wrangler magazine (1st qtr fy 10)

Oct. - Dec. 20091st Qtr/FY 10

Table Of ContentsThe Brigade Throws A Fiesta To Remember 10Wranglers Host Botswana Forces 11This Is Daddy 12Quartermasters Celebrate Family, Fun And Halloween 13Fear Factor Contestants Overcome Gastronomical Challenges 14Wranglers Paint Faces For Fall Festival 15Wranglers Help Save Honey Bee Hive 16Wranglers Get MADD And Make-A-Difference 17What Does The USO Do For You? 18-19The Nerve Center Of The Wrangler Brigade 20Wolfpack Soldiers Help Tutor Students 21418th Transportation Company Supports Friendship Day Parade 22Surprise Redeployment For The Postal Platoon 23In Service To Our Nation 24Through Tragedy There Were Heavy Hearts And Swift Action 25Halloween Party With a Country Touch 26Wranglers Build A Big Wall To Protect The President 27Wranglers Forward March Through Dallas 28Making-A-Difference At Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School 29Temple Leadership Visit Wrangler Brigade 2953rd Quartermaster Company Returns From Afghanistan 30Wrangler Brigade Sponsors Fort Hood Safety Day 31Wranglers Give Students A Tour Of Army Life 32Wrangler Families Counted Their Blessings On Thanksgiving 33Better Opportunities For Single Soldiers 34Dining Facilities Cheer Soldiers 35Wolfpack Soldiers Compete For The Commander’s Cup 36-37664th Ordnance Company Returns In Time For The Holidays 38Santa’s Workshop Delivers A Wrangler Christmas To Fort Hood Families 39553rd CSSB Displays A Special Kind Of Teamwork 40Vets, Wranglers Pay Homage Leading Up To Holiday Season 41Wolfpack Leaders Get Facials To Raise Funds For Soldiers 42The Wrangler Holiday Ball Celebrates The Season In Style 43-44602nd Maintenance Company Changes Command 45Santa Claus Delivered Soldiers Home For Christmas 46


4th Sustainment BrigadeCommander

Col. Ron Kirklin

Brigade Commander’s Corner

“The Wrangler” is authorized for publication by the 4th Sustainment Brigade for any interested personnel. The contents of “The Wrangler” are unofficial and are not to be considered the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, III Corps, or Fort Hood.“The Wrangler” is an Army-funded publication in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1. “The Wrangler” is published quarterly by the 4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office. The brigade Public Affairs Office is located in room 106D at building 39044, Fort Hood, Texas, 76544.

Brigade Commander Brigade Sergeant MajorCol. Ron Kirklin Command Sgt. Maj. Erik R. R. Frey

Chief of Public Affairs Multimedia NCO / Layout & Graphics Sgt. 1st. Class Erick Ritterby Sgt. Angiene L. Myers

Public Affairs Specialist Public Affairs Broadcast SpecialistPvt. Amy M. Lane Pfc. Sean McGuire

Team Wranglers – I am extremely proud of our great Soldiers, civilians, and our Families. I am equally proud of the work we have done to fulfill our commitment to the 4th Sustainment Brigade and Fort Hood. Your dedication to the Wrangler mission is exceptional and uncompromising, and I am humbled to serve you as the brigade commander.

My wife Phyllis and I know that our Families are very often our greatest source of comfort and strength. They keep us connected to our hometowns, our friends, and our relatives. For those of us

who wear the 4th Sustainment Brigade patch, we are also members of another kind of Family – the Wrangler Family. These men and women, who we serve alongside every day, are our brothers and sisters in arms. They are the leaders and subordinates who make our formation great.

As leaders, we take many precautions to ensure that the needs of our Soldiers are met. We try hard to balance the need for training and deployments with the absolute necessity of recovery, relaxation, and rejuvenation. We have been at war for more than eight years and it has taken its toll.

Each of us need to stay attuned to the people around us and likewise seek help for yourself if need be. If you or someone you love feels alone, neglected, depressed, or despondent, know that there is help for you here in the Wrangler Family, and across Fort Hood.

Remember to take a few moments from time to time to step back from the daily grind. I encourage you to find something that allows you to safely disconnect from our intensely busy Army life to refresh yourself.

Our Soldiers and their Families are all in some phase of the deployment cycle: preparing for deployment, deployed, or resetting for the next rotation. No one is exempt from this, not the brigade commander or the youngest private.

I want to re-emphasize the importance of making quality time with family your highest priority. Time is precious and given the nature of our responsibilities being able to spend that time with loved ones is priceless. Your sacrifices, and those of your Family, epitomize the true spirit of selfless service.

A new year is upon us with new challenges and I know that we will meet these challenges head on. I feel a strong sense of comfort and pride in the knowledge that the 4th Sustainment Brigade will endure and thrive in 2010, and I firmly believe that it will be a much better year for our brigade family.

Thank you for all you do each and every day and for your ongoing commitment to each other and the Wrangler team. Wrangler 6.

Just Get It Done!


4th Sustainment BrigadeCommand Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Erik R. R. Frey

WWW.HOOD.ARMY.MIL/4SUS

Brigade Sergeant Major’s Corner

I am still honored and indeed privileged to serve as your Command Sergeant Major. I will continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for the Soldiers, Family members, and civilians who make up the Wrangler team.

I am extremely impressed with the level

of commitment that you show on a daily basis as we face the challenging mission of supporting all of the units here at Fort Hood. It is a huge task and I am dedicated to ensuring that we stay focused on our most precious resource – taking care of Soldiers and their Families.

The 4th Sustainment Brigade prides itself on its leaders, especially its noncommissioned officers. Our Wrangler NCOs set the example for all leaders on post because they engage their Soldiers all the way down to the lowest level. That is how we take care of the needs of Soldiers and their Families.

Engaged leadership helps us identify those Soldiers who may be on a path to making poor decisions. If you are a first-line supervisor, you should know your Soldiers better than anyone. If you’re engaged with your Soldiers, you will be the first to notice if something is wrong.

Always remember that an engaged leader never walks past a problem. Your Soldiers must believe that you are looking out for them and that you are truly concerned about their welfare. As their leader, you need to earn your Soldier’s trust.

The Wrangler Brigade is successful because we empower our Soldiers to make the right decisions, and make no mistake about it, the rest of the installation looks to us to know what right looks like.

As we begin the next chapter for the 4th Sustainment Brigade, I ask that you all stay focused on what makes our unit the greatest on Fort Hood. If we continue to do that, then we will fulfill our obligation to serve and protect this great nation.

Wranglers Lead The Way!


The Next Chapter in Our History

4th Brigade Troops BattalionCommander

Lt. Col. John J. Hickey III

See BTB Page 6

To the Soldiers, Families, and civilian staff of the 4th Brigade Troops Battalion:

This letter is a bit longer than previous ones, since I feel you deserve a detailed description of where I believe we stand during this new year and where we are going. As the commander of a 1,247 Soldier strong Troops Battalion managing and executing all types of support throughout Fort Hood, I have been upfront with my commanders, senior noncommissioned officers, and staff about where I believe our strengths are and what areas we can improve. This is to share some of that with all Soldiers directly.

Right now we are facing a unique situation that is both complex and full of opportunity. We are a sustainment force in a time where logistics is more important than ever. Our fight is absolutely full-spectrum and we have to be prepared. I believe we all recognize this and have been putting 110% in planning and executing creative and relevant training. This is our strong

point. We are improving our processes as well. I have seen drastic improvements in day-to-day administrative operations within each of our staff sections as they strive to build and improve their systems and become more organized. This was initially a struggle for us having restructured ourselves after a 15-month long deployment. The flexibility and patience I’ve seen within each staff office as everyone learns to work with one another in regular and systematic ways leads me to say that we are definitely on the right path.

Having successfully completed a reset phase in which we fielded new equipment, rotated forces to not only best suit our requirements but to meet the needs of the Soldier, and having sent many of you to various schools and training venues to broaden your leadership skills and technical ability, each of you should be proud of what you have done. I can assure you that I am. We’ve had our challenges along the way too, and no great endeavor is without a fight. We’ve had to take a close look at how we take care of our returning Soldiers with emotional wounds. With

intervention and mentorship from our leaders, as well as the implementation of various suicide training and awareness-building programs we’ve managed to mitigate a lot of the risks caused by war - both physical and mental, but this continues to require a lot of diligence and patience from all of us. We have reduced the stigma associated with seeking help and fostered an environment where Soldiers can seek the care they deserve.

Our transition now is from resource-building and strengthening to developing the individual, squad, platoon and company competencies through aggressive training. Each of our companies are conducting training events that are focused on meeting requirements established by their Mission Essential Task List (METL) and on the Training, Tactics, and Procedures (TTPs) relevant to today’s unique operational environment. We are also planning for major collective training events such as Convoy Live Fire and an FTX. Our reflexive fire training was the next step in our progressive training plan to train advanced skills – not just individual but


BTB Continued from page 5

more collective training as well. We will continue to build on our After Action Reviews and Lessons Learned to develop and deploy the best training possible. Our primary goal here is to become immediately available for deployment and mission assignment when our time comes.

We have to continue to keep a relentless pace here, whether in the field or in the offices. If the heat feels excruciating or the rain is pouring, we keep on training with the spirit and motivation of true warriors. Why should we not relent? I’ll tell you why, when all is said and done, we have to look at ourselves and ask the hard questions. The battle grounds today are more unpredictable than ever. Whether you are transporting supplies, managing postal operations, conducting airdrop missions, or providing communications or maintenance support, our response on the ground will reflect our own capabilities to successfully execute a modern-day support and sustainment mission.

As we close a chapter together we enter a new one. We are presented with new opportunities for growth and development, and to really make a difference like many of you already have.

To the Families, we owe boundless

gratitude for all you do. I see the hard work our Family Readiness Group (FRG) leaders put into programs and services for building a strong and supportive network at home and for supporting loved ones when deployed. I will do my best to keep our Families informed on the status of upcoming deployments, but I also ask for your continued flexibility in the process. For as you know, there is no deployment timeline that is set in stone.

To my Leaders, continue to lead from the front and by example first. Let’s make this year even better than the last.

Bottom-line for all of you, great

job. I know as dedicated members of the Wolfpack and Wrangler team you can appreciate when I say that we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, and yet we’ve done so much. Our goal is to become fully capable to execute worldwide any task that we are given at full-speed.

To all of the Soldiers of the Brigade Troops Battalion, once again I want to thank you for what each of you brings to the table. It remains a great honor for me to serve with you. Let’s keep going strong,

“Wolfpack!”


I just wanted to take the opportunity to let every single one of my leaders know that I’m proud of you, each and every one of you. We are real busy right now trying to implement an aggressive training strategy

for this year, and on a daily basis I see what you are doing. I recognize the tremendous sacrifice you have all made in trying to get things kicked off, such as our reflexive fire training, ranges, and various battalion events, to build our overall Espirit de Corps. Because each one of my noncommissioned officers plays a unique role in this battalion, you may not always get the recognition you deserve. Drive on and stay motivated anyway. Someday you’ll look back at the things you’ve accomplished and you’ll be proud of yourself. That’s what you should strive for, to do right by your Soldiers all the time, even when others aren’t looking. I feel confident in the leaders we’ve emplaced to execute our demanding tasks and missions. I also like the no nonsense approach many of you take within your Platoons in getting things done, from Soldier readiness to PT tests. These things may seem small now but as we gear up for another deployment you’ll be glad to have gotten these things out the way.

To All My Wolfpack Leaders And TroopsI also want to make sure that

everyone understands that your leaders are there to support you, and you need to support yourself too. If you have questions or feel you need training in an area, it is your responsibility to go get it. “Just get it done,” as our brigade motto says. We have a big year ahead of us. Keep up a culture where your best hard work is expected and where the difficult but right path is always preferred over the easy wrong. Finally, complaining is just not accepted. Our battalion depends too much on us to get things done and we simply don’t have time to complain. Try to see the bright side of things, and if there is a real problem then your chain of command will help you get things sorted out. Stay focused, and stay motivated.

Good job on a great quarter, and let’s just make 2010 even better.

