402nd Army Field Support Brigade, Joint Base Balad, Iraq OUTPOST Volume 1, Issue 2 Readiness Power, Forward June/July 2010 New tugboat joins APS-5 fleet in Kuwait Namesake is Revolutionary War hero By Chief Warrant Officer Darren Reese 2nd Battalion, 401st AFSB KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait – After a 38- day, 9,000-nautical-mile journey from Baltimore, Md., the newest member of the 2nd Bn., 401st Army Field Support Brigade, reported for duty with Army Prepositioned Stocks-5 here May 8. The ocean-going tug, United States Army Vessel Col. Seth Warner (LT-806), will be invento- ried, inspected, and preserved for storage prior to being put into the Care Of Supplies In Storage Maintenance Program. This will coincide with the official retirement and sale of another vessel, the Fuel Barge BG 6448, within the next few months. “The arrival of the USAV Colonel Seth Warner and retirement of the Fuel Barge are both long- Darren Reese awaited changes and an incredible capability United States Army Vessel Col. Seth Warner (LT-806) increase for the APS-5 Kuwait Watercraft Sec- tion,” said Lt. Col. Michael Wright, commander, moored in port at Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait. 2nd Bn., 401st AFSB. “It is a great start to a new future for the APS fleet across the battalion as the and basic issue items will be removed, invento- theater experiences transitions over the next cou- ried, and stowed back on the vessel in a more ple of years.” user friendly configuration. A top-to-bottom, stem The Col. Seth Warner is the first of two 128- -to-stern technical inspection will be conducted foot coastal and ocean-going tugs that will be part on every system to ensure that all faults are of the equipment set at APS-5 Watercraft. The identified and are repaired prior to preservation. 800 series tugs are the Army’s true “beasts of Preserving an Army watercraft consists of burden” used for coastal and ocean towing and draining and changing various fluids, preserving docking/undocking operations with large ocean the engines with preservative oils, seal every vessels. The large tug is capable of towing up to exterior opening, and connecting the vessel to a five 120-foot barges loaded to their maximum dehumidification unit that will circulate dry air weight of 733 long tons (2,200 pounds) per barge, throughout the vessel. or a 567 foot-long guided missile cruiser with a Once integrated into the COSIS Maintenance displacement 9,600 long tons. Program, the LT-806 will receive monthly and As part of the APS-5 equipment set, the quarterly maintenance, and annual Dock and Sea LT-806’s primary mission is to tow and maneuver Trials. As with every other COSIS vessel, the tug the APS-5 Watercraft 115-ton floating crane to will undergo On Condition Cyclic (Depot Level) any theater of operation. Maintenance at five-year intervals. The process of integrating the LT-806 into The tug’s namesake, Col. Seth Warner, was APS-5 will take from seven to 10 days, and will born in Woodbury (now Roxbury), Conn., May 6, require the efforts of several different agencies. More than 1,600 lines of on board spare parts Tug — Continued on Page 9 Readiness Power, Forward Page 2 June/July 2010 OUTPOST Power 6 Perspective 402nd AFSB ‘We’re doing great things’ Since I arrived here as the on maintain- and contracted personnel, I salute commander of the 402nd Army ing account- you! Field Support Brigade I have ability of Our great mission could not be taken the opportunity to travel equipment possible if it were not for the dedi- throughout our footprint, and am received as cated and professional members continually impressed with the we process of this team. But don’t let your work I’ve seen and extremely this equip- dedication to mission prevent you proud of the people who make it ment out of from taking care of yourselves happen during one of the U.S. our yards to and each other. The weather is hot Army’s most challenging times destinations Fuller and will only get hotter. Many of ever. We have a tremendous mis- around the world. In order to you work outside in the heat. sion that is already upon us, with make this happen effectively, all Continued hydration is not just a a lot more of the ‘waterfall’ yet to agencies of the 402nd need to good idea — it’s a matter of life come. Since the beginning of work together in a highly coordi- and death. The ongoing success May we have received, processed, nated effort. This is quite a chal- of any unit is directly related to cataloged, and transported more lenge for any