Surgemain Unit 224 wins unit excellence award

Lt. Cmdr. Richard Ardolino, Commanding Officer of Navy Surgemain Unit 224, receives the first annual Colonel Millett Unit Excellence Award presented by the award’s namesake, Medal of Honor recipient Col. Lewis Millett, on July 18. During the Korean War, Col. Millett led America’s heaviest bayonet charge since the Civil War. (U.S. Navy photo by Fire Controlman 1st Class Carlos Cruz)

Surgemain Unit 224 wins unit excellence award

Published Aug. 4, 2009
By Chief Petty Officer Mark Handy
NOSC Moreno Valley

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC) Moreno Valley presented the Colonel Millett Unit Excellence Award to Lt. Cmdr. Ardolino, Commanding Officer of Surgemain Unit 224, July 18. The award signifies that Surgemain 224 was the finest overall Reserve unit assigned to NOSC Moreno Valley during calendar year 2008, maintaining the highest levels of excellence in the areas of operational support, administrative standards, unit leadership and esprit de corps.

The Surgemain unit is a Naval Shipyard Support unit that provides part-time, flexible, fully qualified engineering department workers to Naval vessels during overhaul periods.

Cmdr. Steven Hartsel, Commander of NOSC Moreno Valley, initiated the award earlier this year. The award was named for Col. Millett, who had inspired the unit on a previous visit where he presented the Bronze Star medal to NOSC Executive Officer, Lt. Ed Giron.

Col. Millett, who began his military career in 1939, fought in World War II, the Korea War and the Vietnam War. As an artillery man with the 1st Armored Division in World War II, he received a Silver Star for driving a burning ammunition half-track out his battery's firing position. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross as a company commander in Korea, and received the Medal of Honor for leading what has been called the largest bayonet charge in American history since the Civil War.