by Stacy Stine
In the summer of 2004 Gregg Keele was living the American dream. The Keystone area professional had just moved to his new home in the countryside North of Indianapolis. Starting from scratch after college, Keele had built a large and thriving practice as an Indianapolis financial planner. Married two summers before the Keeles looked forward to a quieter life outside the big city. But instead of the sounds of the Indiana countryside, Keele wakes today to the wail of the Muslim call to prayer and the occasional explosion of a mortar round. Like thousands of other professionals Keele had a second career as an officer in the Army Reserve.
Keele enlisted in the Army Reserve at 19. His junior year at Indiana State he contracted as an ROTC cadet and upon his graduation in 1996 received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve. Keele’s leadership skills in the professional world translated well to his military roll. By the summer of 2004 Keele had risen to the rank of Captain and was chosen to command the 215th Quartermaster Company.
In May of 2004 the 215th was put on alert for activation and deployment. In September they received a mobilization date for November 5th 2004. During that period Keele spent his military time inventorying equipment and honing his soldiers combat skills. He spent his remaining work days in Indianapolis preparing his family and business for his indefinite absence. A large part of that preparation was explaining to his clients who had put their trust in him that he would be away for a year or more. Cpt. Keele recalls, “I had to explain to my clients that as binding as my commitment to them is, my commitment to my country is greater. That was a tough thing to do. I had to have this conversation over and over, more than 200 times, but the result was always the same. The people who have trusted me so much wished me well and totally unselfishly sent me to war with prayers in their hearts and best wishes on their lips. I am truly a blessed man to be associated with such fine people.” In November, the 215th was activated and completed intensive stateside training before deploying to Iraq at the end of December 2004.
The 215th Quartermaster Company is based in Jeffersonville Indiana, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. It soldiers, both men and women, hail from small towns and big cities throughout Southern Indiana, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky. The original mission of the unit was to act as a Direct Support Quartermaster Company supplying water, food and fuel to combat units. In past wars this was considered a non-combat support role. The soldiers in these types of units were proficient in supply but had minimal combat skills. Operation Iraqi Freedom forced a changed to that doctrine.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq was a model in modern warfare. American combat units advanced as much as 200km in a single day. Supply units raced to keep up. With an advance so quick, supply units often found themselves immersed deep into territory that still contained some hostile elements. After the conclusion of major hostilities and continuing through today, supply units travel the length of Iraq supplying coalition and New Iraqi Army bases. Though most regions of Iraq are pacified today, terrorist elements continue to attack supply convoys. To address this threat the Army began converting traditional supply and transportation units into “Gun Truck” Companies, operating heavily armored vehicles to escort convoys. Cpt. Keele’s 215th was one of the companies chosen to make this change. Prior to leaving the US, they spent additional time training for direct combat situations and after arriving in Iraq, they received new equipment including up-armored humvees and newly fabricated 5 ton armored gun trucks. In a message to families at home Keele described their new mission ,“Due to the changing threat in Iraq, we have been assigned to operate armored gun trucks protecting convoys and supply lines. In short, when the enemy attacks, we attack back.”
Though a big change from their original training, the 215th thrived in their new mission. Throughout the spring and summer of 2005 the 215th escorted scores of convoys across Iraq without taking a single combat casualty. Keele credits the hard work and training of the men and women of the 215th for that feat “We used far more than the typically allotted training time and we focused on combat skills. This extra effort paid off and allowed us to hit the ground running in Iraq. If you ever want to meet some
tough, flexible and deadly Americans, you should visit the soldiers of the 215th Gun Truck Company.”
In June of 2005 Keele stepped down as commander of the 215th to take a new assignment training soldiers in the New Iraqi Army. Along with 23 other American advisors Keele now lives on an Iraqi Army base helping to train and equip the 7000 Iraqi soldiers who will make up the new regiment. Keele describes his new assignment, “I train, operate and fight with the 2nd Motorized Transportation Regiment (2nd MTR) of the New Iraqi Army. I am a military advisor to a line company and the security/gun truck company. I am also in charge of designing, fabricating and installing armor systems for the Iraqi trucks. Some of this work is done by assets at the 2nd MTR, some by Coalition Forces, and some by Iraqi civilian contractors. I oversee these entities and ensure the
final product stops bullets. In my spare time I execute missions throughout
Iraq with the soldiers of the 2nd MTR.”
In addition to their combat duties Keele and the 215th have taken a leading role in providing humanitarian aid to local Iraqi civilians. Involving their families at home, their churches and communities, the 215th has shipped to Iraq and delivered to local villagers thousands of pounds of clothing, toys, food and humanitarian supplies. Through efforts nicknamed “Kid to Kid” and “Operation Save the Day” these soldiers and their families have made a lasting impression on the Iraqi People.
Iraq has made a lasting impression on Keele as well. He is reluctant to talk about hardships, quick to praise the men and women with whom he serves. Asked to reflect on his experience there he says “I have walked in Saddam's palace. I have washed my face in the Euphrates River. I have seen Babylon and the birthplace of Abraham. I have
helped to build schools and replenish water supplies. I have dined with Sheiks and Chiefs. I have seen the smiles of grateful Iraqi children. Most of all, I have met countless Iraqi people and heard their stories, and I have made some real friends of people I never dreamed of meeting. What I most enjoy is listening to my Iraqi brothers and hearing the hope that is alive in them for the first time in their lives. I am in awe.”
The 215th Gun Truck Company expects to return to the United States by Christmas. Captain Keele expects to return home to his family when his assignment with the Iraqi Army is complete.
PHOTO CAPTION ("Captain Keele (top row, 3rd from left) with Iraqi trainees.")
