Transportation Corps recognizes its best

FORT LEE, Va. - The U.S. Army Transportation Corps conducted their annual regimental honors ceremony May 1 at Wylie Hall on Fort Lee, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Drushal, chief of transportation and commandant, U.S. Army Transportation School, recognized the Deployment Excellence Award 2017, top officers, warrant officers, NCOs, Soldiers and civilians of the year as well as conducted the investiture of the honorarys of the regiment and 2018 Distinguished Members of the Regiment.

"The lineage of our corps and the reason our transportation corps reputation is so storied and respected is because of individual like these (recognized today)," said Drushal. "Our Soldiers embody the transportation corps with professionalism, excellence and service to their country. We remain highly respected because of the commitment to serve something larger than themselves."

During the ceremony, the general recognized the following as honorarys of the regiment: Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Kathleen Gainey; Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment, Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) John Kressley; Honorary Warrant Officer of the Regiment, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (ret.) Patrick Deck; and Honorary Civilian of the Regiment, Army civilian (ret.) Hiram Simkins.

The "Best of the Best" award, officially called the 2017 Deployment Excellence Award, was given to the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), Camp Ederle, Vicenza, Italy. The deployment excellence award, instituted in 2000, recognizes units and installation transportation efforts that exceed the Army deployment standards.

The 2017 annual Transportation Corps winners were: Active Duty Officer, 1st Lt. Eugene T. Molisso, 84th Engineer Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Reserve Officer, Capt. Ryan A. Schlenker, 385th Transportation Battalion, Tacoma, Washington; Active Duty Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Maylynn H. Babauta, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Camp Henry, Korea; Reserve Warrant Officer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cleophus S. Wallace, 840th Transportation Battalion, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; Active Duty Noncommissioned Officer, Staff Sgt. Ioana-Star Wells, 11th Transportation Battalion, Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia; Active Duty Soldier, Spc. Anna M. Howard, 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Reserve Soldier, Ricardo Thomas, 840th Trans. Bn.; and Civilian of the Year, Sarah I. Kline, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Katterbach Army Airfield, Germany.

The Distinguished Member of the Regiment award, introduced in 1998, honors selected individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the Transportation Corps, and who, by virtue of prestige, status and experience assist in fostering regimental pride and esprit de corps.

The 2018 Transportation Corps Distinguished Members of the Regiment inductees were: Col. (ret.) Morris J. Hatcher; Col. (ret.) Robert M. Villalobos; Col. (ret.) Mark A. Westbrook; Chief Warrant Officer 4 (ret.) Lawrence L. Claflin; Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Colvin D. Bennet; Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Rodney D. Hobbs; Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Willie L. Jacobs; and Master Sgt. (ret.) Dedric J. Knox.

The ceremony was held as part of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command Sustainment Week branch day activities.