USTRANSCOM Army element celebrates 225th service anniversary in high-fashion
The centerpiece event was the Army Ball. Over 250 attendees from each of the services and many other friends of the Army were witness to an event that many felt was the best in many years.
"The event was special because it was a unique opportunity to share a unique camaraderie with our sister services," said Army Col. Arlene Beatty, USTRANSCOM's public affairs officer.
Soldiers appearing in uniforms from all the periods of the Army's history, as well as a wide range of displayed memorabilia served as a rich backdrop for the evening events.
Memorabilia and uniforms were provided by the Gateway Military Historical Society.
"The Gateway Military Historical Society, a nonprofit organization, in St. Charles, Missouri was instrumental in making the ball a huge success," said Maj. Bill Howard, J-4 executive officer and event organizer. "Their intriguing displays of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam memorabilia were exceptionally outstanding and provided the ball attendees a glimpse of the Army's rich heritage."
Music was provided by the Resolute Ensemble from the 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eustis, Va.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the ceremonial caking cutting led by Col. Mark Henderson, assistant deputy director for logistics and business operations at USTRANSCOM. In an event that is often stolid, Henderson entered with the cake in a fashion reminiscent of a world title fight, complete with spotlight, music, and a dancing style that could be called --- well --- unique.
The night's keynote speaker, Army Lt. Gen. Daniel G. Brown, deputy commander in chief of USTRANSCOM, highlighted the Army values by relating the valiant efforts of Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon and Sgt. First Class Randall D. Shughart in Somalia in 1993, which led to both being awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.
The Army values using the acronym LDRSHIP are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
Gordon and Shughart were both assigned to the Sniper Team, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia during the United States' humanitarian efforts in the country.
They provided sniper fire from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires.
While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site they learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. They volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. They were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site.
Equipped with only sniper rifles and pistols, they fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach critically injured helicopter crew members. Gordon provided the downed pilot with five rounds of ammunition and the wish for "good luck."
Both fought to protect the perimeter until their ammunition was depleted. Both died in their valiant effort. Their actions saved the pilot's life.
The soldiers acted "not for glory, for soldiers," said Brown. The soldiers lived the Army values Brown added.
Over 400 runners participated in the Army 5K / 10K on a very warm morning. Air Force Capt. Christopher Bennett, from Air Mobility Command's Tactical Airlift Control Center, captured the top honors in the men's 10K with a time of 38:55. Maria Salaz, an Army family member, scored the winning women's 10K run with a time of 39:01.
In the men's 5K run, the winners were Christian Van Anderson in the men's category with a time of 19:45, and Lisa Cornell in the women's competition with a time of 24:16.
Steve Christy, with a time of 35:41 won the men's 5K walk while Paula Barfield-Hughes topped the women's field with a time of 43:34.
In an informal team competition, the Air Force edged out the Army to garner friendly bragging rights.
More than 70 golfers participated in a scramble tournament. First place went to, Mitchell Robinson, Steve Pierson, Ron Trimm; Second Place Keith Love, Scott Haller, Jim Ross, Lonnie McMinn; Third Place: Jim Green, Stephen Parker, Don Hemken, Dennis Reynolds. Winners received golf balls and gift certificates from the Pro Shop.
The final event, a ceremony held in the Seay Auditorium, focused on this year's theme Birth of an Army, Birth of Freedom. A Department of the Army video depicting the history of the nation, and how the Army is intertwined with every major event the country has seen, was shown to the over 200 guests.
At the ceremony, USTRANSCOM's Army Spec. Joshua Siegfried recited the Soldier's Creed followed by the recitation of the Non-commissioned Officer's Creed by USTRANSCOM NCO's Staff Sgt. Valerie Plummer, Sgt. Darrell Mears, and Staff Sgt. Sandra Charity.
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