Quartermaster Soldiers New York-bound to Aid Citizens

By Stephen Baker
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee

FORT LEE, Va., Nov. 2, 2012 – Soldiers from an Army unit based here are on their way to New York City today to help pump water from flooded areas in support of recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Army Pfcs. 1st Class John Lopez and Kyle Lamb check the instrument panel of a fuel pump at the unit's motor pool on Fort Lee, Va., Nov. 1, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to the 108th Quartermaster Company, 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade, which is preparing to deploy to New York to aid Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. U.S. Army photo by Terrance Bell   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Twenty-four men and women from the 108th Quartermaster Company were called to action Nov. 1, and mobilized immediately.

 

The soldiers spent the day preparing and loading gear and supplies, including a half-dozen 350-gallon-per-minute pumps, fuel, food, cots and other items needed to keep the equipment and troops operational.

Army 1st Lt. Melanie Wells, the soldiers’ platoon leader for the deployment, said her unit is always ready for a humanitarian mission.

“They’re ready to help their fellow man,” Wells said of her soldiers. “They’re ready to get up there and see what they can contribute to help people get back in their homes.”

While the soldiers are scheduled to be deployed for one or two weeks, Wells said they are bringing enough supplies for up to two months of operations.

The 108th Quartermaster Company is organized under the 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade.