La. Guard transportation company honored with War Cross at post-deployment ceremony

By Sgt. Danny Hough, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 1083rd Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 139th Regional Support Group, held a post-deployment awards ceremony at the Shreveport Convention Center, July 28.

During the ceremony, approximately 160 citizen-soldiers were awarded the Louisiana National Guard War Cross Medal. This medal honors service members who enter active duty and serve honorably for at least 90 days during a national emergency, a presidential call-up to protect national security interests or a period beginning with the declaration of war or the onset of hostilities.

The official party for the ceremony included Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, Capt. Bryan Bailey, company commander of the 1083rd, Command Sgt. Maj. Sud Robertson, LANG senior enlisted advisor – Army and 1st Sgt. Christopher Davis of the 1083rd.

In speaking to the families, Friloux said, “The Titans are successful because you kept the home front where it needed to be. You remain the backbone and the true unsung heroes of the Louisiana National Guard and our Nation.”

During their deployment, the 1083rd traveled over 300,000 miles, acting as gateway escorts and providing maintenance support in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

“Lt. Gen. Frank sent me a personal email talking about how great the Titans did in their mission,” said Friloux. “You knocked it out of the park.”

The 1083rd comes from a historic lineage of transporters, engineers and infantrymen dating back to the 18th century with the Royal French and Spanish Troop Colony. They were last mobilized to support emergency response operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and have deployed to Iraq.