Our Story
The distinguished history of the 224 Sustainment Brigade Dragonslayers began in Dec 1941 when Co A, 640 Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated in Camp San Luis Obispo for World War II. The unit served in Luzon, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Southern Philippines, where it received the Army Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
It was re-designated as the 140th Tank Battalion in 1950 and ordered into Federal Service for the Korean War, where it received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Following numerous organizational changes, the unit became the 40th Division Support Command in 1974 and served in the Los Angeles Riots.
The Command mobilized hundreds of Soldiers during the early years of the Global War on Terror to Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Guantanamo Bay, as well as CONUS locations.
The headquarters element was mobilized again in June 2005 as the 40th Corps Support Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and converted to the 224th Sustainment Brigade upon its return. Most recently the unit was mobilized in March 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, where it earned the Meritorious Unit Citation.
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis E. Keener, 224thSustainment Brigade Commander, entered enlisted military service in 1990. He served as a Mechanized Infantryman, deployed to Desert Storm / Desert Shield as an Assistant Supply Sergeant and Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner. After graduating from the Primary Leadership Development Course, he was promoted to Corporal, and upon return from an Intrinsic Action Rotation was selected for a Green to Gold Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Scholarship. He earned his commission in December 1995, was selected as the 7th Regiments Commander of Troops and sent to Mountain Warfare School. He has over 38 National Training Center Rotations in positions ranging from Truck Driver to Motorized Rifle Company Commander and Battalion Executive Officer.
In 2001 Lieutenant Colonel Keener transferred into the California Army National Guard, serving in various positions including maintenance officer, the 40th Infantry Brigade Combat Team S4, the 79th Brigade Special Troops Battalion S3 as well as the 79thInfantry Brigade Combat Team’s Executive Officer. His command time consists of Armor Company Commander of Alpha Company, 2-185 AR, Installation Security Forces Commander Noble Eagle III, Commander 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry Regiment and Rear Detachment Commander of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.