In eight decades years of service—2022 marked the 80th anniversary of its creation—the 7th Transportation Brigade has undergone nearly a dozen name changes. Judging from the number of awards it has earned in those eight decades, however, it’s clear that changes in designation or areas of responsibility have had little impact on the unit’s constant striving for excellence. In keeping with its motto of “Resolute,” the Brigade has garnered five Meritorious Unit Commendations and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations.
Constituted and activated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Port of Embarkation in 1942, its overarching mission has remained constant, to wit: “conduct multi-modal transportation operations in support of the reception, staging, and onward movement of joint and/or combined forces into a theater of operations.” That meant commanding and controlling ports throughout the United Kingdom during World War, while in the Korean War the brigade’s duties centered on all the port operations taking place at the port city of Pusan during the U.N.’s operations during and, for a time, after the active conflict.
Training was the focus of the brigade’s tasks during the Vietnam War, specifically on watercraft and terminal service units—capabilities that were especially vital during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the early 1990s and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom beginning in 2003.
The brigade’s missions also extend into ensuring the safe delivery of troops, supplies, and equipment needed to deal with humanitarian crises and overseas contingencies. Examples include the Operations Support Hope (Rwanda) and Uphold Democracy (Haiti), as well as supporting troops deployed to Bosnia and Hungary in 1995 as part of the NATO Implementation Force.
The 7th Transportation Brigade’s CSIB (Combat Service Identification Badge) is a crest with rays spreading from the center; these reference receiving and disbursing supplies and personnel, and their number is the numerical designation of the unit. Superimposed over the rays is a “rook” or castle—a fortress holding combatants and supplies. The crest is dominated by brick-red and yellow, colors of the Transportation Corps.
Related Items
7th Transportation Brigade Patch (SSI)
7th Transportation Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)