59th Quartermaster Company (United States)

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.

4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active1941–present
CountryUnited States
Allegiance United States
BranchU.S. Army
TypeMilitary logistics
RoleProvide bulk petroleum
SizeCompany
Part ofFORSCOM
Garrison/HQFort Carson
Nickname(s)Fuel Dogs
PatronSaint Martin of Tours
Motto(s)On Point
Anniversaries13 January 1941, Unit Constitution
DecorationsMeritorious Unit Commendation "VIETNAM 1966–1967"[1]
Meritorious Unit Commendation "IRAQ 2004–2005"
Meritorious Unit Commendation "Afghanistan 2011"
Battle honoursWorld War II
Vietnam
Iraq
Afghanistan
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

Service history

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
USS General M. C. Meigs (AP-119)

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

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

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

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

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.

Soldiers attach a fuel hose to an AH-64 Apache while the safety stands by in case of fire.
Soldiers connect the fuel hose to an AH-64 Apache.
MaxxPro Armored Truck.

Organization

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

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

Campaign participation credit
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
 Liberation of Iraq 2003
Transition of Iraq 2003
Iraqi Governance 2004
National Resolution 2005
Operation Enduring Freedom
Consolidation III 2010–2011
Transition I 2011

[1][16]

Unit decorations
Ribbon Award Year Notes
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) 1966–1967 Vietnam
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) 2004–2005 Iraq
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) 2011 Afghanistan

[1][17]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Official Lineage & Honors Certificate
  2. Petroleum Doctrine at the Federation of American Scientists website
  3. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/240qm.htm
  4. On the Heals of the Assault Force, Captain William Foster, Jr. Q.M.C., The Quartermaster Review, March–April 1994
  5. Service Units in the Combat Zone
  6. "240th Quartermaster Battalion". Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  7. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fr4wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pU4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=192,3958651/ The 3251st Quartermaster Company arrives home, P4, The Saint Petersburg Times
  8. General M. C. Meigs page 106
  9. "Army Mortuary Affairs in Vietnam". Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  10. https://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-Order-Battle-Illustrated-Reference/dp/0811700712/ Vietnam Order of Battle, page 204
  11. Chin, Alyssa (20 November 2011). "Soldiers Return Home to Fort Carson". KKTV11 News.
  12. Order of Battle in Afghanistan November 2011
  13. 4th ID official homepage
  14. BAAF FAA Data
  15. "BAAF FAA Data". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  16. http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/campaigns.html#vie_war
  17. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/orghist.html#tab_2
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