brigade when you how attentive personnel are to than 70,000 pieces of rolling consider how large our footprint safety — and safety is something stock and non-rolling stock equip- is geographically and how diverse I prioritize very highly. Don’t take ment, which is ahead of projec- our various on-going missions unnecessary chances. Look out tions. This is great work, but we are. for each other. still have much, much more ahead With our theater property ac- As with any military unit, we of us. countability, sustainment support have great people leaving us It is critical that we stay focused efforts, Army Prepositioned every month only to be replaced Stocks, Operation Enduring Free- by more great people. Be quick dom support, and our Brigade to integrate the new faces into our 402nd AFSB Logistics Support Team and Lo- unit and help them become part of gistical Support Element support the 402nd family. Teach them the OUTPOST units forward to name a few, the “facts of life” of the 402nd. If you 402nd AFSB is on the vanguard are new to this area and this way Commander: of the president’s mission of of life, you will soon learn that Col. Lawrence W. Fuller “responsible drawdown.” This is life in the desert can be draining quite a challenge, but we can on one’s mind, body and spirit. Public Affairs Officer/Editor: meet this challenge successfully if For this reason it’s important to Galen Putnam we work together as a team. An- stay in touch with your families ticipate what is needed and plan. and friends back home. They are Submissions and suggestions can be forwarded to the editor, Talk to one another and coordi- our “life-lines” which sustain us 402nd AFSB Public Affairs Officer nate. Pay attention to suspense over here. Have fun with what [email protected]. dates and meet them. Don’t fall you are doing. Keep a sense of This newsletter is an official behind. humor during the stressful times. publication authorized by Army It is a great honor for me per- Talk to someone if you feel over- Regulation 360-1 and does not sonally to be a part of such a whelmed. reflect the views of the 402nd team. And it is an even greater AFSB, Department of the Army, or honor to have been chosen as Department of Defense. LAWRENCE W. FULLER your commander. As commander COL, LG of more than 8200 military, DA, Commanding Readiness Power, Forward June/July 2010 Page 3 OUTPOST Chaplain’s Corner Never underestimate a father’s love By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Paul E. Dirksmeyer sincere. the man. Before Greg was 402nd Army Field Support Brigade And it’s even born his father was sadly also obvi- killed while in the Pacific The lyrics to a country and ous that Theater during WWII. Though western song I heard on the the man’s his father was absent during radio recently really caught father his entire life, a remarkable, my attention in its description had a life changing event occurred of a son’s recollection about profound to Greg when he was 40 years his father’s expressions of influence old. love. The song is titled “A Fa- on him He received a letter ther’s Love (The Only Way He through- through a family member Knew How)” by Bucky Coving- out his Dirksmeyer written by his father which he ton and the lyrics are in part life. Think- wrote to his son, and sent to as follows: ing back to my own father — Greg’s mother some 62 years “For the longest time guess a self made man of the de- before Greg was even born. I thought he didn’t give a pression-era. Being WWII vin- For 40 years of his life, Greg damn tage, he was seldom one to was completely unaware that Hard to read, hard to express his love and affection this letter existed. Yet, please, yeah that was my old in an emotional mushy kind through the letter, Greg was man of way. Rather, his ‘love lan- able for the first time in his On the day I left for college, guage’ was to inquire about life to ‘hear his father’s voice.’ it was nothing new my friends, what time I’d be In the letter, Greg’s father We never had the heart to home, why aren’t my grades states: “I’d give anything in heart, there was too much to higher, what am I going to do the world if I could see you do with my life, and generally re- and hold you in my arms, but He checked the air in my minding me to ‘pull my head I’m sure your sweet mother tires, the belts and all the out of, uh, someplace.’ In his will try and explain to you spark plug wires own way his love for me was why I can’t just yet.” The let- He said, “when in hell’s the obvious and sincere, and he ter goes on for six pages.