Photo By 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy | Lt. Col. Theodore Hull, commander of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 163rd Infantry...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Formations of troopers with the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, and soldiers with the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment, gathered to conduct their transfer-of-authority ceremony in Memorial Hall Dec. 12 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
Soldiers with 1st CAB, 163rd Inf. Regt., assumed the squadron’s mission of providing convoy security for the various missions and units of the 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), providing free flow of multi-class logistics throughout United States Division–South and central Iraq.
The ceremony’s honored guests included Brig. Gen. Mark Corson, commander of the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and Brig. Gen. Randal Dragon, COB Adder garrison commander.
“It is with tremendous pride that I stand before the fine troopers of the 2-108th Cavalry Squadron,” said Col. Lisa Costanza, commander of the 224th Sust. Bde., and a Long Beach, Calif., native. “As your brigade commander, I am so very proud of what you have done during your tour here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. This unit’s accomplishments are unparalleled with any other unit due to the distance and frequencies our soldiers drove day in and day out, in every convoy. Your efforts in securing our logistics convoys ensured that all units throughout the IJOA [Iraq Joint Operations Area] had what they needed and had it on time.”
On Jan. 5, the troopers of Louisiana’s National Guard Squadron, headquartered in Shreveport, La., were mobilized in support of OIF and OND until starting their convoy security mission in April. The 2nd. Sqdn, 108th Cav. Regt. history dates back to the Civil War in 1861, and has proudly served during World War I, OIF, Hurricane Gustav, and now OND.
“Today we turn over the mission of providing security to logistical convoys throughout Iraq to the very capable hands of the Griz Battalion [1st CAB, 163rd Inf. Regt.],” said Lt. Col. William Rachal, squadron commander and a Breaux Bridge, La., native. “The critical nature of the mission, sustaining our existing forces in Iraq with the classes of supply, is a great one. Nothing can happen if the flow of food and fuel is impeded in any way. I know the soldiers of the 1st of the 163rd [Inf. Regt.] will conduct each convoy with the diligence and knowledge that they have proven during their training at Camp Shelby.
“Troopers of the 2-108th Cavalry: We began our mission in April 2010 — since then, the squadron has escorted over 32,000 trucks on nearly 700 missions from Bucca to Balad,” added Rachel. “You have ensured that 110 million gallons of fuel have reached the force safely allowing others to accomplish their mission.”
Today, the soldiers of Montana’s National Guard, headquartered in Belgrade, Mont., assume command of this vital mission. The 1st CAB, 163rd Inf. Regt., history dates back to 1889 and has proudly served in the Philippines, World War II, Bosnia, several state emergencies, OIF, and now OND.
“To the troopers of 2nd squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment: I have been equally impressed with your focus on helping the Griz battalion throughout this relief-in-place,” said Lt. Col. Theodore Hull, commander of the 1st CAB, 163rd Inf. Regt., and a Helena, Mont., native. “To the soldiers of the 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion: You are the best trained, most disciplined unit that I have ever served with. You are ready for the mission, and I know that every one of you shares my objective of accomplishing our mission here while safely bringing every soldier home.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2010 07:18 |
| Story ID: | 62262 |
| Location: | CONTIGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 178 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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