1144th TRANSPORTATION MOTOR TRANSPORT BATTALION INACTIVATES

Unit Cases its Colors and Celebrates its Rich History

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DELAVAN, IL (12/11/2016)(readMedia)-- The 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion cased its colors during a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 9, in Delevan, Illinois, marking the unit's inactivation.

The battalion's lineage dates back to 1897, where it was organized as as a Cavalry squadron in Springfield, Illinois. During its long history, the unit would serve as Cavalry, Armor, Transportation, Quartermaster and then back to Transportation. The unit saw action in the Mexican border campaign, World War I, and World War II as a Cavalry unit. It was converted to a tank battalion before serving in the Korean War. It served as a Transportation Battalion in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During World War I its Soldiers fought in the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Lorraine campaigns. In World War II, its Soldiers would fight in the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns. For this service it earned the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and streamers embroidered with Moselle, Caen-Falaise, and Fourragere. During Operation Iraqi Freedom it would earn a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, presided over the ceremony. Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Commander of the 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion, cased his unit's colors with the battalion's command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Sima. The 108th Sustainment Brigade Commander, Col. Rodney Boyd, presented both Smith and Sima with Meritorious Service Medals for their leadership of the battalion.

Other distinguished military guests included Lt. Col. Jason Osberg, the 108th Sustainment Brigade deputy commander, Illinois Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman, and 108th Sustainment Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Lester Edwards.

Distinguished civilian guests included State Rep. Tim Butler of the 87th District of Illinois and City of Delavan Mayor Liz Skinner.

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Photo captions:

The 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion and its subordinate companies salute the American flag during the playing of the National Anthem as part of the battalion's inactivation ceremony. With the inactivation of the battalion, its subordinate companies have been assigned to other headquarters. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Illinois National Guard public affairs.)

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Commander of the 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion, holds his unit's guidon for the last time before casing the unit's colors symbolically inactivating the battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Illinois National Guard public affairs.)

Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Commander of the 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion, presents his unit's cased colors to Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard during the 1144th Transportation Motor Transport Battalion's inactivation ceremony in Delavan, Illinois. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Illinois National Guard public affairs.)