KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Twenty one Soldiers of the 1177th Movement Control Team recently returned from a deployment and received Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen awards during a ceremony held in their honor April 18 at the parade field on Daenner Kaserne here.
The ceremony was an initiative of Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly, the former chief of the Army Reserve, to recognize the efforts of Reserve Soldiers who deployed.
The Kaiserslautern-based Army Reserve unit mobilized in February 2009 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 1177th MCT conducted missions for the 330th Transportation Battalion, 13th Sustainment Brigade (Expeditionary), and later transferred under the 49th Transportation Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade (Expeditionary) to support its missions.
To be able to perform the various missions, the movement control team was divided into smaller teams to help the sustainment of three operating bases across Iraq. Some of their missions included standing up the first commercial movement division and establishing movement policies and procedures. These small teams conducted various ground operations that resulted in the movement of more than 3,000 vehicles and approximately 30 super-convoys per month, ensuring the sustainment supplies for coalition forces in Iraq was met.
"My faith with the Lord, the support of my wife and my troop's determination to complete the mission gave me the strength to keep going while deployed," said Capt. Major E. Robinson, the commander of the 1177nd MCT and a native of Chicago. "My experience was rewarding, challenging and unforgettable. Our mission was to sustain the troops with supplies, fuel and food A,A!- making this a very unique mission."
All the Soldiers of the unit said the mission was an experience that helped improve their technical and tactical expertise.
Sgt. Carlton Williams, a native of Richmond, Va., and movement noncommissioned officer in the 1177th MCT, described his deployment as an experience where he was able to "practice numerous Soldiers skills."
"The separation from my husband was hard, but if it wasn't for the strong Family Support Group programs it would have been difficult to continue my day-to-day activities," said Christine Morgan, a native of Kitzingen, Germany, and wife of Sgt. 1st Class Willie J. Morgan.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the family members were presented awards for their untiring support.
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