Unit comes home

[catman]

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._investigation


ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Army Reserve company that drew attention when some of its soldiers refused a mission to transport fuel along a dangerous road in Iraq (news - web sites) has returned home, with members honoring the officer who led the unit through the controversy.


The 343rd Quartermaster Company came back to the Rock Hill Memorial Army Reserve Center on Friday, and returning soldiers presented the unit's flag to the company commander, Capt. Victor Baez-an. He took charge after some members of the unit balked at the Oct. 13 mission, saying their vehicles were in poor condition and did not have armor.


"He pretty much came in and wiped the slate clean," Sgt. Anthony Amo said. "He put pride back into this unit. He made us all keep our heads up high, no matter what people said about us. He made us proud to serve our country."


Twenty-three reservists refused to deliver supplies from Tallil air base near Nasiriyah to Taji north of Baghdad. The military has disciplined the soldiers by giving them extra duties or reducing rank.


"Everybody came out of this, and we came out of it together," Baez-an told the troops Friday. "Don't let Oct. 13 define you guys. You define yourself."


Forty-two of the 119 troops currently assigned to the 343rd arrived Friday from Fort Stewart, Ga. Four remained at Fort Stewart for medical treatment and others arrived earlier or returned to their homes in other states, said Maj. Bill Ritter, spokesman for the 81st Regional Readiness Command.


During its yearlong deployment, the unit delivered 2.5 million gallons of fuel, 1.3 million cases of water and 300,000 cases of rations, the Army said.




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