7th Transportation Battalion dons combat patches in ceremony

By Capt. Christopher Garrett
7th Trans. Bn.

	Photo by Capt. Yutaro Hosaka, 1st Sustainment Bde. PAO Spc. Frankie D. Williams, 7th HHD Supply noncommissioned officer, places a patch on Spc. Vicente Alcaraz during the 7th Transportation Battalion ceremony on June 30.

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The Soldiers of the “Orient Express” 7th Transportation Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) received their unit wartime shoulder sleeve insignia on their right sleeve in a ceremony June 30.
Since it’s arrival here, the 7th Transportation Battalion has taken command of a Joint Logistic Task Force consisting of active duty and National Guard Army and Air Force units and over 1,100 Soldiers and Airmen. The JLTF 7 has played a significant role in the responsible drawdown of forces from Iraq.
During the ceremony, the 1st Sustainment Brigade commander, Colonel Flem B. Walker, Jr. placed the 82nd Sustainment Brigade patch onto the right arm of battalion commander, Lt. Col. Alfredo M. Versoza, who placed the patch on the right arm of his Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander, Capt. Rhonda Booth. First SB Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel A. Rivera placed the 82nd SB patch on the right arm of Command Sgt. Maj. Bernard P. Smalls, the battalion’s senior noncommissioned officer. Command Sgt. Maj. Smalls Sr., then placed patches on the right arms of each squad leader and they placed the unit’s patch on the right shoulder sleeve of each member of the squad.

In his closing remarks, Versoza said, “Ten years from now, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I guarantee that you will show your son or daughter or spouse your old uniform — a little dusty, perhaps and worse for wear. You’ll point at the right shoulder and tell your loved one, “I served my country in time of war.”

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