“Wolfpack!”

4th Brigade Troops BattalionCommand Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Coleman

DID YOU GET YOUR DEPLOYMENT DVD?COME TO THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AND GET YOUR COPY

BUILDING 39044, RM 106D

DVD includes: Wrangler Yearbook, Wrangler Newsletters, and all Wrangler Videos


I sincerely hope you have fully recovered from the holiday season. 2010 looks to be an even more exciting year for our battalion. We have grown in size to nearly 2,000 Soldiers – ten companies strong. We are even larger when we include our Family members. Our Soldiers continue to exceed standards and perform their mission requirements with the professionalism of superior Soldiers. I am extremely proud of our Soldiers and the important work they do every day. Our Soldiers are successful because of the support of our Families and the sacrifices that they make each day. Thank you so much. You and your Family are such an important part of this outstanding organization. Please continue to be involved; we need your help.

Units who have completed reset will begin to conduct more training in the field environment in the next several months. Those units will be working on command and control, convoy operations, and defensive operations. Our Soldiers deserve the best training that we can provide, and that is my intent for every Soldier. We have to be prepared for any environment, and that takes a lot of hard

work. The field training exercises will be conducted locally on the Fort Hood training areas. The remaining companies in reset will continue to focus on training, personnel readiness (physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning), and equipment.

If you want to know the specifics for your Soldier’s company training dates, please contact your Family Readiness Group Leader. They will have dates and the specifics as it relates to each of our ten companies. Training schedules are also available for your planning, and you can view them at your company orderly room or online at AKO. It is my goal that we give you and your family as much predictability as possible.

We have some great opportunities for fun within the battalion. We are sponsoring a ski trip this spring. Our goal is to provide an affordable trip, with great value, to our Soldiers and Families. If you love to cook then please enter into our Iron Chef competition, and compete to win some terrific prizes. The grand prize is a weekend stay at the historic Driskell hotel in Austin, Texas. We are always looking for new ideas and new places to share within the Leopard Family. Please share your ideas through your FRG leadership or company. We want to build

on our Army Family ties by establishing new friendship and life-long bonds.

Please remember that this command supports the Soldiers and their Families. If you are having trouble or difficulty with a person, an organization, or an agency within our military community please seek our assistance in resolving your issues. Fort Hood has many great people and organizations to help you. You might be surprised by the support you will receive; most times the key leadership is unaware of your problems. So please give us the opportunity to help our Army Family. It’s an honor to lead the finest Soldiers in the U.S. Army. “Look Smart - BE SMART!”

Greetings From Leopard World!

533rd Combat Sustainment Support BattalionCommander

Lt. Col Matt G. Melvin


I wanted to pass on a couple of notes on how the battalion is doing and tell you how proud I am of every Soldier. We find ourselves quite busy these days. The highlight of our schedule right now is convoy live-fire exercises and battle drills that will get our Soldiers ready for future deployments. Even with a demanding mission, we continue to provide the Wrangler Brigade with the best food, fuel, ammunition, supplies and maintenance support that the Army has to offer.

I would like to take a moment to talk about safety. It’s important that every Soldier understands why it is important to stress safety. Don’t be your own worst enemy by being careless and endangering yourself or your fellow Soldiers. Continue to conduct risk assessments before every mission.

That being said, now we have to focus on the battalion’s future. Some people are retiring, others are nearing the end of their contracts, and some are moving to other

places throughout the Army. For those who aren’t staying here don’t let yourselves become complacent. Stay on top of your Soldier skills and stay sharp at your job. You will be called upon to help when the Nations calls for the mighty Leopard Battalion to deploy in harm’s way.

To say that I am proud to be part of your success here is an understatement, but I expect to see the same quality of work in 2010 as I did in the previous months. Knowing what you are capable of doing as Soldiers, I have faith that you will all succeed when you work your hardest.

We have made many accomplishments over the past three months, and will make many more in the months ahead. We will continue to stay very busy maintaining our equipment and supporting daily training requirements. The bottom line up front is that Leopard Soldiers are doing an excellent job conducting their daily mission and supporting the Wrangler Brigade. NCOs and Soldiers will continue to train for a possible rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. We can’t lose focus on our future missions.

Hello Family And Friends Of The Leopard Battalion

533rd Combat Sustainment Support BattalionCommand Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Edaward C. Morris

You constantly demonstrate professionalism; knowledge in the profession of arms; innovation in resolving complex issues; persistence in conquering challenges; but most importantly you have embraced the warrior spirit to win! The Soldiers in our battalion, along with our Families and friends make up an amazing team. God bless you!

“Ask We Do”


A brightly-colored papier-mache covering a cardboard shape known as a pinata hangs from a tree near the Freedman Dining Facility during the 4th Sustainmnet Brigade Hispanic Heritage Month observation. The pinata originates from Mexico and is a significant tradition for different celebrations and special occasions.

The Brigade Throws a FiesTa To rememBer

Article by Sgt. John Ortiz Public Affairs NCO

FORT HOOD, Texas –With swirls of colorful dresses descended from the inner states of Mexico, the 4th Sustainment Brigade ushered in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Hispanic culture for more than 100 individuals at the Wrangler Freeman Dining Facility.

Hispanic American Heritage Month, established in 1989, was set aside to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse Hispanic cultures of American society.

For five dancers of a local ballet folklrico group, the opportunity to perform traditional dances from the Mexican cities of Vera Cruz, Chiapas, and Jalisco in front of a military crowd was a different experience.

“Performing was fun and really great because it is a part of my culture,” said Elisa Gomez, who has been performing for the last 10 years.

“Through our group, we have performed throughout central Texas, and they are all different experiences. But this

performance was special because it was the first time performing in front of the military,” said Gomez.

For fellow dancer Tyaisa Williams, who joined at the request of her best friend Elisa, performing is something she just does. As a Creole

descendent, Williams loves everything Hispanic, “My family likes the food and culture, and performing is another way to get to know and understand the traditions and the customs behind the Hispanic culture.”

Sgt. 1st Class Livier Lazaro, who was the narrator for the performance, loves describing her background and her culture.

“I love it when I perform and show off our dresses and I absolutely love teaching the audience little tidbits; about the history and meanings of the different songs and dresses to the beat of the song and the background,” said Lazaro.

“It was exciting to perform for Soldiers,” she said. “It was a privilege to even be asked, since we have never done this for a military crowd.”

Audience member Maj.

Dan Walker said, “It was a very good performance. It was great that people came out and learned a little bit more than what they knew before.”

Walker, who married into the Hispanic culture said, “One of the biggest things people need to understand is that there are a lot of different cultures other than from Mexico. From Puerto Rico to Nicaragua, people from all the different countries come together and make up the Hispanic culture.”

“But really it was a great that the [brigade] command came out and sponsored the event, although everyone wears the same uniform, it is really the differences in the people behind the Army Combat uniform and the U.S. Army nametape that makes the Army great as a whole,” said Walker.

Dressed in festive costumes two young dancer performed for the Soldiers of the 4th Sustainment Brigade during the Hispanic Heritage Month observation celebration.


Wranglers host Botswana forcesBy Sgt. John Ortiz

Public Affairs NCO

FORT HOOD, Texas –Col. Ronald Kirklin and Command Sgt. Maj. Erik R.R. Frey, the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), commander and command sergeant major, along with members of the brigade hosted the deputy commander of the Botswana Defense Force, Maj. Gen. Otisitswe B. Tiroyamodimo and several aides met Monday for a logistical briefing at the Wrangler Brigade headquarters. During the presentation, officers of the brigade gave an overview of the Wrangler mission on Fort Hood, along with several lessons learned throughout the unit’s 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the first sustainment brigade charged with a theater-support role. Throughout the presentation, ideas and questions were bounced off the Wranglers in order to improve the quality of life for

the Botswana service members. Ideas that were shared included secure mail delivery to Army post offices, the new eagle cash card, logistical support for units, and the “Backbone of the Army” .


Article By Amanda Kim StairrettKilleen Daily Herald

‘This is daddy’FORT HOOD, Texas – His wife and

son. Mexican food. The Dallas Cowboys. Green grass. Seeing the sky. Spc. Jonathan Lopez missed a lot of things while he was in Iraq.

He got them back Thursday.

Lopez returned to Fort Hood with about 300 from the 13th Sustainment Command's 96th Transportation Company and 81st and 151st Movement Control Teams. Soldiers from the 81st were welcomed at a morning ceremony, while the rest arrived later that afternoon.

Spc. Jonathan Lopez, 96th Transportation Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, hold his son, Jonathan Nicolas Lopez, while reuniting with him and his wife, Betrice Lopez, at a homecoming ceremony at Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center.

The 96th Transportation Company deployed to Iraq in early October 2008 – its sixth tour to Iraq since 2003. The company's tours last anywhere from six to 12 months. Its previous deployment was nine months, while the current one lasted 12.

The 96th is a combat heavy equipment transport, or HET, company, meaning the soldiers haul the biggest equipment in the Army like M1A1 Abrams tanks that can weigh more than 60 tons each.

The deployment was scary at first, Lopez said while riding a bus from Robert Gray Army Airfield to Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center. He didn't get used to it, but he did get more familiar with roads he navigated almost every day as an "88 Mike" – an Army truck driver.

Lopez, an El Paso native, graduated early and started out life after high school as a computer engineering student at the University of Texas at El Paso. School was easy, though, and after two semesters he wanted a challenge. Lopez joined the Texas National Guard.

Fifteen months later he switched to active duty and, from influence from his stepfather, who is an 88 Mike in the National Guard, Lopez became a truck driver.

Lopez deployed from Fort Hood a year ago, just a month after his son, Jonathan Nicolas, was born. He went home for leave in March to El Paso and saw his son for the second time. By the time Lopez returned Thursday, Jonathan was a high-five slapping, walking 1-year-old.

Beatrice, Lopez's high school sweetheart and wife of two years, made sure little Jonathan knew who his daddy was even though he was 7,000 miles

away. She hung photos above his crib and told him: "This is your dad."

Lopez would call home after long missions to talk to Beatrice and she would put Jonathan on the phone. She told her husband that their son recognized his voice.

The first-time father was frustrated that his job kept him from experiencing many important firsts with his family: first birthday, first steps, first high-five after a Dallas Cowboys touchdown.

Beatrice recorded short videos of Jonathan and sent them to her husband. It may have only been five seconds of video, "but it was the best five seconds of the day," Lopez said.

He was nervous to see his family as the bus that carried him and his fellow soldiers to the gym crossed from West Fort Hood to main post. He was worried that maybe his little boy wouldn't recognize him.

"My heart's already pounding right now just thinking about it," Lopez said.

Once the soldiers arrived, nervousness made way for excitement as they formed up and ran into the gym, which was packed with screaming soldiers, family members and other loved ones.

Lopez didn't see the neon, handmade signs his grandmother and little sister waved. His first glimpse of his family came as Beatrice maneuvered through the mass of people toward him.

Lopez immediately took his son in his arms and quietly spoke to him, running his fingers along his little face. Beatrice pointed at her husband and told her son: "This is your dad. This is daddy."


Quartermasters Celebrate Family, Fun, and Halloween

Article by Pfc. Sean McGuire Public Affairs Broadcast Specialist

FORT HOOD, Texas – With Halloween just around the corner, the 157th Quartermaster Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade invited its Soldiers and their families to a night of costumes, fun, and games.

Members of the company transformed their company area into a jungle of fun which featured stations for creating cupcakes, temporary tattoos, egg races, fishing and bean-bag tosses; all with prizes for the winners.

Through everything set up by the 157th Company Commander and Family Readiness Group, everyone came out of the event with smiles on their faces and candy in their pockets.

“We had a great turnout for the event,” said Capt. Jason Johnston, the company commander. “At one point I counted over 20 children at the different stations playing games.”

“From a father’s perspective I wanted to make the event more about fun than candy,” said Johnston. “As a commander I wanted to do something that would strengthen our FRG program, and having fun and interacting with one another is the best way to do that.”

Joining in on the fun was Pfc. Chris Davis, a laundry and clothing repair specialist assigned to the company, whose participation in the

company’s Halloween Fest was a first.

