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MANNHEIM, Germany – Soldiers and leaders of the 51st Transportation Company bid farewell to Capt. Joshua T. Kerton, 51st Trans. Co. outgoing commander, and welcomed Capt. Wallace J. Johnson, 51st Trans. Co. incoming commander, during a change of command ceremony here Jan. 5.
The 51st Trans. Co. currently is assigned to the 28th Transportation Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, however, the company will fall under the command of the 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade starting tomorrow.
“You are the muscle that keeps our Army strong and the best in the world, and it has been my pleasure to serve as your company commander,” Kerton, said. “Some of my proudest days in the company have been seeing you promoted and rewarded for your hard work, and words cannot express how humbled I have been to serve with each and every one of you for the past 32 months.”
During Kerton’s command at the 51st Trans. Co., 15 months were spent deployed to Iraq, where the “Steel Knights” provided truck transportation and palletized cargo in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Kerton is now focused on moving to Fort Lee, Va., where he will attend the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, he said.
Johnson, who just returned from Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, with the 16th Sust. Bde. as the assistant operations officer, said he is looking forward to leading the Soldiers of the 51st Trans. Co.
“As I stood at the podium, I could hear my father’s voice saying, ‘Take care of those Soldiers for they are willing to lay down their lives for their country,’” Johnson said.
