Photo By Amy Perry | Lt. Col Brian Neill, the current commander of the 266th Quartermaster Battalion,...... read more read more
The storied career of Maj. Gen. Fred C. Sheffey Jr. was the focus of a building rededication ceremony here May 1.
Members of the Quartermaster Corps – including Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg, QM General and commandant of the QM School, and Lt. Gen. Gwen Bingham, Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management – were joined by representatives of Sheffey’s family – including his wife, Jane, one of his sons, Alan, and daughter, Patricia – for the early morning 266th QM Battalion headquarters naming event.
The previous battalion headquarters building here also bore Sheffey’s name, and organization leaders said it was “a fitting gesture” to carry the dedication over to the new brick-and-mortar facility that is nestled alongside recently constructed barracks for its advanced individual training companies.
Sheffey commanded the unit in 1966 while it supported troops in Vietnam. Later in his career, he would become the first African American to command Fort Lee, the Quartermaster Training Command and the Quartermaster School. He is credited as the “creator and implementer” of Army-wide training strategies for supply storage, distribution, maintenance and accountability.
The major general retired from the Army in 1980. He was inducted into the QM Hall of Fame in 1994. He passed away in July 2000 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Bingham played a role in the original 266th headquarters building dedication to Sheffey 18 years ago while she was serving as installation commander here.
Fogg offered additional details about Sheffey’s military career during remarks at the event. He alluded to his initial term of service as an infantry commander in Korea and the Purple Heart he received after being wounded in battle there. “It’s a brave and wonderful history,” Fogg summarized. “(Sheffey) is one of the most influential and historical commanders we’ve had.”
Bingham was then introduced by Fogg who pointed out the career similarities she shares with the honoree. She too served as the 266th QM Bn., commander and was selected for one of the top command billets here (garrison commander). She was the first female officer to serve as the Quartermaster General.
In remarks, Bingham recalled her time at the 266th and said it was an honor to lead the charge of dedicating the headquarters building to Sheffey. “Without doubt, we counted it a tremendous honor to pay tribute to (his) extraordinary leadership and magnanimous body of work,” she said. “(He) laid the foundation for the men and women of the Army’s logistics corps.”
Sheffey’s wife and two children helped Fogg and Bingham cut the ribbon to the new facility. Lt. Col. Brian Neill, the battalion commander, presented Sheffey’s spouse and children with a brick from the former facility, along with a photo collage.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2018 12:12 |
| Story ID: | 276148 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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