7th Transportation Brigade returns Saturday after 5-month deployment

Kevin Cheek

12 months ago

On March 9, 2024, U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en route to the Eastern Mediterranean less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the U.S. would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea. Besson, a logistics support vessel, is carrying the first equipment to establish a temporary pier to deliver vital humanitarian supplies.

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — The Hampton Roads based soldiers that built the pier to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza are coming home.

After a 5-month deployment, the 7th Transportation Brigade will return to Joint Base Langley-Eustis Saturday at noon.

The U.S. military decided to dismantle the pier and end a mission due to repeated weather and security problems that limited how much food and other supplies could get to starving Palestinians.

Soldiers will be greeted and reunited with their family and loved ones in a welcome home
ceremony.

The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010.