10th Trans Co receives Humanitarian Service Medal for Haiti mission

By Sgt. Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Bde., 3rd ID Public AffairsAugust 5, 2010

10th Trans Co receives Humanitarian Service Medal for Haiti mission
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - The Soldiers of the 10th Transportation Company were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal during a ceremony held at the Tominac Fitness Center in Hunter Army Airfield, July 28.

The Humanitarian Service Medal, which was established by President Ford per Executive Order 11965 in 1977, is awarded to any member of the United States military who distinguish themselves by meritorious participation in specified military acts or operations of a humanitarian nature.

On Jan. 23, the unit deployed to Haiti to provide support to the nation that was devastated by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck, Jan. 12. While there, they provided distribution support to Joint Task Force-Haiti and other designated government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Serving as part of 530th Combat Service Support Battalion, Joint Logistics Command-Haiti, the "Ghost Riders" drove over 110,000 miles and completed 627 missions in 120 days of continuous operations.

10th Transportation Company transported 56,000 short tons of cargo, 3,673 shipping containers and 862 pallets. The most significant accomplishment for the unit was the role they played in the World Food Program's early February surge operation, which led to the distribution of over 1,300 metric tons of food to two million Haitians.

The 10th Trans Co. Soldiers also proved instrumental to the United Nations' effort to relocate internally displaced citizens living in areas at high risk for flooding; moving over 2,400 Haitians and their personal possessions to a resettlement site in just one week.

The unit's mechanics provided maintenance support to eight neighboring units, completed more than 45 work orders and acquired more than $115,000 in repair parts. The unit's cooks managed and operated two dining facilities, which ensured the timely feeding of more than 400 servicemembers daily.

During the ceremony, the 3rd Infantry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo and Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Andrew, 3rd ID command sergeant major, who are currently deployed, thanked the Soldiers for a job well done via a pre-recorded video.

"We just want to take this opportunity to let you know that on Jan. 23, when you were going wheels up with only 72 hours of notice, we knew that the right people were headed into Haiti to take care of all the folks that needed help," said Maj. Gen Tony Cucolo. "We were thinking about you then and we are thinking about you now. We are flushed with pride for the job you did. Nobody will remember the GP mediums or the sugarcane field that you lived in. Nobody will remember the 110,000 miles you drove. Though you were trained to take lives, no American Soldier wants to do that. We want to save lives, and you were given the opportunity to do that. We are so proud of you."

Brigadier General Jeffrey Phillips, 3rd ID deputy commanding general-rear, also commended the Soldiers of 10th Transportation Company for a job well done.

"We did not want the accomplishment of this team to go unnoticed," said the Stewart-Hunter senior commander. "We wanted to say 'thank you,' and we wanted to accord these Soldiers the recognition that they deserve and that they have earned."

He also went on to say that the U.S. Army does good wherever it goes, and that the unit, at the end of their four-month deployment, accomplished the mission of mercy and lived up to the Army's warrior ethos.

Captain Stephen Lambe, commander of the 10th Trans Co., said he was very proud of the resiliency of his Soldiers and, just as importantly, the Family Members.

When asked what they carried with them from Haiti, the Soldier unanimously said gratitude for making a difference, and gratitude for living in the United States of America.

Captain Lambe also thanked the Media embeds, Alice Mossimi, Drew Hunt and Dal Cannady for their support before, during and after the deployment.

The Media embeds who attended the ceremony were presented the Unsung Hero Award by Brig. Gen. Phillips and the 10th Transportation Company Chain of Command.