66th Trans. Co. supports deploying units

The 66th Transportation Company is the unit to call when preparing to deploy. The Soldiers of 1st Platoon, 66th Trans. Co., 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, have been responsible for conducting the In-theater Staging Area missions for numerous units preparing to deploy from the Kaiserslautern, Baumholder, Heidelberg and Wiesbaden communities.

The ISA team is responsible for ensuring units’ equipment, containers and vehicles pass inspection and are cleared for onward movement to Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. Since August, the team has conducted ISA operations for the 470th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 184th Artillery Regiment, 28th Infantry Regiment and the 24th Forward Support Battalion.

Most recently, the 66th Trans. Co. has been conducting rail load operations in support of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 40th Engineer Battalion, and the 1-48 Field Artillery Regiment’s left behind equipment moves to locations throughout Europe in support of those units’ deployments to Afghanistan. The railhead movement of vehicles began Jan. 25 and continued through Feb. 10, completing the first of three phases of the operation.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Weldon, the 1st platoon sergeant, 66th Trans. Co., said he was proud of his Soldiers and the mission they accomplished.

“Conducting ISA operations requires teamwork and maintaining positive attitudes especially when you work such long hours in cold weather,” Sergeant Weldon said.
In just over five weeks, the platoon was responsible for the loading of more than 104 vehicles at a combined weight of more than 1,600 tons of equipment, he said.
“After a hard day’s work, it’s good to look back and see the accomplishments the Soldiers have made,” said 1st Lt. Ralph Mora III, the 1st platoon leader, 66th Trans. Co.