59th Quartermaster Company (United States)
| 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | 1941–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Type | Military logistics |
| Role | Provide bulk petroleum |
| Size | Company |
| Part of | FORSCOM |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Carson |
| Nickname(s) | Fuel Dogs |
| Patron | Saint Martin of Tours |
| Motto(s) | On Point |
| Anniversaries | 13 January 1941, Unit Constitution |
| Decorations | Meritorious Unit Commendation "VIETNAM 1966–1967"[1] Meritorious Unit Commendation "IRAQ 2004–2005" Meritorious Unit Commendation "Afghanistan 2011" |
| Battle honours | World War II Vietnam Iraq Afghanistan |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
The 59th Quartermaster Company is a bulk petroleum company[2] designed to provide semi-portable storage for 2.5 million US gallons (9,500 m3) of fuel and to provide distribution of fuel to military units within a specified geographic area while deployed overseas. Its secondary mission is to provide an armed military escort to military cargo and civilian trucks during overseas contingency operations. It is a U.S. Army Forces Command combat service support unit stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado under the command of the 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. The 59th has deployed overseas to Algeria, Italy, France, Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The 59th is the only bulk petroleum company in the Regular Army; all sister units are part of the Army Reserve as of 2011.
Service history
[edit]The unit was constituted into the Regular Army on 13 January 1941 as Company B, 240th Quartermaster Battalion[3] and composed of African-American Soldiers. On 15 February 1944, the unit was redesignated as the 3251st Quartermaster Service Company. During World War II, the unit served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and served during the Rome-Arno campaign, the invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon); the Rhineland campaign; the Ardennes-Alsace campaign; and the campaign in Central Europe. The unit was inactivated following World War II. It briefly served in Korea from December 1946 until July 1947 when it was redesignated from the 3251st to the 59th. From September 1950 until December 1957 the company served at Fort Lee, Virginia. The 59th deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and served until its inactivation in 1972. The 59th's latest period of service began in 1995 and includes service during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
World War II
[edit]_underway_in_Hampton_Roads,_Virginia_(USA),_on_4_July_1944_(80-G-235158).jpg)
After taking part in both the Louisiana and the Carolina Maneuvers, B Company deployed to Oran, Algeria in November 1942 in support of the Mediterranean Base Section.[4] In June 1944, the 3251st deployed to Italy in support of the 5th Army's Rome/Arno campaign. The 3251st was transferred to the 7th Army and remained under its command for the rest of the war. The 3251st[5] participated in Operation Dragoon in direct support of the 45th Infantry Division under the command of the 240th Quartermaster Battalion[6] and then supported the divisions of the 7th Army as they fought their way across France into Germany. The 3251st returned to the United States through the Newport News Port of Embarcation[7] aboard the AP-116 General Meigs[8] on 13 October 1945.
Vietnam
[edit]The 59th served under the 1st Logistics Command while deployed to Vietnam. The company operated the Army mortuaries at Cam Ranh Bay and Boa Loc.[9] In addition, the unit provided clothing reclamation and laundry services on those bases. During their service in Vietnam, the unit strength fluctuated between 297 officers and men and a low of 268 officers and men.[10]
Operation Iraqi Freedom
[edit]In 2003 the 59th deployed to Kuwait and various sites in Iraq to support the 3rd Infantry Division.[1] The Fuelmasters deployed again from October 2004 to September 2005 to support the 1st Corps Support Command.[1]
Operation Enduring Freedom
[edit]From May to November 2011 the 59th deployed 170 Soldiers to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan to conduct convoy security operations for logistics convoys.[11] The 59th initially fell under the command of the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 101st Sustainment Brigade and later the 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 10th Sustainment Brigade after the previous units rotated back to the United States.[12]
Current operations
[edit]The 59th is currently conducting operations in support of the 4th Infantry Division[13] and its brigade combat teams and other Fort Carson tenant units. In addition, the unit is providing hot (engine running) refuel services at Butts Army Airfield.[14][15] The airfield provides support to the US Army aviation units based at Fort Carson as well as transient aircraft from other services and bases.
Organization
[edit]The 59th Quartermaster Company is organized with a Headquarters platoon, three petroleum supply platoons, and a maintenance platoon. The 40th Quartermaster Detachment normally functions as part of the headquarters platoon.
Personnel
[edit]The 59th Quartermaster Company is authorized 225 Soldiers, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and officers. The two Soldiers composing the 40th Quartermaster Detachment (Petroleum Laboratory) are attached to the 59th for training, support, and disciplinary purposes. The 59th is composed of personnel from the Quartermaster Corps, Ordnance Corps, Signal Corps, Adjutant General Corps, Engineer Corp, and Chemical Corps.