Davis, who attended the event with his wife and seven-month old daughter, said the event was great. “I love being able to spend time with my family and having them come out and experience this event was awesome.”

Family Readiness Group member Langley Crawford said the FRG along with her husband, James, set up the event, hanging up black sheets to add the scary effect, the fog machine, hay and everything else that brought the visuals of Halloween out.

“I've had a good amount of positive feedback from the Soldiers. I think it's important for them to see the company give back to the families of Soldiers,” said Johnston. “My family enjoyed the event, they always like doing things at daddy’s work.”

Madeline Johnston, the daughter of Capt. Jason Johnton recieves a temporary lizard tattoo on her hand the 157th Quartermaster Company’s Halloween Fest.

Pfc. Chris Davis stands with his wife Jessica and their seven-month old daughter Faye During the 157th Quartermaster Company’s Halloween Fest after finishing stations to win candy.


Fear Factor Contestants Overcome Gastronomical Challenges

Article by Michael HeckmanSentinel Staff

FORT HOOD, Texas – What would you eat and is there anything you wouldn’t do for $500? What about $300 or $200?

The menu for about 30 contestants brave enough to enter the Fort Hood BOSS Program’s “Fear Factor” contest held Friday at Patton’s Inn included night crawlers, crickets and a hot, spicy jalapeno and habanero soup BOSS president Kelli Harmon warned contestants “... will have you in the bathroom for a week.” Another disclaimer she issued suggested contestants should thoroughly chew the short, crunchy worms partnered with night crawlers for consumption in another challenge. “If you don’t chew them they could eat a hole in your stomach,” she said. The nightcrawlers weren’t the Canadian variety, which can reach up to 14 inches long fully extended. The ones contestants chewed to varying degrees measured about six inches. Overall, the lumps to be swallowed were considerable. Before the challenges began, BOSS vice president Gary McClendon said his crew had assembled about eight pounds each of night crawlers and crickets. Each event is timed, so it’s (results are) based on your time and the amount of each product consumed,” McClendon chuckled. In one event, contestants had to swallow about a fourth of a cup of spicy “soup” before putting an egg in their mouths and running about 100 yards. Many didn’t

down the soup without losing it. At the far end of the course, they reversed direction and crab-walked 50 yards before turning around and combat-rolling to the finish line: all while being shot at by grinning, gleeful paint ball triggermen. If the (raw) egg broke, in addition to the yucky mouthful, the contestant was eliminated. A similar version of the challenge

A judge verifies that a contestant has swallowed all of the nightcrawlers and other worms he put into his mouth. The contest winner, Pfc. Christopher Book, 4th Brigade Troops Battalion ate a cup-full in 68 seconds.

required contestants to run the gauntlet with a cricket in their mouths. If the cricket was dead when its carrier crossed the finish line, he or she was eliminated. Many of the crickets failed to survive the course. During one of the final challenges, contestants had to submerge their heads in ice chests or buckets filled with ice and freezing water containing crickets, worms and other unidentifiable objects. The “catch” was spat into an adjacent tray to be counted by judges. After the last challenge ended, Pfc. Christopher Book, Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, was declared the overall winner and won $500. “I won the $500 but walked away with a little bit less of my pride,” Book said. He slurped down the worm combination in 68 seconds and did well in the other events. Despite Harmon’s warning, Book said, “The money was more on my mind than the whole ulcer thing.

“Bobbing for random insects and the mystery meat at the bottom of the ice chest ... I had to stop; I got a massive headache,” he added. He sucked up and spat out eight random objects. “I’m taking a couple of buddies out to party and the rest of the money goes to my car,” he said of plans for the compensation for indignities suffered.

Second-place winner Spc. Casey Bell, a wheel mechanic

for the 565th Quartermaster Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion took home the promise of $300 for his “cast iron stomach.” He said he entered the contest for three reasons: “One, I didn’t have anything else going on today and; two, I’ll pretty much do anything for money; and three, it sounds like fun.” He said the only things he would rather not eat include animal genitalia and live spiders. Of pre-event preparations, he added, “I didn’t take any Pepto-Bismol or anything else.”


Wranglers Paint Faces For Fall Festival

FORT HOOD, Texas – With a couple of humvees and simple supplies, the 49th Transportation Battalion Rear-Detachment along with two Movement Control teams, the 80th and 259th, created its own fun for students at Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School.

The school’s Fall Festival showcased various activities like jumping balloons, hot dogs, and even horseback riding.

The Soldiers present from the 4th Sustainment Brigade moved to create a backdrop station, complete with humvees, outside in the parking lot to paint camouflage faces and teach participating students how to use a radio using a mock radio setup.

After the student’s fun was complete, they left with goody bags filled with Army One Source items and candy, and with the effort of Soldiers - a view of what the Army is really about.

“Our mission was to show what the Army has to offer through training in the field, radio communications, and riding in a humvee,” said Capt. Monique Whyte, the 49th Transportation Battalion Rear-Detachment Commander, who led the charge for her unit’s participation in the festival.

Whyte said the Temple school is their adopted school and every Wednesday Soldiers come to read to the students and assist in school activities.

“The school goes way back, 40 or 50 years ago. It first was a high school and then went to a middle school,” Whyte said of the school’s history. She went on


Capt. Monique Whyte, the 49th Transportation Battalion Rear-Detachment Commander, Paints the face of 6th grader Xavier Howard during the Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School’s Fall Festival.

saying, “Last year it was almost shutdown due to low test scores.”

Changes came making the school an elementary school housing pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade classes, along with bringing in new people like Instructional Coach Susan Riley who works alongside its teachers.

“We try to do things for the kids every month, something they and their families can have fun with here. This time it’s the fall festival,” said Riley about the school’s efforts for the event.

Staff Sgt. Larry Garcia, a member of the 80th Movement Control Team, puts the finishing touches to pink flowers on the cheek of five-year Aaniyha Holmes during the Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School’s Fall Festival.


Wranglers Help Save Honey Bee Hive

Article Capt. Ariana Roscoe4th Brigade Troops Battalion

FORT HOOD, Texas – Four Soldiers assigned to the Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade were given the ‘Outstanding Commitment to a Job’ Team award on Oct. 23 for assisting in the safe extraction of a eight-foot wide bee hive underneath a storage container at the Department of Public Works recycle yard containing thousands of live honeybees that had produced more than 40 lbs of fresh honey.

The Soldiers were nominated for the award by Anne Hamilton, an entomologist for the national resources department within the Fort Hood Department of Public Works.

“Honeybees are on the decline in most areas of the country,” said

Workers with the Fort Hood Department of Public Works and the 4th Sustainment Brigade work to carefully extract a eight-foot wide bee hive underneath a storage container at the Department of Public Works recycle yard containing thousands of live honeybees that had produced more than 40 lbs of fresh honet

Two workers with the Fort Hood Department of Public Works carefully transplants a piece of the bee hive into containers to transplant their hives to a safer location

An eight-foot wide bee hive containing thousands of live honeybees set up operations underneath a storage container at the Department of Public Works recycle yard that had produced more than 40 lbs of fresh honet

Hamilton. “But here on Fort Hood we have a unique environment for bees, though they clash with missions, if they are in a public place we have to either kill them or remove them. Sometimes removal, unfortunately, is not possible.”

Luckily in this case, removal was possible.

The removal process took the

Soldiers and the volunteer beekeepers three hours, with Soldiers first lifting the conex with the attached bee hive using a Kalmar Rough Terrain vehicle designed to lift large containers and gently stacked it on top of two other conexes so the bottom of the conex and bee hive was exposed for safe removal.

The volunteer beekeepers and DPW Entomologist donned bee suits, removed the honey-loaded bee comb and then gently swept all of the bees into a commercial hive box.

Saving the honeybees that occasionally build their hives underneath storage containers on post have become an important undertaking to personnel at the Natural Recourses Division in DPW, particularly because honeybee populations across the United States are declining, as much as 70 percent in some areas,

because of what biologists have termed Colony Collapse Disorder, in which the worker bees abandon their colonies for unknown reasons.

Hamilton also attributed the success of the removal to bee conservation volunteers, thanking Dr. Art Baker, a

preventive medicine physician with Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and local rancher Jerry Massar helped remove the hive.

Mrs. Hamilton requested for the Hood Hero award recipients who helped remove the bee hive for Staff Sgt. Demetrius Edwards, Sgt. Jarvez Wilkes, Sgt. Cory Akridge and Spc. Mazeveylnn Edwards Soldier’s citation to read in part: “The Soldiers demonstrated calm professionalism and skilled handling of the equipment and performed duty under extraordinary circumstances.”


KILLEEN, Texas – Wranglers assigned to the 157th Quartermaster Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade supported the national Make-A-Difference Day by adopting the Killeen Mothers-Against Drunk Driving organization.

MADD, a 90 percent volunteer driven organization was founded in 1980 and has a three-part mission: stop drunk driving, serve victims of drunk driving, and prevent underage driving.

As a part of the Make-a-Difference Day, Soldiers stopped by several memorial sites along roads to replace crosses that have been damaged by weather

Wranglers get MaDD anD Make-a-Difference

Article by Sgt. Angiene MyersMultimedia NCO

conditions, repaint the ones that loss their color, and place flowers in memory of the individuals who lost their lives to drunk driving.

Katarina Martinez, an administrative assistant with MADD was very pleased to see Soldiers taking time out of their weekend to come

out and offer support to the organization.

“I was really excited when I saw they adopted my program. I’ve only lived in Killeen for two years and it’s nice to see Soldiers want to work within the community,” said Martinez.

“Unfortunately I see a lot of private’s that come to my Alcohol Awareness Education for Minors so I think it awesome to see Soldiers come out and be a part of stopping drunk driving and preventing underage drinking,” she continued.

At the forefront of the unit’s Make-A- Difference Day was Spc. Maria Gooding, a native of Barbados currently assigned to the 157th Quartermaster Company, 553rd

Combat Service Support Battalion.

Gooding talked to her company commander, Capt. John Johnston about getting involved with the national day of giving back to the community, and he gave her a full list of organization that needed support. MADD was on the list of organizations and they haven’t been adopted by a unit on post.

“I like to help people, it’s just my nature. I guess it’s because I’m a Christmas baby. I like to give, give, and give,” said Gooding.

“I have my 13-year old with me. I like to teach her the value of giving because it doesn’t just look good but it makes you feel good too,” she said.

“It feels good knowing that you help somebody in the time that you have here on earth,” said Gooding. “If you didn’t make a difference in somebody’s life, you didn’t have a purpose”

Soldiers with the 157th QM Co., 4th Sust. Bde., repaint a cross signifying a life lost due to drunck driving. The roadside cross had been damaged by weather.

Soldiers with the 157th Quartermaster Company replace an old cross with a new one at a memorial site set up by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).


What Does The USO Do For You?

FORT HOOD, Texas – How many of us can claim to know what the USO stands for, its core missions, and what kind of involvement they will have with our battalion? Most hands I imagine


See USO Page 19

eagerly arise in response to the first part of the question and blank stares transpire from the second. I will attempt, therefore, to dispel some common myths about the USO and enlighten eager readers about the organization and what they can look forward to.

To begin with, the United Service Organization is a private, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, which means that all funds which are donated to this charity can be filed as a deductable on annual tax claims.

The organization is also run by civilians contrary to popular belief.

Soldiers are often involved in USO operations but the organization is run solely by retired military and purebred blue suitors. The USO, it should also be noted, is a separate entity from the Moral

Welfare and Recreation agency or MWR – that amusing place downrange from which most of us have at least rented movies.

Mrs. Isabel Hubbard, a coordinator for the Fort Hood USO, asked me if I knew what the primary mission of the USO was during a conversation we had while a handful of Soldiers from Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade were loading two trucks with cartons of Girl Scout cookies from the USO storage area.

Memories of warmhearted smiles and welcoming hugs from USO volunteers

at the Houston Airport entered my mind; and so naturally, my own assuredness in the validity of my benevolent thoughts caused my answer to radiate confidence as I rather blurted out, “I think so!”

