Beaumont terminal works under new unit colors - 842nd Transportation Battalion , new tenant at the base - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Nov-Dec, 2001

The colors of the 842nd Transportation Battalion now fly proudly at the Military Traffic Management Command's terminal in Beaumont, Texas.

In a simple ceremony Sept. 20, the flag of the 842nd Transportation Battalion replaced the colors of the 596th Transportation Group.

"Team Beaumont" drew praise from Brig. Gen. Barbara Doornink, MTMC's Deputy Commanding General/Director of Operations.

"Regardless of how this organization has been titled, it has been the pinnacle of excellence in military transportation, and the cornerstone of military transportation operations in this region," said Doornink.

"When I think of this great unit, I think of the varied missions it has supported, and the vital role it has played in many operations over the years."

With its close proximity to Fort Hood and the Army's III Corps, the Beaumont unit has served as a key deployment station. The port deployed more than 30 ships in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In recent years, numerous humanitarian cargoes were loaded at Beaumont for Caribbean and Central American destinations for victims of Hurricanes George and Mitch.

"I know the unit's history of providing transportation excellence will continue as it wears its new designation with pride," said Doornink.

Until Aug. 24, the flag of the 842nd Transportation Battalion represented the MTMC unit at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

The redesignation of the Beaumont unit as the 842nd Transportation Battalion and the Fort Monmouth unit as the 956th Transportation Co. completes a series of MTMC structural changes, which were recommended by the Battalion Evaluation Group in April 2000 to better reflect MTMC's mission and customer needs.

Unit members were supportive about the unit redesignation.

"Changing the unit name is nothing new for us," said Gloria Barnes, a Worldwide Port Systems administrator who began her work with MTMC at the old New Orleans terminal.

"We'll keep on providing the same high-quality level of support to the warfighters, under whatever designation we have."

The reflagging ceremony was a poignant moment for administrative officer Rod Mattix.

"In light of the recent tragedy," said Mattix, "the reflagging ceremony took on a special meaning -- especially when the Stars and Stripes and the National Anthem are such an integral part of the ceremony.

"Too often, we take our national symbols of peace for granted."

The new unit name in no way affects the close cooperative spirit between the unit and the Port of Beaumont, said John Roby, Transportation Manager.

"This is not emotional," said Roby. "The unit was only here two years. We just see this as a new number."

The 596th Transportation Group was originally located at Concord, Calif. The unit flag was moved to Texas after MTMC underwent organizational structural changes on the West Coast in 1999.