Military transportation commander visits Sembach

During a recent visit to U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, Air Force Gen. William Fraser, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, visited the 598th Transportation Brigade at Sembach Kaserne.

Fraser met with brigade staff and received operational updates as part of his command tour of logistics and transportation nodes in U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command areas of operation.

“We are honored to have the general visit us here,” said Lt. Col. Kurt Kehoe, brigade executive officer. “The entire brigade has been extremely busy with consolidating our headquarters and keeping the mission of support to EUCOM and AFRICOM.”

Officers from the brigade, part of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, updated Fraser on European and African operations that support EUCOM and U.S. Africa Command. Fraser, in turn, provided feedback on his recent visits with the 838th and 839th Transportation Battalions, units that support Operation Enduring Freedom.

“It was important to hear his views of how the strategic picture links together,” said Lt. Col. John Gallagher, the 838th commander. “The missions that the brigade and both battalions are performing are making it possible to carry out our national
foreign policy and military strategy.”

The 598th Transportation Brigade headquarters recently relocated from The Netherlands to U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern. Fraser and his staff toured workspaces recently renovated by the garrison and talked with staff members.

“This was a very important visit for the brigade and its workforce,” said Col.

Matthew Redding, the 598th commander. “The general and his staff helped us better understand the many challenges we will face in coming years.”