“For one, you guys are always at the airports around the United States giving us all a place to relax some between flights. You guys give concerts oversees for deployed troops too.” I said.

Hubbard did not look offended, thankfully, as her organization does much more than that.

The USO Website states, in short, that its mission is to “support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform.” This support of course is not

limited to friendly, and much appreciated, airport relaxing areas and free-of-charge hot ticket concerts. Though these help make the USO famous.

“We are in essence wherever the Soldier is,” said Hubbard in response to my narrow riposte.

With the USO operating more than 135 Soldier support centers and ten mobile canteens around the world, she was certainly on point, and Soldiers are

4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers lend a helping hand by loading trucks with refreshments provided by civilian non-profit organization, USO.


USO Continued from page 18

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform.

in a multitude of places on Fort Hood and surrounding areas at any given time.

For example Soldiers are at gyms on post being welcomed home from an overseas deployment by overjoyed Family members and friends. Often, somewhere within these crowds are USO crewmembers with flags, manning refreshment tables.

Soldiers and Families gather together for Family Readiness Group functions and unit esprit de corps events. The probability of finding USO presence is very high. The list of places where USO support can be found is endless; and yet, it is really up to the unit to decide when and where they would like USO support.

So how will the Wolfpack Battalion decide to utilize our local USO? Mrs. Roberta Sweet, the BTB Family Readiness Assistant has already begun making plans with USO administrators for future support.

Sweet is planning on utilizing the USO for FRG functions and all redeployments. We recently witnessed valued USO support for our Welcome Home ceremony for the 81st Postal Company, 96th Transportation Company and 151st Transportation Company.

Hubbard said she is thrilled to have established such a good relationship with the battalion and Mrs. Sweet, and that she looks forward to continued efforts in supporting the most important aspect of our Army – the Soldiers and their Families.

“It is nice,” she said, “to be able to work with someone like Mrs. Sweet who really cares and is willing to take the time to pick up the phone to make that contact with us for support.”

4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigad Soldiers helped pack an assortment of Girl Scout Cookies onto a truck from the USO storage area.


The Nerve Center of the Wrangler Brigade

FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers of the 4th Sustainment Brigade built a mobile Tactical Operations Center or TOC. The mobile operations center will operate exactly as a TOC would in a deployed environment.

The TOC, in terms of logistical support, is a centralized location for monitoring the battlefield as it relates to operations such as refueling, maintenance, airdrop missions, and supply convoys.

It is also the unit’s main hub for sending and receiving important dispatches and for surveying the status of current missions and enemy intelligence.

All of these actions help primary leaders make knowledgeable decisions as they maneuver through obstacles within their logistics footprint.

Through high-tech communication platforms such as the XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), a real-time automated computer system networked through satellite signals, leaders are kept abreast on multiple regions and missions simultaneously.

Sgt. 1st Class Kayhan Ziaee, Operations Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, has played a large role in the planning


phase and is now overseeing the actual construction phase being done by the 62nd Engineering Battalion.

“This is going to be the place where we will manage and control all activities within the Brigade, and we will hold all

A Soldier from the 104th Engineer Bde., 62nd Engineer Battalion hammered away at the foundation for the Tactical Operation Center. After completion, the TOC will have 32 workstations on a series of raised platforms.

of our briefings here,” said Ziaee.

as he handed me a diagram of the end state product,

When the unit’s first fully operational TOC is completed there

will be 32 workstations with networked computers on a series of raised platforms.

The largest challenge currently in the building of the TOC is connectivity.

“We are working with Fort Hood's Information Management Team to increase our capacity for the number of ports we can activate,” said Ziaee.

“This place is going to be the nerve center of this brigade.”

Soldiers from the 104th Engineer Bde., 62nd Engineer Battalion worked hard to build the foundation for the Tactical Operation Center which will support a fully operational work-space area.


Wolfpack Soldiers And Students Team Up

FORT HOOD, Texas – Four Soldiers from 418th Transportation Company assisted students from Nolan Middle School with their car wash and provided regular academic tutoring during the week.

Though the Adopt-A-School's primary mission is to provide academic tutoring, Soldiers have assisted the school with a variety of events.

"The Soldiers are a big help to us and we like them to be here for these kinds of activities, just to give a helping hand," said school Academic Advisor and Outreach Coordinator, Tracey Griffeth.

The Soldiers, dressed in civilian attire, helped the students wash around 25 cars.

The middle school began its relationship with the 418th Transportation Company and Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade in August of 2008 and there are currently 13 all-volunteer Soldiers who provide a full day of tutoring every Wednesday at the schools.

Adopt-A-School is a major effort within the Wolfpack Battalion, which currently sends a total of 40 volunteers at four different schools within Killeen, Nolanville and Temple.

Volunteers are asked to provide tutoring


in either a math or a science class, or both.

"There are challenges with math and science across this district, actually across the state. It's not a unique phenomenon here," said Griffeth.

Griffeth said if she could she would have at least one Soldier in every one of her classes because of the positive difference they make.

"I see the kids are depending on them more. Every Wednesday instead of coming to me for help with their math assignments they go

to our tutors. They make a huge difference. The kids say to me, 'Miss, I’m getting help from the Soldier today,'" said Griffeth.

Wolpack Soldiers and Nolan Middle School student prepared themselves for the next car during the schools car wash. The event was intended to raise funds for the community service organization, United Way. The Soldiers and students raised more than $700 in the car wash.

Wolfpack Soldiers and the Nolan Middle School student worked hard to wash all the cars that lined the schools parking lot.


418th Transportation Company Supports Friendship Day Parade

Article by 2nd Lt. Bryan Langley4th Brigade Troops Battalion

FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers from the 418th Transportation Company provided support for the Florence Friendship Days Parade on Saturday, October 10.

The 64th MP Co., 720th MP BN contributed an M1117 Armored Security Vehicle to the parade, but required transport to and from the town. As a result, the transportation company assigned three Soldiers to drive an M1070 "HET" tractor and trailer for the task.

The Soldiers were impressed by the support they received from other participants.

"They all said they appreciated us,

our service," said Pfc. Amy S. Davis of Clarksville, Kentucky.

Particularly impressed was ten year-old Skyler Devinney, son of local resident Staff Sgt. Kelly R. Devinney of the 46th Chemical Co.

"It was awesome," said Skyler.

Florence being a small town, the parade did not take long.

As Spc. Christopher M. Van Buren of Chesapeake, Virginia, remarked, "It was short. I was kind of surprised."

Soldiers of the 418th Transportation Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade provided support for the Friendship Day Parade by transporting an M1117 Armored Security Vehicle to Florence, Texas.


Surprise Redeployment For The Postal Platoon

Article by Sgt. 1st. Class Erick Ritterby Chief, Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas – The 4th Sustainment Brigade received a big surprise Nov. 3 when cheers and tears erupted within the Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center. The Wrangler family welcomed home 16 Soldiers of the Postal Platoon from the 502nd Human Resource Company.

The redeployment was a pleasant shock for Lt. Col. John Hickey, commander of the Brigade Troops Battalion.

“I wasn’t expecting them for another four-to-five days,” said Hickey.

The top officer of the battalion received a phone call informing him that the platoon had touched down at the

Upon arrival at Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center the Soldiers of Postal Platoon, 502nd Human Resource Company, saluted the U.S. Flag as the Brigade Troops Battalion Color Guard rendered honors.

The 16 returning troops were reunited with their families after a brieff ceremony that no more than five minutes.

The Postal Platoon was deployed for six months in support of the War on Terorism. When they deployed, the Soldiers fell under the command of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, but they return as members of Team Wrangler.

airport on West Fort Hood. Hickey and his Soldiers only had minutes to prepare the gym for their arrival.

“They must have had a chance to piggyback home with another battalion on an earlier flight,” said Hickey.

Despite the short notice, Team Wrangler pulled it together, and the returning Soldiers and their families received a proper and formal welcome home ceremony. The battalion color guard was there to greet them with more than 30 family members and friends as well.

Col. Ronald Kirklin also joined Hickey in welcoming home the Soldiers. The Wrangler brigade commander huddled both families and Soldiers together for

a few words before he released them to go home.

“Everyone in the brigade is proud of what you have accomplished during your six-month deployment, and no one can take that away from you,” said

Kirklin. “As for your families, I want you to know that you are special to us, and you make the Wrangler family strong.”


In Service To Our NationArticle by Lt. Col. Matt Melvin

Commander, 553rd CSSB

In honor of Veteran’s Day, it is important that we, as a nation of free citizens, take a moment and recognize service members of past and present for their service to the Nation.

I am an advocate of the Soldier and all the hard work that he or she does or has done in the course of our nation’s history. It is sometimes frustrating when I see or read about individuals who believe they should be equally recognized for their civilian accomplishments to the same degree as those who made the selfless commitment to don the uniform, even if only for a short time.

Military service is not the only means through which citizens can serve their country, but their level of sacrifice and civic sense of duty is unique. At its core, the issue is not about public recognition and whether Soldiers deserve special praise.

For Soldiers, service to the Nation requires no recognition because Soldiers know that freedom from tyranny and the right to self-govern is the mark of the American Soldier. Soldiers and their families endure the heavy sacrifice required of their service out of patriotic fervor and the principle of freedom.

Most Soldiers understand our form of government is not perfect, but they are equally cognizant that our government is particular to the American way of life and one that maximizes freedom.

Of all rights we hold dearest, how

wonderful it is to have the freedom to express one’s thoughts. We Veterans appreciate your expression of support.

To those Texans and citizens who greet us daily as we exit the R&R flights at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, you make up for all of the abandonment we have ever experienced. You are my Heroes. Your cheers, smiles, and support make up the foundation of truly wonderful memories that indelible capture the American spirit. It is difficult to express

As the 4th Sustainment Brigade’s Color Guard led the charge during the Dallas Veterans Day Parade, an American veteran proudly salutes the Soldiers and the Colors.

our appreciation and gratitude in words.

On this Veterans’ Day, please recognize a past or current Soldier with a “Thank You” to them and their families; the dedication and love of a wife, husband, daughter, son, mom or dad brings honor to the American Military and the American Family.

Military families are sometimes charged with carrying overwhelming heartache and loss as the result of their loved ones’ service. As such, it is most important to thank the family members of each American Soldier, especially those

who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

These families are deserving of this honor, not only on Veteran’s Day, but every day. We should show military families that their loved ones did not leave this world in vein and that every Soldier’s memory will not be forgotten in the annals of time.

As Soldiers, we could never succeed without the support our love ones provide. Every American should stand up and say “Thank You” when family members, who

toil and grieve for their Soldier, walk into a room.

I am honored to be in your presence and stand in the memory of their sacrifice which will never end. You are the fabric that binds this country together and we can not forget you and your loved one. My heart goes out to the families and friends of fallen and injured Soldiers.

God Bless our “Gold Star” families.

I pray these family members are not forgotten on this day. Every American should pay attention to those families around them or whom they know at a distant post. Make a phone call today and show your support.

Thank you Soldiers, past and present. Thank you mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters of the American Soldier.

God preserve the memory of our American Veterans, Lest We Forget.

Matt Melvin An American Soldier


Through Tragedy There Were Heavy Hearts And Swift Action

FORT HOOD, Texas – Word of mouth – that’s how the majority of Wranglers across the 4th Sustainment Brigade found out a shooting took place on Nov. 5. It was an event that came as a shock; one which everyone handled differently.

Initial news spread like wildfire with rumors and facts intermingled. A lockdown for full accountability was the first order of action for the Wrangler Brigade on all levels.

At the Company level for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, accountability and ensuring everyone’s safety was key.

“I was right here in the office,” said Capt. Anthony Crumbey HHC commander. “I heard it by word of mouth. One of my NCOs came back and told me there was a shooting at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center.”

“The main thing we did was to go into lockdown mode making sure everybody was in their buildings, and we kicked off 100-percent accountability,” went on Crumbey.

Accountability was the initial reaction for those at the company, then thoughts of those not present.

“The first thing that came to my head was all of our people that were attending the Warrior Leader Course,” replied Sgt. Ebony Hogan, who works in the HHC orderly room.

