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Army Commendation Medal awarded to Rough Rider

By 1st Lt. Kendra Evers

Staff Sgt. Reuben Cortez, support operations transportation noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, earned an Army Commendation Medal, awarded by Brig. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, 25th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for support, Feb. 12.

Staff Sgt. Reuben Cortez, support operations transportation noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, receives an Army Commendation Medal, from by Brig. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, 25th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for support, Feb. 12 for his part in the discovery of over $3 million worth of Army equipment that had been abandoned on Forward Operating Base Marez from previous units assigned to the FOB. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Kendra Evers, 27th Brigade Support Battalion)

Staff Sgt. Cortez worked side-by-side with Sgt. 1st Class Jacqueline Washington, the container manager for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Cortez and Washington are the only two transportation management coordinators in the 4th BCT, and they had a huge job on their hands.

They recovered over $3 million worth of Army equipment and supplies from approximately 300 storage containers that were left here from previous units and long-forgotten.

The excess supplies that were discovered from them were mostly repair parts for different types of equipment, but there were also office supplies and construction materials recovered.

"It was important that we recovered these supplies to get them back into the Army supply system, especially for the surge of troops that will be going to Baghdad," said Cortez.

He was awarded the medal at the Base Defense Operations Cell on FOB Marez, and recognized for his work along with Spc. Marquise Clarke of A Company who received a Certificate of Achievement for his outstanding performance as a forklift operator for the operation.