Soldiers of the 66th Transportation Company stand at parade rest at a furling of the colors ceremony at Kleber Kasern in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Soldiers of the 66th Transportation Company stand at parade rest at a furling of the colors ceremony at Kleber Kasern in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Spc. Marvin Reynolds holds the furled guidon of the 66th Transportation Company. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Sgt. Clayton Lewis of the 39th Transportation Battalion honor guard stands at attention at a furling of the colors ceremony. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Soldiers of the 66th Transportation Company salute during the playing of the national anthem. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
The 66th is heading to Iraq for its third deployment to the country. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — For the third time since 2004, Kaiserslautern’s 66th Transportation Company will deploy to Iraq.
The unit, based on Kleber Kaserne, held a deployment ceremony Thursday in front of friends, family members and fellow soldiers. About 140 soldiers will soon deploy to Iraq for 12 months where they will drive supplies throughout the country.
"The six-six legacy will be the history you make in Iraq in the coming year," said Lt. Col. Robert Curran, commander of the 39th Transportation Battalion. "It is an historic time in Iraq and the world — a time of transition as the Iraqi security forces and government agencies take hold and the Iraqi government takes control of their country. This also means the fighting six-six has a very busy tour ahead of it."
Once considered one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq because of ambushes and roadside bombs, driving the highways and byways has become less risky for the U.S. military as the overall security situation in the country has improved.
The 66th deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and then again from 2006 to 2007. Each time, the transportation unit saw its fair share of action. About 40 percent of the soldiers were with the unit for its last deployment, and between 10 percent and 15 percent of the unit’s soldiers will be deploying with the 66th for a third time.
"We’re motivated," said Capt. Christopher Brown, the company commander. "We’re looking forward to getting this mission going so, like the battalion commander said during his speech, we can show the world our warrior skills."
Spc. James Peterman will be serving his third tour in Iraq and second as a soldier with the 66th. While on a convoy mission with the company in June 2007, Peterman earned a Bronze Star with Valor after thwarting an enemy ambush. Peterman was manning a .50-caliber machine gun atop a Humvee when the attack occurred. The soldier took out several insurgents and marked enemy positions with his fire so close-air support knew where to strike.
Asked if he had his sights set on earning another Bronze Star, Peterman replied in the negative.
"No," he said. "I got a new soldier I’m training up to do that."
Just before the unit was dismissed from formation following the ceremony, the soldiers sounded off — loudly — with the unit’s motto.
"Raise up 66. Raise up," they barked. "Hooah."