“My first thought was, oh my gosh; I hope our Soldiers are ok. I was on the verge of tears because I knew someone down there,” continued Hogan, with regards to the HHC Soldiers at the WLC.

Only steps away at Brigade Troops


Battalion headquarters, news hadn’t hit yet but people were talking.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. John Hickey personally told Soldiers throughout the battalion what had transpired.

“It was a very surreal feeling hearing Fort Hood, a place you think is safe, is under attack – very eerie,” said Capt. Sarah Thompson, the battalion personnel officer-in-charge.

For Hogan, finding out it was a Soldier that was on the attack changed things drastically.

“The last thing you would think is that it would be a Soldier,” stated Hogan. “It’s not just Soldiers, it’s not just NCOs, it can be officers.”

“I felt a sense of betrayal from the shooter,” accounted Thompson. “This person may have worn our uniform, but at their heart they weren’t a Soldier.”

Sgt. Ebony Hogan stands outside Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, as she reads the Fort Hood Sentinel’s front page story about the post’s memorial service to honor the fallen victims of Nov. 5 shooting spree.

Regardless of any thoughts on who had committed the crimes against the community at Fort Hood, Wranglers wanted to know everyone was ok.

Hogan said, “I immediately texted my husband and sister, letting them know I was fine.”

“All I wanted to do was look my family in the face and tell them I’m okay,” concluded Thompson


FORT HOOD, TEXAS – Soldiers from 418th Transportation Company, Brigade Troops Battalion had a Halloween party with a country theme for Soldiers and Families at their motor pool on Oct 17.

There were a series of all American country events: hay rides, searching for candy in a haystack, dunking for caramel apples, dance contests, a children's costume contest, pumpkin painting, and a cake walk.

The party took Amber Daniels, the FRG leader for the 418th TC, and her Soldier-helpers less than a month to plan this event for the 4th Sustainment Brigade and it's Families.

"I joined this unit in early September and this was my first major project," said Daniels.

The entire motor pool was a spectacular

Halloween Party With A Country TouchArticle by Capt. Ariana Roscoe4th Brigade Troops Battalion

site to see because it was filled with chatty Families and laughing children.

A luminous Gumby character greeted a group of children just beyond tables full of homemade desserts and Halloween themed snacks.

An elaborate spider web over a haystack design was set up, and it received a lot attention.

"Our Soldiers worked hard to make this place look so good," said Daniels.

A Soldier in a scary clown costume sat rocking in a chair outside of the motor pool. That Soldiers said that she was told just that morning by her chain of command to dress up for the children.

Daniels interjected with keen smile, "I am myself for Halloween – just a

country girl," which clearly helped inspire the party's theme.

Wrangler Brigade Soldiers of the 418th Transportation Company decorated their motor pool with a country theme for a Halloween party for Soldiers and Families.

https://safety.army.mil


Wranglers Build A Big Wall To Protect the President

FORT HOOD, Texas - Having created an extensive protective wall of 175 triple-stacked Army container units, known as conexes, around the Sadowski Field outside of the III Corps headquarters building, and a wall of 150 double-stacked conexes between Tank Destroyer road and the Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center, the Soldiers of the 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, along with the Department of Logistics did an outstanding job in providing our Commander and Chief extra security during his visit to Fort Hood on Nov. 10th.

The lofty operation took the Wrangler Soldiers and DOL personnel two days to move a total of 325 conexes from the DOL container yard -located about 4 miles West of the Main Gate- to the III Corps parade field and hospital, and to stack them to the specifications of the Secret Services personnel.

The Soldiers of 297th and 418th Transportation Company began the operation with a call to duty on Sunday, 8-Nov, around 1300 hours to assist DOL with the conex transporting and stacking mission. The Soldiers met at their consolidated motor pool ready to work within an hour's notice, and had begun stacking containers within two hours.

"When we were called we came and just made it happen," said Sgt. First Class Joseph Putman, the Operations Sgt for the 297th Ghostriders and the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) who oversaw the Soldiers executing the mission.

After inspecting and preparing the equipment for use the Soldiers moved 175 conexes from the DOL container yard

Article by Capt. Ariana Roscoe4th Brigade Troops Battalion

to the III Corps field using two Rough Terrain-240 container handlers (RTCHs) for the loading and downloading of the conexes and 15 Palletized Load Systems (PLS) with a trailer attached to each, capable of transporting two conexes per system. DOL utilized 9 flatbed trucks for transporting one container at a time. After moving the conexes the Soldiers stacked them around the field using their RTCHs. The operation took a total about 7 hours and they finished at 9:00 p.m.

The next day the Soldiers completed the double-stacked protective wall made of 150 conexes from the DOL container yard- between the hospital and the main transit road, Tank Destroyer. The Soldiers utilized ten PLSs and RTCHs and DOL operated a few 36,000 lb forklifts.

The challenges in stacking the conexes at the hospital required some creativity on the part of the Soldiers who had to lift them over unidentified parked vehicles without causing damage to them, and which they could not move.

"We used our wretches to lift sideways -this way and that- in order to avoid hitting

the cars. It took us a lot of concentration," said Sgt. First Class Putman.

The Soldiers completed their mission at midnight, having spent over 14 hours of labor, effort and teamwork to complete the major task of building two walls made of conexes.

"We are pleased to have been a part of this effort," said the Soldier's battalion

commander, Lt. Col. John Hickey, "they really showed us what they are made of in getting this done quickly and safely."

The next day thousands gathered on the III Corps parade field for the ceremony honoring the 13 Soldiers killed and 31 wounded on Nov. 5th. The President and Commander in Chief gave his remarks in safe

assurance thanks to the hard work of our service members and DOL.

Soldiers from the Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade. connected more than 300 shipping containers in stacks of three around the installation’s headquarters area in preparation for President Barrack Obama’s visit to Fort Hood.

Soldiers from the Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade loaded up more than 300 shipping containers onto Palletized Loading Systems (PLS) flatbeds for delivery to the installation’s headquarters area.


Wranglers Forward March Through Dallas

DALLAS – The cadence line, “standing tall, looking good, outta be in Hollywood,” isn’t just a verse sung while marching Soldiers, it is also a verse that can describe the 4th Sustainment Brigade Color Guard as they marched down the streets leading the annual Dallas Veteran’s Day Parade.

On a day that signifies the ending of World War I on the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, Veteran’s Day pays tribute to the past, present, and future veterans of the United States.

Leading the annual Veteran’s Day Parade, the Wrangler Brigade Color Guard was the first sight more than several thousand people saw as they lead more than 120 different military units, high school bands, JROTC programs, and different civic organizations.

“I have never experienced anything quite like it,” said Spc. Shavon Jones, a member of the Brigade Troops Battalion personnel office and a four-month

Article and Photos by Sgt. John Ortiz Public Affairs NCO

member of the color guard team.

“I felt important, especially when all the people started clapping for us. It was a great feeling leading the parade,” said Jones.

Even though the team made it look easy, “just like in Hollywood,” in reality, the team practiced every day for close to four hours, rehearsing all the commands and movements used by the color guard team.

“It’s a lot of hard work and practice,” said Sgt. Denorris Cloudy. “You can’t just get up there and expect to perform.”

“We practiced hours on end to make sure our timing was perfect because a lot of things

Sgt. John Freiberger of the 4th Susttainment Brigade’s Color Guard helps dress Pfc. Adam Casey with an Ascot minutes before the start of the Dallas Veterans Day Parade.

The 4th Sustainment Brigade’s Color Guard team led the charge at the Dallas Veterans Day Parade.

need to be worked out,” said Cloudy. “Togetherness is the key element for the color guard.”

Driving to Dallas the day before, the team took a practice walk through the parade route, getting familiar with land marks and the different streets the parade

would wind through.

“We wanted to get it in our minds how far we had to walk,” said Cloudy. “We originally thought it was going to be a lot harder, especially after we took the practice walk. But it turned out to be easier, because there was no traffic.”

As the team led the parade in front of the Dallas City Hall, the crowd of hundreds cheered, yelled, and clapped as the announcer said the 4th Sustainment Brigade name, making the members of the team feel grateful.

“Marching down the street, people didn’t know who we were but they were cheering and just applauding us,” said Cloudy. “It was a great feeling.”


Making-A-Difference at Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School

Article by Sgt. 1st. Class Erick Ritterby & Capt. Audrey Bledsoe4th Sustainment Brigade

TEMPLE, Texas – On Make-A-Difference Day, the 259th Movement Control Team dedicated their time by volunteering at the Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School on Oct. 23. Six Soldiers from the 4th Sustainment Brigade, both enlisted and officer, volunteered to help.

“Our volunteer work included: pulling weeds, planting flowers, trimming plants, and improving their water drainage system,” said Capt. Audrey Bledsoe, Commander of 259th Transportation Company, 49th Movement Control Battalion.

Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through third grade in the Temple Independent School District.

“The school is located in a low-income area and operates on a small budget,” said Bledsoe. “It struggles to get supplies for its students and money to help keep the school area clean.”

To assist the school, Bledsoe’s battalion donated landscaping and gardening supplies as well as Soldiers to get the job done.

“The 259th MCT was proud to

FORT HOOD, Texas – The 4th Sustainment Brigade welcomed member the organization known as Temple Leadership to Fort Hood and the Wrangler area on Nov. 17. The current and future leaders from the local community got a chance to live a day in the life of an Army Soldier.

This event happens every year and allows Soldiers to showcase their daily activities and allow community members the opportunity to see a part of the military that they wouldn’t normally see.

Attendants got a tour of various locations on post and got a hands-on lesson about the weapons that 4th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers use. Some of the visitors included: accountants, doctors and business owners.

Temple Leadership Visit Wrangler BrigadeBy Sgt. Angiene Myers

Multimedia NCO

volunteer our time and supplies to help improve the appearance of our adopted school,” said Bledsoe. “This shows our ability to make a difference in our community.”

SGT Enright watered new flowers during the Meridith-Dunbar Make-A- Difference Day. Six Wrangler Soldiers from the 259th Movement Control Team volunteered their time to beautify the school grounds.


FORT HOOD, Texas – More than 150 Soldiers from the 53rd Quartermaster Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned to Fort Hood on Nov. 19. The 4th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for roughly 12 months.

Wrangler Soldiers from the company’s 1st platoon faced some unique challenges during their deployment in the Regional Command-South area of operation. When the platoon hit the ground last December at the Kandahar Airfield, they were the only gun truck security element operating in the area.

“We quickly earned a reputation for never dropping a mission and always being on time,” said Sgt. 1st Class Byron Mills, platoon sergeant.

An additional gun truck company did join the battalion as the Kandahar Airfield expanded with a troop surge in the area.

“We provided that new unit with expert training to include: proven battle drills, tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Mills. “In fact, observers from the 45th Sustainment Brigade were dispatched to record our platoon’s standing operating procedures so they could incorporate them throughout the entire brigade.”

53rd Quartermaster Company Returns From Afghanistan


Members of 1st platoon, 53rd Quartermaster Company touch shoulders before prayer. The touching of shoulders is a symbolic gesture performed before every convoy security escort mission that symbolizes a commiment to a cohesive team.

Pictured above are three of the six Purple Heart recipients from 1st platoon, 53rd Quartermaster Company, 533rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. By the end of their 12 month deployment to Afghanistan, 1st platoon had 34 combat action badge recient out of the 39 Soldiers that form the platoon. Left: Pfc. Jeffrey Wiedel. Center: Spc. Dana Osborne. Right: Pfc. Jose Garcis

Led by their platoon leader, 1st Lt. Tamara DaSilva, Outkast platoon logged more than 15,000 miles as they performed

convoy security for forward operating bases throughout the country.

“Our Soldiers were notably revered as one of the best convoy security escort teams based in Afghanistan,” said DaSilva. “They proved to be an invaluable asset to combat service support operations

throughout multiple regions.”

Mills credits the pre-deployment training at Fort Hood and the training they received in country for his Soldiers’ success.

“First platoon evolved into an effective convoy security provider as a cohesive team,” said Mills. “No one Soldier in our platoon is more important than the other.”

