841st Trans. Bn. Celebrates SDDC's 50th Anniversary

By Army Sgt. Denis Ortiz, 841st Trans. Bn.February 19, 2015

841st Trans. Bn. SDDC Anniversary Fun Run
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 841st Trans. Bn. participate in a SDDC 50th Anniversary "Fun Run" Feb. 12 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.. Unit commander, Lt. Col. Brian Memoli led the formation while Sgt. Phillip Pennington carried the 841st Trans. Bn. flag from ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
SDDC 50th Anniversary Cake
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
841st Trans. Bn. cuts SDDC 50th Anniversary Cake
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left to right, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Colen, Sgt. Lobsang Dhondup, Patricia Lambert and Lt. Col. Brian Memoli cut a decorative cake commemorating the Military Surface Deployment & Distribution Command's 50th Anniversary at Joint Base Charlest... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
841st Trans. Bn. Celebrates SDDC's 50th Anniversary
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Joint Base Charleston, S.C. - The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) officially kicks off its 50th Anniversary Feb. 20, and the 841st Transportation Battalion has joined the celebration with a few events of its own.

SDDC is responsible for military surface transportation, providing sea and land traffic management services to deploy, sustain and redeploy forces around the world, and has been doing so for over half a century.

841st Trans. Bn. non-commissioned officers organized a unit "Fun Run" and cake cutting ceremony to commemorate SDDC's 50th anniversary.

The Feb. 12 "Fun Run", led by 841st Trans. Bn. commander, Lt. Col. Brian Memoli and the unit's Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Colen, the run started at the unit's command headquarters and stretched across Joint Base Charleston, and back.

Organizers intended for the "Fun Run" to not only serve as a physical training opportunity, but also as a way to build unit cohesion while recognizing SDDC's anniversary milestone.

Festivities concluded with a cake cutting ceremony in which Patricia Lambert and Sgt. Lobsang Dhondup, both transportation assistants for the Battalion, joined Lt. Col. Memoli and Command Sgt. Maj. Colen in carrying out the honors.

Using a sword to cut the cake is steeped in military history. The cake is traditionally cut with a sword, as a reminder that Soldiers are a band of warriors -- committed to carry the sword -- so that our nation may live in peace.

Ms. Patricia Lambert cut the first piece of cake which was served to Sgt. Dhondup. The act of passing of the cake from the eldest to the youngest was meant to symbolize the passing of the rich military history and traditions which are at the heart of SDDC and the United States Army.

Related Links:

597th Transportation Brigade

Military Surface Deployment & Distribution Command

841st Transportation Battalion