262nd Quartermaster Battalion

History of the 262nd

The 262nd Quartermaster Battalion (Service) (Colored) was established on 13 March 1942, and was called to duty on 28 July 1942, at Camp Pickett, Virginia. It was one of the many all black units activated during World War II and participated in the Normandy Invasion.

Assigned to the European Theater of Operations in World War II, Soldiers of the 262nd arrived in England in August 1943, and spent the next ten months assisting with preparations for the Normandy Invasion. As D-Day approached, the battalion joined others of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade adding support to the assault forces. The 262nd crossed the English Channel on D+4 and continued to provide outstanding support until the fighting ceased. Its wartime honors for this period include three campaign streamers and a French Croix de Guerre, with Palm showing the Normandy Inscription. The unit continued operating in France until it was deactivated on 28 May 1946.

The 262nd Quartermaster Battalion (Petroleum) was reactivated at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia on 4 January 1967 in response to the logistics buildup in Vietnam. After five months of intensive preparation, the unit arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam on 4 June 1967.

While at Cam Ranh Bay, the unit was responsible for providing support needed to monitor pipeline operations. They provided limited wholesale distribution of bulk petroleum, surveillance activities, and storage operations throughout Vietnam. The motto of the battalion was “Life Line to Victory” to indicate that petroleum is the life blood of the combat force. Soldiers of the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion demonstrated great competence during Vietnam by transporting more than 22 million gallons of fuel and efficiently running several Forward Supply Points. For these and other activities, the battalion was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation and ten campaign streamers before being deactivated in Vietnam on 13 August 1970.

On 12 February 1987, the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion was again reactivated at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. This time the Battalion was called up for peacetime operations. It was determined that as part of the Army Program of Regimental Distinction, the Quartermaster Regimental Organization qualified for the recognition of the old Quartermaster School Brigade. The Brigade and its assigned battalions were awarded unit designations of selected Quartermaster combat units with honored service to the Corps. The 262nd Quartermaster Battalion replaced the 2nd Battalion of the Quartermaster Brigade.

On 19 March 2012, Juliet Company was activated as a company within the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, and serves as the Paralegal Training Detachment for the United States Army. Juliet is composed of Paralegal specialist training in preliminary legal and administrative support to unit commanders and staff and coordinates legal actions supervising legal office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Prior to Juliet Company's activation, the Paralegal Specialist Training Program was located at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Juliet Company's mission is to develop and prepare Army personnel to perform critical tasks as a paralegal specialist and provide the basic technical training for assisting Soldiers, commanders, and attorneys in preparation of legal issues ranging from military justice, defense legal services, legal assistance, claims, administrative law, international law, operational law, and contract law.

The Battalion's current mission is training soldiers in seven separate Military Occupational Specialties. Clearly, the motto of the Battalion was well chosen, and remains to this day “Life Line to Victory”.