FORT KNOX, Ky. – Team members from the 1st Theater Sustainment Command took a break from everyday duties and spent the day enjoying fun and games with their family members on the unit’s first organizational day since of 2019.
Soldiers, civilian employees and family members spent the afternoon at Keyes Park where they played softball, flag football, volleyball, kickball, cornhole, horseshoes and bingo. The kids enjoyed spending time on the bounce houses, getting their faces painted and winning prizes at the carnival games.
Maj. Gen. Michel M. Russell Sr., Commanding General, 1st TSC, hosted the event and participated in the activities after giving opening remarks and promoting the beloved mule mascot of the unit, Sgt. Jack “Huck” Blackjack.
“It is important that we are here today, because it has been almost three years since we had the opportunity to have an organizational day. That’s a long time to function the way we do, and not have the opportunity to get together like this and joke and laugh and play and enjoy our families,” Russell said.
“We don’t have much of that opportunity to split. But that’s OK. We’ll make up for it today,” added Russell.
The commanding general encouraged his team to speak to at least one person on the day they didn’t already know, describing the event as a great opportunity to mingle and build support networks.
After thanking the organizing day committee and all the many volunteers who helped make the day possible, Russell called for “Huck” to take center stage.
He then promoted Blackjack to the rank of staff sergeant and described the ways in which the mule and logistics are synonymous.
“We are always there. You can never tell us we won’t. You never have to look for us, because we won’t get away. And we can carry all the burdens of all the maneuver forces on our shoulders,” Russell said.
The newly promoted mule, Sgt. Jack “Huck” Blackjack, returned to a shaded area where he posed with the children who were eager to congratulate, pet and take a picture with him.
A young member of the family was invited on stage by Russell where together they cut the cake made to honor the Blackjack promotion.
A picnic was served by volunteers. It included pulled pork and chicken, potato salad, green and baked beans, macaroni and cheese and dessert. Concessions were open, music was playing, games were happening simultaneously, and two clowns, Bip and Bop, navigated the party on a mission to make the kids laugh.
SPC Bryan Hernandez does general administrative work in the 1st TSC General Staff Section Secretariat, and he saw a lot of camaraderie throughout the day.
“It was nice to see a lot of families here having fun outside of the workplace,” he said.
“I like the organization as a whole and it’s great that we can come together as a team, because that’s what we are: the first team,” added Hernandez.
Sgt. 1st Class Angela Curry, senior religious affairs specialist, 1st TSC, said, “It’s amazing to see my NCOs and officers out here enjoying themselves, their families and us too.”
Civilian employee Theron A. Lymon, explosives safety specialist, 1st TSC, has been here three months and this was his first organizational day.
“The day of the organization was excellent, because I met a mixture of people from different sections. It was also great to see the families here having fun,” she said.
After all the games and activities for the day were over, Russell drew tickets and awarded various raffle prizes and gave closing remarks.
Committee members, volunteers and attendees worked to help build camaraderie, connect families and teammates, and foster friendships throughout the 1st TSC Army family.
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