“Outkast platoon’s cohesive team approach to the execution of its mission serves as a model for other forward

deployed units to emulate,” said DaSilva. “Every mission had its unique set of circumstances and an ever-changing enemy threat associated with it.

First platoon’s accomplishments as a gun truck platoon while forward deployed are nothing short of extraordinary according to their top NCO. In late July 2009, 1st platoon was caught in a complex enemy ambush consisting of: multiple roads side bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, machine

guns, and small-arms fire.

“Their stringent training regiment was instrumental in the platoon’s ability to repel a complex enemy ambush with zero casualties,” said Mills. “First platoon left behind a legacy of excellence.”


FORT HOOD, Texas – The rain was relentless, but it was not enough to stop the people at Fort Hood from learning new ways to be safe this holiday season. The III Corps and Fort Hood Safety Day took place at the Clear Creek Post Exchange parking lot Nov. 20.

Safety officers and Soldiers from the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) helped sponsor the event.

“Eight weeks worth of planning and coordination went into this event,” said Army Maj. Darcy Manion, one of the project officers for the event from the 533rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

Manion, a support operations officer for her battalion counted more than 30 agencies that helped participate in this post-wide event.

The seasonal safety day was an all-day event which was opened to the public. Popular characters such a McGruff the

Wrangler Brigade Sponsors Fort Hood Safety Day


Crime Dog and Vince and Larry the Crash Dummies were on hand to help promote safety.

“The focus of this day was on seasonal safety,” said Manion. “It was aimed at giving our Soldiers, their family members, and everyone who lives and works here a moment to stop and really think about safety.”

Those people who braved the cold rain were given free child seat inspections and even replacements if they needed them. The Fort Hood safety day also provided: free boat inspections, police dog demonstrations, and rock wall climbing.

“Whether people are in the work place or participating in recreational activities, they need to know how to do them safely,” said Manion. “That is why we had such a variety of fun activities

lined up for the day; to promote safety.”

The family-oriented event also provided motorcycle displays and antique vehicles for those who attended, but some of the

largest crowd pleasers were the Jaws of Life demonstration and the Seat Belt Convincer.

The Jaws of Life is a hydraulic rescue tool used by emergency personnel to help them get crash victims out of small spaces within badly damaged vehicles, and the Seat Belt Convincer simulates a low-impact collision letting passengers experience the actual force generated during a 5-7 mph collision.

“Tools such as these can greatly impact the people’s views about wearing seat belts,” said Manion. “I want people to have these tools so they can lower the risks in their life.”

A Fort Hood Soldier learn how to properly inspect his vehicle at the III Corps and Fort Hood Safety Day which took place at the Clear Creek Post Exchange parkin lot. Safetly officers and Soldiers from the 4th Sust. Bde., 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) help sponsor the event.

More than 30 agencies helped participate in the III Corps and Fort Hood Safety Day, along with popular characters McGruff the Crime Dog and Vince and Larry the Crash Dummies were on hand to help promote safety.


FORT HOOD, Texas – Bearing the cold that has begun leaking into Fort Hood’s morning routine, 4th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers from five companies of the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion showed students of Temple’s Travis Middle School what it’s like to be in the Army.

On Nov. 24, members of the 289th Quartermaster Company, 263rd Maintenance Company, 96th Transportation Company, 53rd Quartermaster Company, and the 62nd Quartermaster Company volunteered to take part in the “Culture within a Culture” event with the battalion’s sponsored school.

Beginning around 8 a.m., the 132 students were ushered to a combatives pit where Soldiers showed them various techniques, and at one point, the large group that was huddling together got to witness a pushup contest between Soldiers and students. From there they went to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and had lunch in the Kieschnick Gym before rounding the day off with a chance to jump on and

Wranglers Give Students A Tour of Army LifeArticle by Pfc. Sean McGuire

Public Affairs Braodcast Specialist

learn about military vehicles such as the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle.

Travis Middle School has been the adopted school for close to three years, and 553rd CSSB really began making its

presence felt this school year.

“Our Soldiers volunteer to do this. We tutor students, help with hall monitoring, pass out books, go on field trips, and assist with science projects. We even pitch in at the cafeteria, and we helped with the school’s book fair last month,” said Sgt. 1st Class Andrien Tillman, a member of the 289th QM and school liaison. “The Soldiers are showing they care.”

“We’re here to give them the Army experience, to show them what it’s like to be a Soldier with: combatives, trying on our equipment, and checking out our vehicles,” stated 2nd Lt. Cecil Davis, a platoon leader for the 289th QM who oversaw the day’s events.

The student’s ear-to-ear grins and eagerness to try everything grew while they strolled through the

museum and marveled at what it had to offer. By the day’s end there was no lack of energy as the students bombarded various vehicles, blasted vehicle horns, started engines, and climbed up and down ladders.

“This was great. The kids absolutely loved it,” said Irene Diaz, a 6th grade Social Studies teacher at Travis Middle that attended the field trip with her class.

“This was an opportunity for the kids to see a different world,” Diaz added.

“Some students never get a chance to get out of their neighborhoods. The Soldier’s presence helps bring something positive,” concluded Diaz. Teachers can’t be the students’ only role models so having Soldiers, especially young men and women, gives them other role models.”

Spe. Joel Jasso, a motor transport operator for the 289th Quartermaster Company lets a Travis Middle School student turn on a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle during the “Culture within a Culture” event.

40 Soldiers from five different companies of the 533rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion show Travis Middle School students the ropes in a combatives pit during the “Culture within a Culture” event.


FORT HOOD, Texas – Senior leaders reported for duty on Thanksgiving Day. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the serving line, officers and non-commissioned officers from each unit within the 4th Sustainment Brigade wore their dress uniforms and waited on a crowd that stretched out the door at the Freeman Dining Facility on Nov. 26.

A leader serving his or her Soldiers on a holiday such as Thanksgiving is an Army tradition according to Lt. Col. John Hickey, 4th Brigade Troops Battalion commander.

“When we’re doing something special, leaders step back and take that opportunity to serve their Soldiers because we are servants of our Soldiers,” said Hickey.

It was a holiday feast fit for an Army. The plates were piled high with all the freshly carved trimmings to include: spicy shrimp cocktail, glazed baked ham, steamship round beef, garden vegetable salads, and sweet potato pie with whipped cream to name a few.

“The food was awesome,” said Sandra Frey, Army spouse. “It’s good to be with my husband this year because he was deployed last year.”

Frey’s husband is the top NCO in charge of the Wrangler Brigade, and her husband returned from a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May.

“It’s great having our family together,” said Frey. “This Thanksgiving was a real


Wrangler Families Counted Their Blessings On Thanksgiving

nice day for us.”

There was a lot to be thankful for especially at Fort Hood this Thanksgiving.

Sgt. Stephanie Carson serves with the 4th Sustainment Brigade and knows all too well the sacrifices Soldiers have to make during the Holidays. She has spent two of the last four Thanksgivings deployed overseas.

Senior officers and non-commissioned officers from the 4th Sust. Bde. wore their dress uniforms as they served Soldiers and Families during Thanksgiving at the Freeman Dining Facility.

“We do have a family environment over in places such as Iraq, and we do make the best of things while we’re over there,” said Carson. “But at the same time, there is nothing that compares to being at home.”

Fort Hood Soldiers such as Carson were counting their blessings on Thanksgiving. She was grateful to be together with her family this year even as

she reflected on her friends who are still deployed.

“I am praying for my friends in Iraq who are coming home soon,” said Carson. “And I am just so thankful that everyone will come home safe.”

More than 200,000 military families spent this Thanksgiving apart from their loved ones who are serving overseas this holiday season.

Soldiers were counting their blessings on Thanksgiving as they enjoyed a holiday fease fit for an Army. The 4th Sust. Bde. served Soldiers and Families ast the Freeman Dining Facility.


encompasses a lot of areas: whether it involves housing areas for single parents, hot and cold water problems in the barracks for single Soldiers, or even problems with dining facilities and gyms for geographical bachelors."

"BOSS is a program that can speed up the process of positive change," she said. "When Soldiers have genuine complaints that keep getting the run around, they can come to the BOSS program and the issue will get resolved quickly."

Meeting every first Wednesday of the month at the Phantom Warrior Center and third Wednesday at the NCO-Backbone Lounge at 1:30 p.m., the BOSS meetings are a chance to meet and greet with different unit BOSS representatives and a chance to make new friends.

"It's an awesome program," said Spc.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Tired, unsure, and generally anxious are a few emotions new Soldiers feel when they arrive at their first duty station. Hundreds of miles away from home, a few phone numbers in their cell phones, and universal uncertainly accompany a new Soldier as they inprocess an installation and receive unit assignments where they will spend the next two to three years of their Army life.

In order to help single Soldiers who constitute more than a quarter of the total Army force, the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program was established in 1989 to serve as a central focal point for off-duty activities.

In 1991, the Army expanded BOSS to encompass all aspects of single Soldier's lives, and later established recreation and leisure, well being, and community service as the core components of BOSS.

For the Fort Hood Installation BOSS President, BOSS is more than just another Army Program, it's a chance to take care of its members like a family.

"The program takes care of single Soldiers just like a family," said Spc. Kelli Harmon, a member of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and a Columbus, Ohio native. "The program provides activities to

Better Opportunities For Single SoldiersArticle and Photos by Sgt. John Ortiz

Public Affairs NCO

Spe. Time Hensen with the 3d Armoured Cavalry Regiment grasps a wooden box from Pfc. Nobel Mangual, a member of the 4th Sust. Bde. as he lies across a metal rope chains suspended above a pool of water during a Leader’s Reaction Course for the BOSS program.

Spc. Kelli Harmon, of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the Fort Hood BOSS President helps agroup out by lashing two wooden boards together with ropes and belt to help them cross over a pool of water during a Leader’s Reaction Course for the BOSS program

keep Soldiers engaged and keep them out of trouble."

"We are trying to raise awareness to gather more unit support," said Harmon. “So far it has been working. We went from having 15-20 Soldiers to having more than 60 at weekly events, and every month we continue to grow."

"But one of the biggest things preventing Soldiers from attending is they don't

know about the BOSS program," she said. "There is a breakdown in communication and units don't let their Soldiers know, but it’s a quick fix by having company leadership promote the program and letting their Soldiers participate in events."

Harmon added that Soldiers who participate in BOSS have a lower record of alcohol-related and disorderly conduct incidents. Six months into her service as the BOSS president, Harmon has never had an alcohol-related incident at any BOSS function where alcohol was served.

"The program helps out first sergeants and commanders because we try and keep Soldiers engaged in whatever we are doing; whether it's having fun or giving back to the community," she said.

Helping first sergeants and commanders have easier nights where their phone doesn't ring isn't just an added benefit. BOSS also helps improve the quality of life for single Soldiers, single parents, and even geographical bachelors.

"As the BOSS president, it’s my job to find out the quality of life our members have," said Harmon. "Quality of life

Sadia Quint, a member of the Regimental Support Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment and native from Napa Valley, Calif. "I never participated in the Fort Hood BOSS program till a few weeks ago when I was made the BOSS unit representative. But so far it has been a great and positive program and I am excited to be a part of everything."


For troops accustomed to serving on the ground, Thanksgiving Day was their day to be served.

Single soldiers and soldiers with families from the 4th Sustainment Brigade packed Freeman Cafe Thursday for Thanksgiving lunch.

The facility served approximately 500 diners with 330 pounds of turkey, 160 pounds of baked ham, 210 pounds of steamship round beef, 140 pounds of sweet potatoes, 54 pounds of shrimp, 150 pounds of mashed potatoes and 15 gallons of corn along with corn bread dressing. Similar size spreads were featured at nine other dining facilities across Fort Hood.

Despite the uplifting spirit of the season, the holidays can be a lonely, depressing time, especially for single soldiers stuck on post hundreds of miles from their families.

Spc. Andrew Hubbard had his spirits lifted Thursday when he saw his company commander, Capt. Jessica Gutierrez, serving him a dinner roll.

