The Valley City, N.D.-based Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 231st Brigade Support Battalion was recently named the first North Dakota unit to be awarded the Army Chief of Staff Supply Excellence Award.

HHD, 231st BSB captured the 2009 runner-up spot in the National Guard Level 1-A Unit Military Table of Organization and Equipment category.
The 231st Brigade Support Battalion grew from the Army’s transformation and was officially activated just two years ago. Former International Falls resident and 1989 graduate of Falls High School, Staff Sgt. Dean McMurray, of Casselton, N.D., has supervised supply operations since the unit’s inception.

Sgt. 1st Class McMurray traveled to Alexandria to accept the award at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Hotel.
The son of Gordon and Doreen McMurray of the Falls, Dean makes his home with his wife and daughter in Casselton and will soon be deployed to Kosovo.

The Supply Excellence Award was established in 1984 as a way to enhance the logistical readiness of all Army units, encourage use of available resources and enforce the Command Supply Discipline Program.