Page 3 - Ft. Huachuca Scout 6-19-15

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 The Scout 3A

Runion Dental Clinic welcomes new commander to post

Story and photo by Natalie Lakosil Gonzales said commanding the dental clinic Incoming Dental Activity Commander Maj. Eric Danko, left,
command and transitioning it from DENTAC to the receives the guidon from Col. Michael Hemker, Fort Bliss,
Staff Writer DCC was his greatest accomplishment while at Fort Texas, symbolizing Danko’s taking command of the Dental
Huachuca. Gonzales is headed to Fort Bragg, North Activity Command and dental clinic here.
The Fort Huachuca Runion Dental Clinic wel- Carolina, to become the DENTAC commander there.
comed a new commander and said farewell to an-
other during a change of command ceremony on “Now I turn over this great group to the very
Tuesday morning on Brown Parade Field. capable Major Eric Danko, and I’m sure he’ll do a
great job and continue this success,” he added.
Outgoing Dental Activity Commander Col. Julio
Gonzales, III passed the organization’s colors to in- Danko, who is stationed at Fort Huachuca for the
coming DENTAC Commander Maj. Eric Danko in first time, said, “I am excited to have this opportuni-
front of Family and friends. ty that has been given to me and I’m really looking
forward to doing great things for this organization.”
Gonzales, who has served as the DENTAC com-
mander for the past three years, said, “After three Danko said his main goal is to “continue treating
years in one location, one just gets comfortable then Soldiers on a daily basis and providing us the best
it’s time to leave but we all know that’s part of life in dental care possible.” Danko has been in the Army
the Army. Glenda and I will miss all the wonderful a little over 11 years. He moved from Fort Knox,
friends we’ve made here and the beautiful weather Kentucky.
and wonderful scenery.
The host of the ceremony, Commander of the
“The patient satisfaction has been 95 percent for U.S. Army Dental Activity, Col. Michael Hemker,
the last two years and now it’s 99 percent,” Gonza- Fort Bliss, Texas, said, “The ceremony aspect of
les added. “The ones who have really put me in this today’s change of command is important. We have
position of success have been the headquarters staff witnessed the tradition that we need to embrace as
and the staff of Runion Dental Clinic. Without them our culture. The change of dental commands at all
following my lead, we would not have been success- levels should not be minimized.
ful but they worked exceedingly hard to put us in
this position. They’ve exceed all of my expectations “Colonel Julio Gonzales is one of those strong
and have done an excellent job.” leaders and has performed exceptionally during his

See WELCOME3DJH$

Soldiers provide showers, laundry services, boost morale

Story and photo by Sgt. Elizabeth Raney
364th Press Camp Headquarters

U.S. Army Reserve soldiers from the 974th Quartermaster Company out of U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Eric Gedeon, a shower, laundry and clothing repair specialist, operates
Amarillo, Texas, are providing hot showers and clean laundry for nearly 600 other a laundry-advanced system during the Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, QLLEX, on Fort
Soldiers in the field during the Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, QLLEX, Huachuca June 10. Gedeon is assigned to the 974th Quartermaster Company out of Amarillo,
2015 here, during the month of June. Texas. The unit is tasked with providing hot showers and clean laundry for nearly 600 other
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With only 33 personnel, the team has been working diligently to provide these
basic comforts to soldiers working under the 418th Quartermaster Battalion. Soldiers assigned to the 974th Quartermaster Company expressed genuine ap-
preciation for the units they support and a sense of pride in their mission.
“When you are clean, you know that you are being cared for, being taken care
of,” said 1st Lt. Jimmy Holden, commander of the 974th Quartermaster Company. “It’s fantastic,” Holden said. “I’ve never had better people I’ve been associated
“Hygiene-wise, it is definitely a benefit to be a healthy Soldier and we provide that.” with, and I love it. The rewards associated with it are fantastic. When you are in a
unit that you are supporting like this, you’re loved and cared for. I can guarantee you
Pfc. Shaylin Taylor, a shower, laundry and clothing repair specialist, says she that, as long as [they] provide those showers and clean laundry.”
really enjoys her job.

“It really is a rewarding job to have when you see the morale being boosted,”
she said. “Everyone needs a shower, everyone needs their laundry done eventually.
When they go out to the field it’s not something that they expect to have, so when
they see us out here and they see us set up, it’s something they get excited about. So
it makes us some of the favorite ones out here.”

In addition to the Soldiers specifically assigned as laundry specialists, the unit
also includes maintenance and movement personnel, such as Spc. Alberto Cavazos,
a motor transport operator.

“My tasking is usually driving the equipment around when we load it up, making
sure it is secured,” he explained. “Making sure it is properly delivered and safely
delivered, but I do work with the laundry guys.

“Working with these guys is pretty awesome; to see them come together and set
everything up,” Cavazos said. “It’s always nice to see a Soldier come in who is dirty,
tired, gets a hot shower, gets clean clothes, and gets his morale boosted. So he can
go back out in the field and strive on for another day.”

Capt. Shawn Adams, the battalion personnel officer for the 418th Quartermaster
Battalion, is a satisfied recipient of the laundry and shower services.

“It’s been fabulous,” he said. “They were very, very quick getting set up. They
offered hot showers day-one of this exercise in addition to laundry turn-in with a
24-hour turn around.

“We have a limited number of items we can bring out here, so having a quick
turnaround is pretty fabulous,” Adams added. “I think if it wasn’t in place you
would have dirtier uniforms, which leads to smellier Soldiers, which leads to un-
pleasant work environment. It is very important.”