"That's our leadership and they are spending time away from their families to provide for soldiers," Hubbard said. "It

Article by Victor O’BrienFort Hood Herald

Dining Facilities Cheer Soldiers

Senior Leaders of the 4th Sustainment Brigade proudly served Soldiers Thanksgiving Dinner in the Freman Cafe in their dress uniform.

Wrangler Soldiers got into the spirit of the season by dressing up to celebrate the Thankgiving Day meal and to greet guests as the arrive at Freeman Cafe.

is inspiring to have leadership doing it from the top down to company levels."

Sgt. Mary McKoy, of the 13th Sustainment Brigade, relished the chance to serve her "teammates." McKoy prepped the kitchen and the foods Thursday for a staff of cooks that worked three shifts to make the massive meal happen.

"We always put our hearts into this meal, especially for people who are not able to go home. We try to make them feel as home as possible," McKoy said.

McKoy was thankful to serve, like many of the dining staff and officers who donned cooking hats and large smiles as they served meals. They remained grateful, despite being away from their own families.

"I always get to see my family. It's not always you get a chance to say thank you," McKoy said.

When the officers finished serving their soldier families, many dined with their families and or headed home to eat their home-cooked meals.

Lt. Col. John Hickey served candied yams, also his favorite, to his family of soldiers. Then he dined with his wife and two sons at the dining facility.

Having to serve his soldier family just means he gets more Thanksgiving than the average person, he said.

Hickey intended to celebrate Thanksgiving Friday as well with a home-cooked meal prepared by his wife.

Hickey wasn't about to let his wife miss the chance to serve Thanksgiving, he said. He wasn't about to let his soldiers miss out on a Thanksgiving meal Thursday either.


FORT HOOD, Texas – Just as the day’s sun began to rise, a crowd of Soldiers gathered around a helicopter pad overlooking an open field next to the Kieschnick gym as they watched a fiercely competitive tug-of-war match ensue. It was one of the final sporting events of the 4th Brigade Troops Battalion Commander’s Cup.

“We had commanders raising questions about how to make our physical training more challenging,” said Lt. Col. John Hickey, the 4th BTB battalion commander. “We wanted to do more than just slog along Battalion Avenue, so we came up with the Commander’s Cup.”

The week-long competition within the 4th Sustainment Brigade consisted of 12 events with nine companies each contending for the top prize – a custom-made, foot-and-a-half tall trophy with gold trim.

Wolfpack Soldiers Compete For The Commander’s Cup

Article by Capt. Ariana Roscoe and Pfc. Sean McGuire4th Sustainment Brigade

“It totally reset the mood within the Battalion when we got out there and did some of those goofy events,” said Hickey. “I was absolutely smiling from ear-to-ear the whole time as I watched the enthusiasm and spirit of the competition out there.”

The sporting events kicked off with a 1-mile guidon race where each company ran in a formation with their company flag held high. Alpha Company, with a team of about 30 Soldiers, led the way for over a half a mile before they were passed up by the battalion’s 259th and

80th Movement Control Teams.

“We had a time of 7:25 with no fallouts and ended up getting third,” said Spc. Paul Miller, a Signal Support Systems Specialist for Alpha Company. “It got really intense, but overall it was fun.”

The 418th Transportation Company eventually won the race.

“We came in first or second place in just about all the events,” said 2nd Lt. Miley Massed, a platoon leader for the 418th Transportation Company. “But the tug-of-war match was tough – I was near

An enthusiastic crowd for 4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers watched a fiercely competitive tug-a-war match ensue during the 4th BTB Commander’s Cup. The week-long competition consisted of 12 events with nine companies each battling for the top prize.

4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers gets his flag pulled off as he runs the football up the field during 4th BTB Commander’s Cup. The 418th Transportation Company took home the top prize, while Alpha Company took second place and 15th Finance Management Company came in third.

See CDR’s CUP Page 37


4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers competed in a guidon relay race as one of the culminating events for the Commander’s Cup. The significance of the guidon is that it represents the leader of the unit.

CDR’s CUP Continued from page 36

the middle of our rope line for that one.”

The Commander’s Cup had a lot of events for Soldiers to compete in to include: dodge ball, flag football, tire toss, weapons assembly, money counting, and even a push-up and sit-up competition.

“We won at push-ups, sit-ups, and one other event,” said Sgt. 1st Class James Lewis, a platoon sergeant for the 502nd Human Resources Company. “We also beat Headquarters and Headquarters Company in flag-football in our first game.”

But Lewis’ team was blown out in their second match.

“It was pretty entertaining,” said Lewis. “I played a little quarterback and wide receiver.”

4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers sprint to pick up dodge balls before the opposing team beats them to the toss during the week-long Commander’s Cup competition. Some of the other events included tire toss, weapon assembly, money coubting and even a push-up and sit-up competition.

Bragging rights were not the only reason why Hickey had his Soldiers

compete.

“The intent was to drive physical training and team work,” said Hickey. “I wanted Soldiers to focus on the competition aspect of physical fitness to help motivate them to be fit.”

The 418th Transportation Company took home the Wolfpack Battalion’s

Commander’s Cup. Alpha Company came in second, and the 15th Financial Management Company came in third.

“It was very gratifying for them. There was a sense of accomplishment for all the days put into that event,” said Massed.

4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers gathered around to watch as a fellow Wrangler compete in the tire toss event. This was one of many events that tested the Soldier physical strength during the Commander’s Cup.


664th Ordnance Company Return in Time For The Holiday

Article by Pvt. Amy M. LanePublic Affairs Specialist

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Just in time for Christmas, approximately 100 Soldiers from the 664th Ordnance Company returned home to Fort Hood Dec. 23 after a year-long deployment to Iraq.

The Soldiers received a warm welcome from an auditorium full of family and friends at the Kieschnick Gym that evening.

“It’s amazing to have my wife back just in time for the holidays,” said Zach M. Mclaughlin, who came out to greet his wife, Spc. Christian Petty.

“We have no special plans for Christmas; we just want to be together for the holidays,” said Mclaughlin. “We just want to get back to our normal life. It was a very long and difficult year without her.”

The Ammo Dogs, as the 664th is known, were conducting ammunition supply missions during their time in Iraq. They were scheduled to return on Dec. 22 but at the last minute, their homecoming was rescheduled for a day later.

Nichole R. Avera came out to greet her husband, Spc. Matt Avera, with their two children, Madison and Jordan.

“I’m so excited because we never got to spend a Christmas together as a family“, Avera said. “We got married and then he got deployed two weeks later.”

Avera said the family plans to spend Christmas with another military family whose father just returned from deployment. “We’re

just going get together and to make it a warm holiday, do it the best that we can.”

It has been a rough year without her husband, Avera said. “I’ve been stressed a lot but I definitely found out that I’m really stronger than I sometimes think I am. But that’s part of being an Army wife sometimes. I love being an Army wife and you gotta do what you gotta do. I knew what I was getting into when I married him.”

The couple’s two children, Madison, 7 and Jordan, 5 were excited to show their father how much they grew and learned over the year that he was gone.

Jordan wanted to show his father that he can spell his name. “And I learned how to spell big words,” said Madison. “Jordan can’t yet because he’s only in kindergarten.”

“I can‘t even tell you how excited I am that we will be together as a family this Christmas,” their mom said.

Soldiers of the 664th Ordnance Company returned to Fort Hood in time for the holidays after a year-long deploymeny to Iraq.

A Wrangler Soldier embraced his loved ones after a breif ceremony. 664th returned to Fort Hood from a year-long deployment just in time for the holidays.


FORT HOOD, Texas – For the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) a unit that spent last year’s Christmas deployed, the meaning of the term ‘Home for the Holidays’ took on a whole new and more powerful meaning this year. The Wrangler Brigade seized its opportunity to celebrate this Christmas by taking part in and heading up Santa’s Workshop for Fort Hood.

The Santa’s Workshop and its volunteers work year-round, gathering funds and donations from countless organizations and companies all across the state of Texas, in an effort that culminates into eight days of giving Soldiers toys so they can give their children the joy of Christmas. The Wrangler Brigade played a big part from both sides.

4th Sust. Bde. Soldiers were on stand-by throughout the brigade’s time sponsoring Santa’s Workshop, providing help at any time needed. Whether it was buffing the floors or swooping in on a moment’s notice to fix computer issues, Wranglers just got it done.

“They were great. We called them one day when we were having problems with our computers and within the hour they

Santa’s Workshop Delivers a Wrangler Christmas To Fort Hood Families


were here fixing it,” said Jackeline Fountain, a liaison for the Santa’s Workshop and retired Command Sergeant Major, who has a daughter currently deployed to Afghanistan.

Over 1,300 families were provided with gifts for over 3,000 children of Soldiers at Fort Hood – 130 of these were Wrangler families.

“It was an opportunity for our Soldiers who couldn’t afford to provide for their children during Christmas,” said Sgt 1st Class James Yuras, a Command Financial Specialist for the Wrangler Brigade. “I sat down with each of them and worked out a budget to see if they truly were in need and gave them an option if they did.”

Soldiers would come in, grab a cart, and go row by row searching for a set-number of gifts for their children. To help keep the spirit of Christmas intact, children

were not allowed in the toy shop.

“If families absolutely had to bring their children, we’d pull them to the side and play with them, trying not to let them see what their mom and dad were doing. And we’d try to cover up the toys as they’d get done,” said Sherri Visser, Santa’s Workshop President,

whose husband is deployed to Iraq.

Families could find books, sporting equipment, and games in the workshop.

“People came in here and cried. They had no clue what they were going to do for Christmas,” said Visser. “We’re trying to bless the Soldiers and their families, and it ended up that we were the ones being blessed.”

With so many Fort Hood Soldiers deployed and making it back in time for the holidays, the volunteers at the Santa’s Workshop always know who they’re doing it for.

“It’s all about making our Soldier’s lives so much better,” said Fountain.

A few of the 75 volunteer gatheres and enjoyed a home cooked meal at their volunteer appreciation luncheon the day after the final gifts were delivered.

Families could find, sporting equipment, and games in the workshop. Gift made their way to more than 1,300 Fort Hood families.

Oct. - Dec. 20091st Qtr/FY 10FORT HOOD, Texas – Funeral

detail teams from the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade gathered at the Abrams gym Dec. 18 to show off their skills and compete for the right to be known as the best team in the unit.

“The teams kept bragging about who was better so we decided to set up a competition to see which team is the best of the best,” said Master Sgt. Tim L. Oney, who organized the contest and acted as one of the three judges.

Ten teams demonstrated their skills and competed for first, second and third place trophies.

Spc. Christopher L. Reinhardt, a

553rd CSSB Displays a Special Kind Of Teamwork

Article by Pvt. Amy M. Lane Public Affairs Specialist

mechanic with the 263rd Maintenance Company, was a member of one of the competing teams. He has been doing the funeral detail for about six months, and said it’s all about practice and teamwork.

“Every time we go out for a funeral, we go out with the same eight-man team,” said Reinhardt. The teams are on a rotation so each group takes a turn when calls come in for funerals.

Reinhardt said the skills are not hard to learn but it does take a lot of time and practice. “Between funerals

we do rifle drills, and practice folding the flag and carrying the casket. We work on it every single day. Getting our timing right is really the biggest hurdle.”

The competition was a chance to show off their skills and display the teamwork involved.

“I think we did a really good job today. It was a learning experience for me and everyone on the team,” said Reinhardt. “It takes a lot of discipline to get this right.”

The 553rd CSSB provides military funerals for eligible veterans in 17 Texas counties. They have done over 300 funerals in the last six months, Oney said. “We provide 9 different types of

The 533rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion provides military funerals for veterans in 17 Texas counties.

funerals, from graveside to full honors. Whatever the family asks for, that’s what they will get.”

Specialist ChristopherL. Reinhardt ensures the fkag is folded perfectly during the 533rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion’s funeral detail competition at Abrams Gym.

Reinhardt volunteered for the funeral detail this time, after previously being assigned to it.

“It means a lot to me to be able to do this. It’s an honor to serve my country and an opportunity to pay my respect to the fallen veterans and their families,” said Reinhardt. “It’s a chance to honor those who have gone before me.”

