59th Quartermaster Company
The 59th Quartermaster Company is a U.S. Army bulk petroleum and convoy-support unit based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 59th Quartermaster Company is a United States Army combat service support unit specializing in bulk petroleum storage, fuel distribution, vehicle maintenance, and security support for military logistics operations. Based at Fort Carson, Colorado, the company operates under the 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion within the Army Forces Command structure and supports the 4th Infantry Division, its brigade combat teams, other Fort Carson tenant organizations, and aviation activity at Butts Army Airfield. The company’s principal mission is to establish and operate a semi-portable bulk fuel system capable of storing approximately 2.5 million U.S. gallons of petroleum and distributing fuel to military units operating within an assigned geographic area. Its responsibilities can include fuel receipt, storage, quality control, issue, transportation coordination, and hot refueling, in which aircraft or vehicles are serviced while engines remain running. The organization also has a secondary mission involving armed escort of military cargo and civilian logistics convoys during overseas contingency operations. The unit traces its lineage to Company B, 240th Quartermaster Battalion, constituted in the Regular Army on 13 January 1941. The original company was composed of African-American soldiers and participated in the Louisiana and Carolina Maneuvers before deploying to North Africa during the Second World War. It was redesignated the 3251st Quartermaster Service Company in 1944 and served in the Mediterranean and European theaters, including the Rome-Arno campaign, the invasion of southern France, the Rhineland campaign, the Ardennes-Alsace campaign, and the Central Europe campaign. The unit returned to the United States in October 1945 and was subsequently inactivated. The lineage was briefly active in Korea from late 1946 until mid-1947, when the organization was redesignated as the 59th Quartermaster Company. It later served at Fort Lee, Virginia, from 1950 through 1957. During the Vietnam War, the company operated under 1st Logistics Command and performed mortuary, clothing reclamation, and laundry missions at Cam Ranh Bay and Bao Loc. That period of service ended with inactivation in 1972. The company returned to active service in 1995 and later supported Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In 2003 it deployed to Kuwait and locations in Iraq in support of the 3rd Infantry Division. A further deployment from October 2004 through September 2005 supported the 1st Corps Support Command. From May through November 2011, approximately 170 soldiers deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where they conducted convoy-security missions for logistics movements. During that deployment, the company successively came under different sustainment battalion headquarters as units rotated through the theater. As described in Army reference material, the 59th is notable as the only bulk petroleum company in the Regular Army as of 2011; comparable units were organized in the Army Reserve. Its structure includes a headquarters platoon, three petroleum supply platoons, and a maintenance platoon. The 40th Quartermaster Detachment, a petroleum laboratory element, normally operates within the headquarters platoon for training, support, and disciplinary purposes. Authorized personnel include soldiers from quartermaster, ordnance, signal, adjutant general, engineer, and chemical specialties. The company’s equipment has included fuel system supply points, assault hoselines, fuel tankers, tactical trucks, maintenance vehicles, armored vehicles, weapons, and protective equipment appropriate to both fuel operations and convoy security. In its current garrison role, the 59th provides fuel support to Fort Carson organizations and hot-refueling services at Butts Army Airfield. Its identity is therefore institutional and military rather than consumer-facing: it is an operational unit whose name functions as a unit designation, not a commercial brand.
History
The 59th Quartermaster Company originated in the Regular Army during the expansion preceding the United States’ entry into the Second World War. It was constituted on 13 January 1941 as Company B, 240th Quartermaster Battalion, and was composed of African-American soldiers. After participating in the Louisiana and Carolina Maneuvers, the company deployed to Oran, Algeria, in November 1942 to support the Mediterranean Base Section. In June 1944, the organization moved to Italy in support of the U.S. Fifth Army’s Rome-Arno campaign. It was later transferred to the Seventh Army and supported operations for the remainder of the European war. Under the 240th Quartermaster Battalion, the unit supported the 45th Infantry Division during Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France, and then assisted divisions advancing through France and Germany. Its credited wartime theaters and campaigns included Rome-Arno, southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. The unit returned to the United States aboard the General Meigs, arriving through the Newport News port on 13 October 1945, and was subsequently inactivated. The lineage was reactivated for service in Korea from December 1946 until July 1947. During that period it was redesignated from the 3251st Quartermaster organization to the 59th Quartermaster Company. From September 1950 through December 1957, the company was stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia. Its next major operational period began in Vietnam, where it served under 1st Logistics Command from 1965 until its inactivation in 1972. The Vietnam mission differed from the company’s later petroleum emphasis: at Cam Ranh Bay and Bao Loc, soldiers operated Army mortuaries and provided clothing reclamation and laundry services. Reported strength varied between 297 personnel and a low of 268. The 59th returned to active service in 1995. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, it deployed in 2003 to Kuwait and multiple locations in Iraq in support of the 3rd Infantry Division. It deployed again from October 2004 through September 2005 to support the 1st Corps Support Command. These deployments reflected the company’s role in expeditionary logistics, in which fuel handling and distribution were combined with the security requirements of operating along vulnerable supply routes. During Operation Enduring Freedom, approximately 170 soldiers deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from May through November 2011. Their principal task was convoy security for logistics movements. Initially the company fell under the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, and later under the 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the 10th Sustainment Brigade as theater formations rotated. At Fort Carson, the company supports the 4th Infantry Division, its brigade combat teams, and other tenant units. It also operates or supports hot-refueling activity at Butts Army Airfield, serving Army aviation and visiting aircraft. The organization is structured around a headquarters platoon, three petroleum supply platoons, and a maintenance platoon. The 40th Quartermaster Detachment, a petroleum laboratory element, normally functions within the headquarters platoon. The company’s authorized personnel are drawn from several Army branches and specialties, including petroleum supply, petroleum technology, automotive maintenance, logistics, engineering, communications, personnel administration, chemical protection, and food service. The company’s equipment profile has included fuel system supply points, assault hoselines, M969 fuel tankers, tactical trucks, maintenance platforms, Humvees, mine-resistant vehicles, remotely operated weapon systems, crew-served weapons, and individual protective equipment. As of 2011, it was identified as the only bulk petroleum company in the Regular Army, with comparable sister units belonging to the Army Reserve. This distinction underlines its specialized role in the Army sustainment structure.
