Southport, NC—Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point was “born of need,” said Steve Kerr, deputy to the commander of the 596th Transportation Brigade, during a low-key ceremony conducted on the installation a few days before Halloween during the 2025 Government Shutdown.
While MOTSU started its operations on November 1, 1955, the U.S. Army was planning a new ocean terminal for more than a decade following a horrible tragedy at Port Chicago in Concord, Calif. which is a short drive from Oakland and borders waterways that feed into the Sacramento River and the San Francisco Bay.
On July 17, 1944, as a mostly African American crew loaded ammunition aboard the SS E.A. Bryan at the terminal, some of the munitions detonated, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring at least 390 others. After the disaster, 50 servicemen felt safety conditions had not been fixed and declined to go back to work. They were convicted of mutiny and the charges stood until posthumously overturned in 2024.
It was not hyperbole when Kerr said MOTSU was born of need.
Kerr, a veteran employee with 20 plus years at the terminal, further explained the Army needed an area where if another Port Chicago-like disaster were to occur there would be enough land between the port, local businesses and civilian housing to mitigate damage from an explosion.
MOTSU sits on the Cape Fear River downstream from Wilmington, NC with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. Since opening its doors, the terminal has supplied munitions to the warfighter through major conflicts from Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom all the way to current hostilities in Ukraine.
Kerr then read a proclamation from North Carolina Governor Josh Stein recognizing the vast contributions MOTSU has made to the state over the past 70 years.
MOTSU is run by the Army’s 596th Transportation Brigade, one of five brigades in the U.S. Army Transportation Command. Leading the “Ironclad” Brigade is Col. Russell Henry who approached the podium in his crisp pinks and greens retro brown officer uniform with a remorseful mea culpa.
“As many of you were aware, we had planned a much larger ceremony to be held in Southport on historic Fort Johnson with many distinguished visitors,” Henry said as he addressed the small audience.
Although the Government Shutdown and subsequent furloughs of civilian employees prevented a larger community-involved ceremony, Henry felt strongly that the history of MOTSU should still be honored.
“Since 1955, MOTSU has stood as a pillar of strength and (excellence) in support of our national security and national defense,” he said. “Today we honor the legacy, the people and the mission that has shaped this remarkable place.”
Though 70 years young MOTSU is due to change with the times. The brigade headquarters, pending U.S. Army approval, will relocate to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, WA in the summer of 2026 while the 832nd Transportation Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. Jennifer Dembeck has begun taking over operations at MOTSU. The battalion was assigned to the 597th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. A traditional Army reflagging ceremony took place during the celebration as Dembeck officially uncased the battalion colors and presented them to Command Sgt. Maj. Blair Pierce from the 596th Transportation Brigade to signify the transition.
It was fitting that a saber provided by Kerr that he had kept from his U.S. Military Academy at West Point days was used to cut a cake by Henry and Dembeck. Honoring those who had paved the way before as the 69 year-old Kerr will retire before the brigade transitions to Tacoma and in with the new. The “Terminal of Excellence” has seen it before and keeps rolling along.
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