The 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion began its service life as the 60th Quartermaster Battalion, constituted 13 January 1941 and activated 25 May 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. The battalion was broken up and reorganized in 1944 with its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD) becoming HHD, 60th Quartermaster Battalion and the remaining companies starting separate lineages from that point on. The unit did not receive its current designation until 2006.
It saw action in two World War II campaigns, Northern France and Rhineland, before undergoing a couple of minor redesignations after the war’s end; it was first given its current numerical designation on 18 November 1948 as HHD, 13th Quartermaster Battalion. It was under this designation that the Battalion took part in seven campaigns in the Korean War, with its exceptional service recognized by two Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. It also participated in the Southwest Asia conflict, more commonly referred to as the First Gulf War, earning streamers for two of three campaigns and another Meritorious Unit Commendation. It has deployed at least twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is currently headquartered at Fort Lewis in Washington.
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“Strength Support,” the unit motto, is inscribed in black script (for solidarity and union) on a silver scroll and forms the foundation of the 13th Support Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), also called a unit crest. Buff is used to color the lower half of the insignia to reflect the unit’s origins in the Quartermaster Corps. Two grape leaves in the upper half allude to the two World War II campaigns, and the jagged dividing lince—called a dancetté in heraldry—simulates the mountainous peaks of Korea; three peaks are shown to represent the three honors the Battalion received for its Korean War service.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.