Maj. Gen. Raymond Mason, the U.S. Army Forces Command logistics officer, talks to retired Lt. Gen. Kenneth Lewi, who commanded the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) from 1981 until 1983, during the 3d ESC's 60th Anniversary Ball March 24 at The ...

Command Sgt. Maj. Willie C. Tennant, Col. Jarrold Reeves, Private 1st Class
Katelynn Neely, Brig. Gen. Robin B. Akin and Master Sgt. Angel Ladaker, cut
the ceremonial cake during the 3d ESC's 60th Anniversary Ball on March 24 at
The Brown Hotel in Lo...

Brig. Gen. Robin Akin, the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) commander, presents the Order of Saint Martin to Col. Jarrold Reeves, the 3d ESC's deputy commanding officer, during the 60th Anniversary Ball March 24 in Louisville, Ky. The Order of ...

Brig. Gen. Robin Akin, the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) commander, presents the Order of Saint Martin to Master Sgt. Angel Ladaker during the 60th Anniversary Ball March 24 in Louisville, Ky. The Order of Saint Martin is presented to Soldie...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 24, 2011) - Soldiers and Families of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) gathered at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, Ky., March 24 to celebrate more than 60 years of support to the Army during the 3d ESC's 60th Anniversary Ball.

The ball was a chance for Soldiers and their Families to come together in a formal setting and honor the history and traditions of the command.

The 3d ESC was first organized in 1950 in Japan as the 3d Logistical Command in order to support the Korean conflict, according to the unit's history.

Two former commanders were at the ball: retired Lt. Gen. Kenneth Lewi, who served as the 3d Support Command (Corps) commander from June 1981 until June 1983, and retired Brig. Gen. Samuel Kindred, who served as the 3d Corps Support Command commander from July 1995 until October 1996.

"I was surprised to find [the 3d ESC] at Fort Knox," said retired Lt. Gen. Lewi.

The unit was based in Germany during retired Lt. Gen. Lewi's tenure as commander.

He explained that having subordinate units spread out all over the United States was the biggest difference from when he led the command.

During his time in command, all the subordinate units were consolidated in Germany, and he could visit them at any time, Lt. Gen. Lewi said.

Retired Brig. Gen. Kindred led the command during the conflict in Bosnia, and also said that things have changed since then, but one thing will always stay the same.

"Soldiers are Soldiers, and they will rise to the challenge," retired Brig. Gen. Kindred said.

The ball's guest speaker was Maj. Gen. Raymond Mason, the U.S. Army Forces Command logistics officer.

"Look at the 3d ESC colors," Maj. Gen. Mason said. "I'll tell you there are not a lot of logistics units with that many battle streamers."

Maj. Gen. Mason also served as the aide-de-camp for retired Lt. Gen. Lewi when he commander the unit in the early 1980s.

For Pvt. Craig Abel, a generator mechanic with the 3d ESC and Wenatchee, Wash., native, the ball was a chance to dress up and go out with members of the unit.

"I've always liked the idea of a more formal event," Pvt. Abel said.