for you Soldiers,” Zenker said, “A great opportunity for the active-duty Soldiers and a great opportunity for the 1st Cavalry Division. In 30 years, you will know you have played an important part when you see how the Army has developed. My expectations of you are that you will continue to solve problems and do your job well, as you always do. To some of you who still have reservations, what I say is this: pull the Thunderbird patch off and put it in your pocket to keep it close.”
The Thunderbird insignia, designed by renowned Native American artist Woodrow Big Bow, was authorized for wear in 1939 and has come to represent the courage, fortitude and heroism of the 45th Infantry Division Soldiers who fought in WWII across Europe and into Berlin and endured combat through the harsh Korean winters. Later the Oklahoma National Guard wore the insignia proudly to deployments in Bosnia, the Sinai Peninsula, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
The 1245th deployed to Desert Storm in 1990, Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2008, and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012. The unit has been awarded three Meritorious Unit Commendations.
Lt. Col. Darrell Morse, home station commander, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, thanked the Oklahomans for their excellent hospitality and welcomed the Oklahoma Soldiers to his unit. Morse called this opportunity “a partnership between National Guard, the Reserves and active duty. It is a relationship that is unparalleled. We are one Army.”
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2016 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 206590 |
| Location: | ADA, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 3,907 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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