80 years of Warfighter Support celebrated on Defense Supply Center Richmond
 
  By Natalie Skelton, DLA Aviation Public Affairs
  Several hundred employees from the various organizations on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia celebrated the 80th year of the installation with an anniversary bash on Nov. 30 with food and festivities including games and displays from various organizations.
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and DSCR Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Sean Tyler, shared opening remarks and thanked everyone who helped bring the celebration to fruition. Tyler also lit the holiday tree to usher in the season. The event, hosted by the DLA Richmond Civilian Welfare Fund Council and organized by Dedra Carter, chief of the Operations Support Branch for the installation, reflected on the history of DSCR from its opening in 1942 to the present-day implementation of Phase 2 expansion of the DLA Aviation Operations Center.
When it is finished in December 2023, the new facility will be home to six directorates occupying a total of 281,064 square-foot. This phase is in addition to Phase 1, which was completed in 2018 and is currently home to 1,038 DLA Aviation employees.
From the beginning, DSCR has been successful in large part thanks to its employees, who continue to help bring the installation into the future with exceptional service to the warfighter.
The land the encompasses the  installation dates back to 1300 B.C., and shows the area was indigenous land that served as a trade area for the local population that included the Powhatan tribe. In 1619, a royal land grant for 2,300 acres was issued to Thomas Sheffield. The parcel of land, north of Kingsland Creek and extending east of the James River, encompasses what is now the installation.
Between 1622 and 1847, the land was owned and inhabited by just two more families. It became the property of Confederate Major Augustus Drewry and in 186,2 was the site of Fort Darling. The fort was used to repel Union boats attempting to enter Richmond via the James River.
In 1887 this land returned to civilian use, when it was sold to James Bellwood. A native of Canada, Bellwood farmed corn, alfalfa, wheat, barley, hay, timothy, soybeans, oat, rye, peanuts, sorghum and rice crops.
Nearly 40 years later, Bellwood Farm represented Virginia at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California, as a model for modern agricultural practices. The farm won 14 gold and silver medals, including one for the best exhibit from a single farm in the entire world. The U.S. Army purchased the property from the Bellwood family in 1941, and began construction of the installation, which was named Richmond General Depot at its time of activation in 1942.
The supply depot served numerous roles, including as a repository for war memorabilia such as Ulysses S. Grant's wagon, Army Gen. George Patton's Jeep, and thousands of pieces of art that were looted by the Nazis and later recovered by American troops in Europe.
For its varied services, the base has had many names including the Military General Supply in 1960, the Defense General Supply Center in 1962; and in 1996, its present moniker - Defense Supply Center Richmond.
“The history of DSCR is rich and complex, and in the past 80 years the men and women of this installation have supported countless warfighters by providing critical supplies, and have lent their skills and dedication to the service of this nation.” Tyler said. “As we move into the future and, hopefully, another 80 years at least on this installation, we know that needs will change and the employees of DSCR will rise to meet those needs.” The event was a welcomed one for all attendees who enjoyed a barbeque lunch, music, games including cornhole, Jenga, Putt-Putt golf and card games. There were also organizational display booths and shuttle tours of the Elk Pasture and Bellwood Manor. “It was truly an honor to organize and host this event which helped build camaraderie and simply have fun,” said Carter.