CATO BROTHERS AWARDED BRONZE STAR MEDALS
LSA Adder, Iraq – February 14, 2005 – After spending nearly all of their adult lives
happily working together to achieve their goals, the Cato brothers of Lancaster
now have something else to be happy for - they have both been awarded the Army's
Bronze Star Medal.
Both men feel they "have always taken pride in our work ethic." The younger of the
two, MAJ Scott Cato says "we were both brought up to work hard at whatever we try
to do." He adds "our first job working together was at McDonalds and we decided
on the first day we were going to work together to be the best employees possible.
That attitude has stayed with us throughout our lives."
The brothers have definitely demonstrated this work ethic for the past year while
serving in Iraq. Major Scott Cato serves as the Executive Officer of the SC Army
National Guard’s 3rd of the 178th Field Artillery (FA) Battalion (BN). His older
brother Jeff serves as the HHS-Battery First Sergeant. Working together, they assisted
their battalion commander LTC Mark King in mobilizing the 3-178 FA BN for service
in Iraq. It was the battalion's first full deployment into a combat zone since World
War II.
The battalion not only accomplished it's occupy and operate "Sheriff" mission along
Iraq's Main (MSR) and Alternate Supply Routes (ASR) from southern to central Iraq,
but in the process, also rescued and recovered $88.4 million dollars worth of US
government contractor equipment.
The brothers work ethic was evident not only in the battalion's success in Iraq
throughout this past year but also in their Bronze Star Medal certificates. The
younger Cato's supervisor wrote "MAJ Cato's professional performance, positive attitude
and resolute devotion to the discharge of his duties are unsurpassed by anyone in
his specialty." The elder Cato's supervisor similarly wrote "First Sergeant Cato's
leadership, personnel management expertise, mentorship of subordinate leaders and
dedication to the soldiers under his care contributed directly to the battery's
success during Operation Iraqi Freedom II."
Pleased with the success of the battalion and their work together over the past
year, both brothers feel "getting back home to our families in Lancaster" is what
they are most looking forward too. Their "families live about a mile apart." The
Cato brothers and the Lancaster-based HHS-Battery were mobilized for active duty
in Iraq with the SC Army National Guard’s 3-178 FA BN on December 27, 2003. The
unit is expected to return to its home station in Lancaster, SC by the end of February.