No water, no problem
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Ervin Garcia, a Soldier assigned to Company A, 215th Brigade Support Battalion "Blacksmith," 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf," 1st Cavalry Division, provides a 20-pound bag of ice to families living on of the three Comanche Village housing com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
No water, no problem
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to Company A, 215th Brigade Support Battalion "Blacksmith," 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf," 1st Cavalry Division provide water to residents of one of three Comanche Village housing communities July 14 at Fort Hood, Texas. Soldie... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - Hours after returning from a training exercise in the field, one platoon received a change of mission.

Soldiers of the fuel and water platoon, Company A, 215th Brigade Support Battalion "Blacksmith," 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf," 1st Cavalry Division, worked to provide clean and potable water to residents of one of the Comanche Village housing communities and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, here, July 14 to 15.

Working on little sleep and ready to return home, the Soldiers were notified of the water shortage in the Fort Hood Community as a result of damage of a Belton Lake pipe which provides the bulk of water to Fort Hood.

Over the next 48 hours, the platoon provided 16,000 pounds of ice and 8,000 gallons of fresh water for drinking, cooking and bathing for the many families residing in one of the three Comanche Villages and more than 4,000 gallons of water to the medical center.

The platoon's mission was to provide water and ice to the families of the village and the Fort Hood Community, who were deprived of clean water during the shortage stemming from the Belton Lake pipe burst, said 2nd Lt. Rayan Somplasky, platoon leader of Company A.

Somplasky said the Soldiers were motivated to work and provide water and ice to those in need on post.

"I was impressed by how enthusiastically the Soldiers responded and how they were able to accomplish the mission despite just getting back from a field problem" Somplasky said. "It is truly a privilege to have such dedicated Soldiers who are willing to push through fatigue and pull together to help out those in need."

Another leader spoke on the perseverance of the Soldiers, "I was so proud to support the Fort Hood community," said Staff Sgt. Dravies Williams, a noncommissioned officer assigned to Company A. "My Soldiers executed their mission as they were leaving the field and provided water and ice to families."

"Our diligence in supporting the Fort Hood community was a great testament to what we do on a daily basis," said Spc. Ervin Garcia, a Soldier assigned to Company A. "Giving back to families in a time of need was inspiring. It felt great to see kids and parents smile."