JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The 841st Transportation Battalion held a reunion for former Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians of the 1304th Major Port Command, May 8, 2015 at Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station, S.C.
More than 20 former 1304th MPC personnel received an 841st TB Capabilities brief and an overview of the Dock and Rail Head Facilities located at JB Charleston - Weapons Station. Additionally, they were able to interact with current members of the battalion and take a guided tour of the USS Yorktown located at Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
According to Army Lt. Col. Brian Memoli, commander of the 841st TB Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, the 1304th Major Port Command conducted military traffic management and surface deployment distribution and water terminal operations to support the Department of Defense. Their locations included Headquarters, Charleston, S.C., and detachments at Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Puerto Rico.
"This event was important to not only recognize the importance of what the organization has accomplished in almost 100 years, but to recognize that it was the people who made the organization a success," said Memoli. "Knowing and understanding the past helps define this unit and provides targeted precision of where the organization needs to head in the future."
The 841st TB's history begins back in 1918 when it was known as the Charleston Army Depot. In 1921, it became the Charleston Ordnance Reserve Depot and six years later, it became the Charleston Ordnance Depot. In 1943, the depot became the Charleston Port of Embarkation and three years later became the Charleston Ordnance Depot. In 1952, the depot was renamed the Charleston Transportation Corps Marine Depot and in 1970 became the South Atlantic Outport. In 1993, the 1304th Major Port Command was born and four years later became the 595th Transportation Group. Finally in 1999, the 841st Transportation Battalion was created.
The 841st Transportation Battalion's mission is to deploy and conduct surface deployment and redeployment distribution and water terminal operations to support and sustain the warfighter.
The 841st has the capability to offload up to 150 trucks and 200 railcars of cargo per day. The cargo being loaded and offloaded are pieces of equipment used for the warfighter. The 841st averages nine ships at JB Charleston - Weapons Station, and more than132 ships in other ports each month.