Photo By Sgt. Mitch Armbruster | 1st Sgt. Johnie Thomas, the 465th Transportation Company first sergeant, addresses his...... read more read more
The words "hired guns" echoed through Provider Chapel as Soldiers yelled their company motto one last time on Logistical Support Area Anaconda during an awards ceremony.
Soldiers with the 465th Transportation Company, from Bristol, Pa., ran combat logistics patrol escort missions from LSA Anaconda to many of the surrounding forward operating bases.
The unit recognized Soldiers for all of their hard work and dedication over the course of the deployment. The 465th started their mission with questions about their duties in Iraq.
"I didn't know anybody. The unit was made up of 86 percent cross-levels from everywhere," said Staff Sgt. Michael Hollis, a combat logistics patrol commander with the 465th.
Hollis went from Junction City, Kan. to the mobilization station at Fort Dix, N.J.
"We thought that we were going to be a medium transportation company. We got to Kuwait and found out that we were going to be a gun truck company. I had no idea what that was," Hollis said.
The 465th escorted Kellogg, Brown and Root and third country nationals carrying supplies and fuel during their deployment. They drove to FOB Diamondback, FOB Warhorse, FOB Speicher and FOB Endurance on a regular basis.
Capt. Shane Reilly, the company commander for the 465th, stood in front of his Soldiers and praised them for their relentless efforts. The company completed 1,135 combat support missions and drove more than 1 million miles while serving in Iraq.
"The maintenance and work on the vehicles was top-notch. All levels of leadership made it happen," Reilly said.
Combat logistics patrol commanders and truck commanders made sure that the preventative maintenance happened.
Their maintenance team pitched in to keep the vehicles running and fixed problems quickly to get them back on the roads and make the missions successful.
"I'm very proud of everybody. I'm proud of the job we've done and proud of what the unit has done. I think we have made a good name for ourselves," Hollis said.
The 465th has a long-standing and proud history dating back to World War II. Their time-honored tradition of hard work has been exemplified by their two deployments to Iraq.
"Being out on the road, you can see the progress being made with the Iraqi soldiers and police in the towns that we go into. We've seen improvements and it feels like we are doing something worthwhile," Hollis said.
The Soldiers of the 465th have built friendships that will last beyond their deployment.
"These will be good memories. We had some tough times here, but you always look back at the good memories," Hollis said.
| Date Taken: | 01.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.05.2006 08:28 |
| Story ID: | 4271 |
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| Web Views: | 590 |
| Downloads: | 42 |
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