- Enlisted Specialties
- 12N Horizontal Construction Engineer
- 25U Signal Support Specialist
- 42A Personnel Specialist
- 74D CBRN Specialist
- 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
- 91C Utilities Equipment Repairer
- 91D Power Generation Equipment Repairer
- 91E Allied Trades Specialist
- 91X Maintenance Supervisor
- 91Z Senior Maintenance Supervisor
- 92A Automated Logistical Specialist
- 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist
- 92G Food Service Operations
- 92L Petroleum Laboratory Specialist (40th Quartermaster Detachment only)
- 92Y Unit Supply Specialist
- Warrant Officer Specialties
- 923A Petroleum Technician
- 915A Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officer
- Officer Specialties
- 90A Logistics Officer (company commander)
- 92A Quartermaster, General
- 92F Petroleum and Water
Equipment
[edit]- SEE Truck
- HMMH Truck
- Fuel System Supply Point
- Assault Hoseline System
- M969 Fuel Tanker
- M931 Trucks
- M1151
- Medium Tactical Vehicles
- M998 Humvees
- Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles
- Maxxpro MaxxPro Armored Truck
- Common Remotely Operated Weapon System
- M2 Heavy Machine Gun
- MK-19 Automatic grenade Launcher
- M249 Light Machine Gun
- M16 Rifle
- M203 Grenade Launcher
- M9 Pistol
- Army Combat Uniform
- Army Combat Boot
- MultiCam
- Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System
- Army Combat Shirt
- Advanced Combat Helmet
- Improved Outer Tactical Vests
Campaign participation credit
[edit]| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
World War II 
|
Algeria-French Morocco Campaign | 1944 |
| Rome-Arno | 1944 | |
| Southern France (with Arrowhead) | 1944 | |
| Rhineland | 1944 | |
| Ardennes-Alsace | 1944 | |
| Central Europe | 1944 | |
Vietnam War 
|
Vietnam Defense | 1965 |
| Counteroffensive, Phase I | 1965–1966 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase II | 1966–1967 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase III | 1967–1968 | |
| Tet Counteroffensive | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase IV | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase V | 1968 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase VI | 1968–1969 | |
| Tet 69/Counteroffensive | 1969 | |
| Summer–Fall 1969 | 1969 | |
| Winter–Spring 1970 | 1970 | |
| Sanctuary Counteroffensive | 1970 | |
| Counteroffensive, Phase VII | 1970–1971 | |
Operation Iraqi Freedom.svg){kind=small}
|
Liberation of Iraq | 2003 |
| Transition of Iraq | 2003 | |
| Iraqi Governance | 2004 | |
| National Resolution | 2005 | |
Operation Enduring Freedom 
|
Consolidation III | 2010–2011 |
| Transition I | 2011 |
Unit decorations
[edit]| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 1966–1967 | Vietnam |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2004–2005 | Iraq |
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2011 | Afghanistan |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "59th Quartermaster Company". Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008. Official Lineage & Honors Certificate
- ^ Petroleum Doctrine at the Federation of American Scientists website
- ^ "240th Quartermaster Battalion (Petroleum Operating)".
- ^ On the Heals of the Assault Force, Captain William Foster, Jr. Q.M.C., The Quartermaster Review, March–April 1994
- ^ Service Units in the Combat Zone
- ^ "240th Quartermaster Battalion". Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fr4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pU4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=192,3958651/ The 3251st Quartermaster Company arrives home, P4, The Saint Petersburg Times
- ^ "General M. C. Meigs page 106" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ^ "Army Mortuary Affairs in Vietnam". Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ https://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-Order-Battle-Illustrated-Reference/dp/0811700712/ Vietnam Order of Battle, page 204
- ^ Chin, Alyssa (20 November 2011). "Soldiers Return Home to Fort Carson". KKTV11 News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ Order of Battle in Afghanistan November 2011
- ^ 4th ID official homepage
- ^ BAAF FAA Data
- ^ "BAAF FAA Data". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag | U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)". Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ "CMH". Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
External links
[edit]- Fort Carson Homepage
- 59th Quartermaster Homepage
- US Army Institute of Heraldry page for the 43rd Sustainment Brigade
- Official Lineage & Honors for the 59th Quartermaster Company
- Army Emergency Relief
- Fort Carson homecomings are never routine for soldiers, families[permanent dead link]
- Slideshow of the 2010 Redeployment
- The 3251st Quartermaster Company arrives home, page 4, The Saint Petersburg Times
- 59th trains for deployment
- The 52nd Engineer Battalion- previous battalion headquarters for the 59th
- Petroleum Doctrine at the Federation of American Scientists website
- Vietnam Order of Battle, page 204
- The U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum
- Memorial Affairs Activities - Republic of Vietnam