- 2011
Deployed to Afghanistan
[1]Around 170 soldiers conducted convoy-security operations at Bagram Airfield from May through November.
- 2003
Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom
[1]The company deployed through Kuwait and Iraq in support of the 3rd Infantry Division.
- 1995
Returned to active service
[1]The 59th Quartermaster Company began its latest documented period of service.
- 1972
Inactivated after Vietnam service
[1]The company’s Vietnam-era period of service ended with inactivation.
- 1965
Began Vietnam service
[1]The company deployed under 1st Logistics Command and performed mortuary, laundry, and clothing-reclamation missions.
- 1947
Adopted the 59th Quartermaster designation
[1]Following service in Korea, the organization was redesignated from the 3251st to the 59th in July.
- 1945
Returned from the European theater
[1]The company returned to the United States aboard the General Meigs on 13 October after World War II service.
- 1944
Redesignated as the 3251st Quartermaster Service Company
[1]The organization received its 3251st designation on 15 February and later served in Italy and western Europe.
- 1942
Deployed to North Africa
[1]The company arrived in Oran, Algeria, in November to support the Mediterranean Base Section.
- 1941
Constituted as Company B, 240th Quartermaster Battalion
[1]The lineage began in the Regular Army on 13 January 1941 as an African-American quartermaster company.
Products and positioning
A Regular Army combat service support company positioned around petroleum logistics, expeditionary fuel distribution, convoy protection, and sustainment operations.
Military logistics
Bulk petroleum storage and distribution
The company’s primary capability is the establishment and operation of semi-portable bulk fuel systems. These systems are designed to hold roughly 2.5 million U.S. gallons and issue fuel to military units within an assigned operational area.
Aviation and vehicle support
Hot refueling
The unit provides hot-refueling support at Butts Army Airfield, allowing aircraft to receive fuel while engines remain running. The service supports Fort Carson aviation units and transient aircraft from other military organizations.
Force protection
Convoy security
As a secondary mission, the company can provide armed escort and security for military cargo and civilian logistics trucks during overseas contingency operations.
Fuel quality assurance
Petroleum laboratory support
The attached 40th Quartermaster Detachment provides petroleum laboratory expertise, supporting training, fuel-quality activities, and technical sustainment within the company structure.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan
Approximately 170 soldiers operated from Bagram Airfield and secured logistics convoys.
Outcome. The deployment concluded in November 2011 after the company served under successive sustainment battalion headquarters.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Kuwait · Iraq
The company deployed to Kuwait and several Iraqi locations to support the 3rd Infantry Division.
Outcome. The deployment expanded the company’s modern expeditionary petroleum and sustainment role.
- 1965Vietnam War logistics support
Vietnam
Under 1st Logistics Command, the company operated mortuaries and provided laundry and clothing-reclamation services at Cam Ranh Bay and Bao Loc.
Outcome. The Vietnam period ended with the company’s inactivation in 1972.
- 1944Rome-Arno campaign
Italy
The unit served in Italy in support of the U.S. Fifth Army during the advance through the Rome-Arno region.
Outcome. The company continued its European theater service and was later transferred to Seventh Army control.
- 1944Operation Dragoon
Southern France
The 3251st supported the 45th Infantry Division during the Allied invasion of southern France.
Outcome. The unit continued supporting Seventh Army formations as they advanced across France and into Germany.
- 1944Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns
France · Germany
The company supported Allied operations during the later campaigns of the European theater.
Outcome. It completed the war in Europe and returned to the United States in October 1945.
Recent events
- 2011
59th Quartermaster Company deploys to Afghanistan for convoy security[1]
Other
Approximately 170 soldiers from the company deployed to Bagram Airfield from May through November 2011 to provide security for logistics convoys during Operation Enduring Freedom.
- 2003
59th Quartermaster Company supports Iraqi Freedom logistics[1]
Other
The company deployed to Kuwait and locations in Iraq to provide petroleum and sustainment support to the 3rd Infantry Division.
59th Quartermaster Company conducts hot-refueling support at Fort Carson[1]
Other
In its garrison mission, the company provides hot-refueling services at Butts Army Airfield for Army aviation units and transient aircraft.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/59th-quartermaster-company · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled