129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion un-case colors after their return to Fort Campbell from deployment

Fort Campbell, KY – Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, uncased their battalion’s colors during a ceremony January 30th, 2020 following a nine-month deployment to Kuwait.

“The un-casing ceremony isn’t about me or the team that came back,” said Lt. Col. Eric Anderson, 129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion commander, as he spoke to family and friends in the audience.

“It’s important to thank the leadership that spent the nine months back here running the show while we were gone,” Anderson stated.

While deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve, “Lifeliners” Soldiers with 129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion “Task Force Hammer” provided uninterrupted transportation of supplies and equipment throughout Kuwait in support of U.S. forces from April – December 2019.

Taskforce Hammer touched nearly every piece of tactical sustainment materiel within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Whether that was supporting the draw down in Afghanistan, the re-alignment of forces and equipment in Syria, the redeployment of an Armored Brigade Combat Team, or enabling allies in Iraq.

The 129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion played a critical role in support of transportation, maintenance, supply and services supporting 1st Theater Sustainment Command and U.S. Army Central priorities.

Taskforce Hammer executed more than 2,100 transportation movements, totaling more than 665,000 miles driven; executed 14 port debarkation missions; transported hundreds of containers to supply points throughout Kuwait and the drawdown in Afghanistan.

During the deployment, members of the Tennessee National Guard reported to 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade to form a temporary command team for the battalion.

“We thank them for their service and dedication to the Soldiers that made the mission while sacrificing their normal day-to-day lives to sign up to be on active duty,” Anderson said.

Lt. Col. Kenneth Kearny, Tennessee National Guard, was the battalion commander during this time and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal along with 1st Sgt. Brian Goode, Tennessee National Guard, who served as the battalion command sergeant major.

“Saying good-bye was bittersweet,” Kearny said. “I’m going to miss this experience a great deal, but I’m thankful to have it none-the-less. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for a National Guardsman career.”