CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award by the commanding general of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. David M. Rodriquez, during a ceremony held in the division headquarters building here Aug. 27.
The JMUA is the second highest award a unit can receive. Rodriquez and Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division, unveiled the award and a campaign streamer, recognizing the division’s five-month deployment in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development-led mission to fight the spread of Ebola in western Africa.
The Screaming Eagles led the Joint Forces Command-United Assistance, the Department of Defense arm of the effort, comprised of service members and other personnel from across the globe with critical skill necessary to quickly accomplish USAID’s mission.
“They conducted themselves with professionalism, pride, and they demonstrated that Ebola could be defeated by people,” Rodriguez said. “I had the distinct honor to watching this happen over the course of those five months. Every single thing the 101st Airborne Division turned over to those people, they were prepared to do it and pick up the ball and run with it.”
Volesky said during the ceremony that on October 18, 2014, while traveling to Africa that he had met with Rodriguez and was given clear guidance. The guidance was to employ the 101st unique military capabilities and to help contain Ebola in Liberia
The logisticians from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), with the help of the World Food Program, built forward logistics bases, which allowed them to place supplies closer to remotely located Ebola treatment Units.
“I am thankful today of the leadership of Maj. Gen. Volesky and his staff, and also the 2,800 people who executed this mission to an incredibly high standard,” said Rodriguez. “Thank you for a job well done, mission accomplished, and for showing the best part of the United States of America.”