Ten funeral detail teams competed for trophies awarded to the best 3 teams at the 553rf Combat Sustainment Support Battalion’s funeral detail competition.


A dense fog hung over the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery Saturday as dozens gathered to pay homage to the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans by hanging wreaths ahead of the holiday season.

Vets, Fort Hood Pay Homage Leading Up to Holiday Season

Article by Dave LarsenSentinel Editor

Holiday wreaths decorated the graves at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Dozens attended the “Wreath Across America” ceremony honoring the sacrifices of American veterans.

Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, deputy commanding general III Corps, and Command Sgt. Major Arthur L. Coleman Jr., III Corps’ senior noncommissioned officer, place the Army wreath during the “Wreath Across America” ceremony at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetary. The solemn ceremony was mirrored at more than 400 veteran cemeteries across the country.

“Wreaths Across America” is a national effort spearheaded locally by the Disabled American Veterans W.R. Hold Chapter 147 from Killeen. Retired Sgt. Maj. Theron L. Johnson the commander of the local DAV chapter said wreaths were being placed at more than 400 veterans cemeteries across the country.

“This is our third year running the event here,” Johnson, who retired from Fort Hood in 1970, said. “It’s a nice way to remember, honor and teach.”

The solemn ceremony was also attended by Congressman John Carter,

District 54 Texas State Representative Jimmie Don Aycock and Killeen Mayor Timothy Hancock. All three made brief remarks lauding the contributions of veterans, past and present.

“We cannot keep reminding ourselves enough of those who sacrificed on our behalf,” Carter told the audience. “With the holidays approaching, today we count our blessings and thank those who have gone before us.”

The first wreath, dedicated to the Army, was laid by the III Corps and Fort Hood command team, represented by Brig. Gen. William F. Grimsley, deputy commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur L. Coleman Jr., the corps’ top noncommissioned officer. Grimsley will assume command of III Corps’ rear detachment when the unit deploys early next year. More wreaths followed for each military service, prisoners of war and

those missing in action and several area veterans organizations.

“I wish we’d see more young people out here,” Johnson said, referring to his organization’s hope to teach the value of freedom to future generations. “They need to understand that freedom isn’t free.”

The youngest participants of the ceremony came from the 4th “Wrangler” Sustainment Brigade. The unit provided an honor guard for the ceremony – a color guard to open and close the event and a seven-member firing squad whose 21 volleys to the bugle call “Taps” paid the final honor to those resting here. Their NCO said supporting the ceremony was a small way to give back something to the local community.

“We all volunteered to be here,” Sgt. 1st Class Dawn Spradley noted because of the event. “Most of our Soldiers were deployed last Christmas and it means a lot. It’s nice to support the veterans because they appreciate it so much.”

“It’s important for us to keep connected and not forget the sacrifices made in the past,” Command Sgt. Maj. Erik Frey, the Wrangler Brigade’s senior NCO, said. “This is my first assignment to Fort Hood and the Killeen area. I’ve never seen better community support (of the Army) than what I’ve seen here.”


More than 350 Soldiers from the 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, gathered at the Fort Hood Stadium on Friday to watch their leadership get vanilla cream pie smashed into their faces from junior enlisted Soldiers during the Wolfpack Battalion’s Pie-In-Face fundraising event.

Soldiers paid for leadership to get pied. During each round the officer or non-commissioned officer with the most

bids would get pie smeared into his or her face by an a highly enthusiastic Soldier.

“It was so fun seeing it all happen,” said Spc. Marla McDill, a battalion personnel clerk.

The lively event also helped to further unite the battalion in a special

Wolfpack Leaders Get Facials To Raise Funds For Soldiers


way. “I am new to this unit, and I’ve never seen these kinds of things happen for Soldiers. I’m excited to be here because I can see they do a lot of fun things for us,” McDill said.

The battalion raised $1,287 for their brigade’s annual holiday ball and for battalion social activities.

“We put a high value on events that bring Soldiers together in a safe and positive way,” Lt. Col. John Hickey, commander, 4th BTB, said.

“I want to show our Soldiers that we care about them. All of the funds we raise go directly to activities for our troops and their families,” Hickey said.

The battalion commander and his command sergeant major, Paul Coleman,

were the most senior of the leaders to graciously receive a pie. Three company commanders and a staff officer were pied, along with two first sergeants, and one major.

The Soldier’s faces were bright with joy and motivation

Command Sergeant Major Paul Coleman (right), senior noncommissioned officer with 4th BTB, smiles in anticipation as he’s taunted before taking a pie in the face during the Wolfpack Battalion’s fundraiser.

Maj. Robert Morris, commander of the 502nd Human Resources Company, shows his spirit after getting a pie smashed in his face during the Wolfpack fundraiser.

The smile of Command Sergeant Major Paul Coleman, top NCO for the 4th BTB, vanaishes under a thick layer of cream. Battalion leaders took one for the tean during the charity event.

to see their own leaders take one for the team in good spirit.


The Wrangler Holiday Ball Celebrate The Season In Style

Article by Sgt. Angiene MyersMultimedia NCO

Movie star Vince Vaughn and director Peter Billingsley crashed the 4th Sustainment Brigade’s holiday ball. The stars greeted Soldiers along with Command Sgt. Major Erik R.R. Frey on the recieving line before heading inside to check out the festivities.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Club Hood was set to be a memorable occasion for the Soldiers of the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) as they celebrated with a holiday ball on Dec. 17. Soldiers and their guest walked into a well decorated

See HOLIDAY Page 44

Soldiers and their guests dance at the 4th Sust. Bde. Holiday Ball. A local DJ provided dance music following the opening speeches, skits and dinner. Photo by Pvt. Amy Lane.

ballroom in high spirit, for a night of festivities and good food. With units under the Wrangler brigade constantly deploying and redeploying, the holiday ball gave Soldiers the opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of their fellow unit members and loved ones in a relaxed environment. “I think anything that can get folks together to kick back and have fun is great,” said Tish Hickey, wife of the Brigade Troops Battalion commander. “We’re a nation at war so anytime we can come together, enjoy life and celebrate

the great things they’ve done as a Wrangler team is truly great.” “The event is a morale booster. We get to see our NCOs hit the dance floor but at the same time we come together in unity as we’re supposed to,”

said Sgt. Maria Gooding of the 157th Quartermaster Company. “We get to see our leaders, not just as Soldiers, but as actual human beings that can cut a rug just like us.” The theme of the night was the Year of the NCO which paid tribute to the noncommissioned officer corps by

highlighting the lineage of the NCO and the significant roles they played throughout military history. The guest speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur Coleman Jr., III Corps Command Sergeant Major applauded NCOs for their dedication to continuously being the “backbone of the Army” as he addressed the crowd. “A system is not a system until a noncommissioned officer is in charge,” said Coleman. The commander of the 4th Sustainment Brigade, Col Ronald Kirklin said he wanted to make an impact with this event for his Soldiers and their families. “I wanted everyone to take fellowship with each other from this event,” said Kirklin. “They’ve been doing a great job supporting the unit and each other and I wanted everyone to have fun and relax.” “I think our Wrangler Pride is spreading and that is one of the things


HOLIDAY Continued from page 43

4th Sust. Bde. commander, Col. Ron Kirklin raises a boot filled with sand from Iraq and Afghanistan

Soldiers perform a skit in which Santa’s Elf Platoon gets smoked at the 4th Sust. Bde. Holiday Ball.

that I wanted to do upfront, not only me but the Command Sergeant Major and I, our goal was to spread that pride throughout this organization, and as we can see at this event, it’s definitely there,” Kirklin continued. A lot of hard work went into preparing this event for the Soldiers and their guest and it showed. Members of the holiday ball committee worked diligently right up to the day of the event so Soldiers could experience a night of fun with their loved ones. “I think the emphasis on Soldiers make sense. It’s the Soldiers that are really the strength of our Army, and they’re the strength of the Wrangler

Brigade as well,” said Tish. “So we need to provide for their needs and serve them. We need to show that we appreciate them and that we are here because of them.” “Everyone played an integral part in the success of the holiday ball. As with anything dealing with the military, it takes team work,” said 2nd Lt. Tasha Akins, Brigade S1 Strength Manager. “We all pulled together and made it happen and I’m excited about the results. I feel honored and

privileged to be a part of it, and we need to continue to do things like this in the future.” “I really enjoyed the meaningful parts of the night such as the table display for the fallen and the slideshow – they were all very special,” said Jennifer Jackson. The ball came to a close with a local DJ spinning the latest dance hits as everyone dance the night away. The Wrangler holiday ball included: a punch bowl ceremony, unit skits, dinner and music. “The Soldiers made this a success because they enjoyed themselves and that’s what I really wanted to see as a commander,” said Kirklin. “I also wanted to see the families enjoying themselves and they did. The entire Wrangler team made this event a success.” “I hope our Soldiers have a happy and very safe holiday season, and they enjoy their families and each other,” concluded Kirklin.


Moss kept his remarks brief by thanking God, his family and friends and the Battalion commander. Moss closed by simply stating that all policies and procedures are still in effect.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Capt. Rigo Valdez transferred command of the 602nd Maintenance Company to Capt. Kirk E. Moss in a change of command ceremony Dec. 15 at the company's motor pool.

Moss' wife, Patricia, and parents Robert and Evelyn Moss and Valdez' wife Chastity and son, Elias were present at the ceremony. Moss, who is originally from Austin, Texas, graduated from the University of Houston. He and his wife have two children.

After being commissioned through OCS as a second lieutenant, Moss began his service in the 58th Maintenance Company at Fort Bragg, NC. He also served at Fort Lee, VA, followed by Camp Castle, Korea. His most recent assignment was with the 4th Sustainment Brigade as the movement control officer.

Lt. Col. Matt G. Melvin, commander, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion spoke after the traditional

602nd Maintenance Company Changes Command

Article by Pvt. Amy M. Lane Public Affairs Specialist

exchange of the unit guidon. He welcomed Moss' wife Patricia into the Leopard family.

"We couldn't succeed without your support," Melvin said.

He also thanked Valdez for his 30 months of command, including a 15-month deployment in Iraq.

"Captain Valdez, I know you are proud of your Soldiers and the great work they have done. But it's time to say goodbye," Melvin said.

Valdez spoke of how he could not have been successful without his Soldiers and NCOs.

"To the Soldiers of the 602nd, I would like to thank you for all your hard work and dedication," said Valdez. "There was never a task that you could not accomplish. Thank you."

Valdez also thanked the family members of the soldiers.

Capt. Kirk E. Moss assumes command of the 602nd Maintenance Company as he stands in front of his formation for the first time at the change of command.

Capt. Rigo Valdez hands the Company Guidon to Lt. Col. Matt G. Melvin, commander, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at the change of command ceremony.

Capt. Kirk E. Moss assumes command of the 602nd Maintenance Company as he stands in front of his formation and his First Sergeant for the first time at the change of commande ceremony.


FORT HOOD, Texas – The 154th Transportation Company safely brought home the best Christmas gift to their loved ones. The 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade unit returned from a year-long deployment in Iraq on Dec. 26.

Eager to be with their families, the Soldiers filed into the gymnasium through a cloak of fog at the Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center as their family members cheered them on.

“He is very brave to do what he does, and we are so happy that he is home,” said Nanette Biggers, whose husband is a staff sergeant in the 154th Trans. Co. “His coming home is the best Christmas

Santa Claus Delivered Soldiers Home For Christmas


The commander of the 4th Sust. Bde., Col. Ronald Kirklin addressed the returning Soldiers before they were released to their families at the Kieschnick Physical Fitness Center.

present we could get.”

Now that the unit is home, the 154th Trans. Co. will be responsible for transporting equipment and supplies throughout Fort Hood, and they will also provide installation-wide asset support.

“Our guys and gals did great things while deployed, and now that we’re home we are going to keep up that pace,” said Capt. Aldric Martin, commander,

154th Trans. Co. “I look forward to the great things we’re going to do here, and we are fully committed to supporting the fight.”

wrangler magazine (1st qtr fy 10)

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