Knoderer named new commander of 1221st Trans. Co.

DEXTER, Mo. -- Capt. Matthew Knoderer, of Cape Girardeau, is the new commander for the 1221st Transportation Company in Dexter, Sikeston and Portageville.

During a ceremony, the company's guidon was passed to Knoderer to symbolize the transfer of authority and responsibility.

"I promise that I will give you everything that I have so that you can continue to drive forward," Knoderer said to the Soldiers at the ceremony.

Lt. Col. Timothy Hartman, commander of the 835th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, said Knoderer's experience as a Missouri Guardsman engineer will be a benefit to the unit.

"Capt. Knoderer comes to the unit with a very different background, but a valuable one," said Lt. Col. Timothy Hartman.

Hartman also pointed out Knoderer's experiences as an enlisted Soldier before receiving his officer commission will also be a great asset to the unit.

"As a commander with deployment experience and as an enlisted Soldier, he'll have an understanding of what you're going through if you're ever called into service again," Hartman told the company.

Knoderer takes command of one of the best transportation units in the state, said Hartman.

"The Missouri National Guard moves on the 1221st," Hartman told the Soldiers. "You allow Missouri to do more things than any other state. You've given officers and Soldiers to support other deployments while still completing missions at home. If the 1221st wasn't here, the state of Missouri wouldn't be where it is today."

For Knoderer, this new command is a welcoming challenge.

"I have southern roots and I feel like I'm coming home," said Knoderer. "I want to thank Lt. Col. Hartman for entrusting such a great unit to me."

Hartman said he looks forward to Knoderer's command over the next couple years.

"He has all the skills necessary to be a successful commander," said Hartman. "I have the utmost confidence he'll be able to lead you forward on any mission."

Knoderer said he plans to strive for individual Soldier and unit readiness, and to continue to align the unit's missions under the Missouri National Guard's adjutant general's vision.

Knoderer enlisted in Missouri National Guard in 2000. He served in the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005. He received his officer commission in 2007, and has served in several leadership positions: platoon leader with the 220th Engineer Company in Festus, commander of the 880th Engineer Haul Team in Perryville, mobilization readiness officer and brigade assistant training officer with the 70th Troop Command at Jefferson Barracks, and plans officer for the Missouri National Guard's Homeland Reaction Force. He is currently the brigade personnel officer with the 70th Troop Command at Jefferson Barracks.

Knoderer is supported in his military career by his wife, Jenny, their children, Nicolette and Will, his parents, Bill and Dawn Knoderer and Laura Knoderer, his grandfather, Anson Knoderer, and his uncle and aunt, Dale and Cissy Williams.

Photos are available on our flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard/sets/72157629861418213/

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.moguard.com/blog; www.pinterest.com/monationalguard/