Photo By Sgt. Keith Anderson | Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command,...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, visited Soldiers and leaders at the 16th Sustainment Brigade here, and toured base facilities, Aug. 5.
The 13th ESC, based out of Ft. Hood, Texas, assumed authority from the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, based out of Ft. Knox, Ken., for logistics operations in Iraq, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Joint Base Balad Aug. 7. The 16th Sust. Bde. is one of several sustainment brigades under the command.
The brigadier general met with Col. Martin B. Pitts, commander, 16th Sust. Bde., and Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Spencer, command sergeant major, 16th Sust. Bde., and toured the brigade's tactical operations center and support operations building before eating lunch with brigade leaders at the Knight's Feasting Hall dining facility.
Sgt. Jon Dunbar, radio transmission operator non-commissioned officer in charge, 16th Sust. Bde., briefed the brigadier general on his RTO duties in the TOC.
"It is always an experience to brief a general about the duties that myself and my Soldiers have to do," said Dunbar, a native of Crestview, Fla. "You may be nervous in the beginning, however, after a while it gets easier."
During the meal Wentz thanked brigade leaders for the opportunity to tour base facilities, and also congratulated the brigade for its many accomplishments during the deployment.
After lunch Wentz visited the base's water reservoirs and water bottling facility. Water is a critical issue in the drought-prone Ninawa province, and one of the top priorities for the remote logistics base in northern Iraq. He also toured the Supply Support Activity multi-class warehouse, the base's new Convoy Support Center and bulk fuel farm.
At the SSA, Spc. Shelly Marie Sosa, stock control accounting specialist, 574th Quartermaster Co., 395th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sust. Bde., explained her job to Wentz.
"I explained my duties showed him how to process receipts with the hand-held terminal," said Sosa, a native of New Orleans, La., on her third deployment to Iraq. "He was interested in what we do and it meant a lot that he took the time to talk to me and ask questions, because he can see that our support in the warehouse is essential for other units to accomplish their daily missions here in theater."
After the tour, Wentz was able to award an old comrade with the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe. Wentz awarded the order to Lt. Col. Eric Fleming, deputy commander, 16th Sust. Bde. Fleming served as a first lieutenant under (then) Maj. Wentz in the 64th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, in 1992.
According to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Association, "The purpose of the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe is to recognize those individuals who have served the United States Army Ordnance Corps with demonstrated integrity, moral character and professional competence over a sustained period of time. And whose selfless contributions to the Corps stand out in the eyes of their seniors, peers and subordinates alike."
In February 1628, Samuel Sharpe was appointed to the council of thirteen freemen in the Massachusetts Bay Colonies, and was also charged with the care of the ordnances that belonged to the colony. Sharpe was made 'Master Gunner of Ordnance' by the colony in April 1629, according to the Army Ordnance Corps website.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2009 03:41 |
| Story ID: | 37559 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 131 |
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