Wolverines transfers authority to Phoenix Battalion
By Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
Apr 11, 2008 - 1:16:40 PM
Blackanthem Military News
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| Lt. Col. David Hill, commander, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, and Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Seaman, his senior enlisted noncommissioned officer, unfurl the battalion standard, which signifies the Phoenix Battalion's assumption of responsibility during a transfer of authority ceremony April 9, which was held outside the battalion headquarters at Forward Operating Base Falcon. The Phoenix Battalion is replacing the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and will continue its mission to defeat the anti-Iraqi forces by providing a secure and stable environment for the citizens of Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, transferred authority to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during a ceremony April 9 outside the battalion headquarters at Forward Operating Base Falcon.
During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Joseph Birchmeier, commander, 4th BSTB, thanked the people whose missions crossed the path of the 4th BCT's combat support unit and welcomed the Soldiers of 1st STB, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., to their new area of responsibility.
"Since February 2007, the Soldiers of the Wolverine Battalion have done their part providing opportunities for good to triumph over evil," Birchmeier stated. "A large part of this is due to the professionalism and initiative of our noncommissioned officers and Soldiers."
Throughout their 14-month deployment, the Soldiers of the 4th BSTB sought to defeat the anti-Iraqi forces, assist in the improvement of living standards and increase the Iraqi government's capabilities.
"At every turn, these Soldiers have performed in an exceptional manner," Birchmeier explained. "The citizens of Iraq, specifically those of the Rashid district, have been allowed to live their lives free of fear and with improved essential services.
The 1st STB, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., assumed responsibility when the battalion standard was unfurled by the Phoenix Battalion's Lt. Col. David Hill, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Seaman.
"To the Soldiers of the Phoenix Battalion, you have trained hard for this mission, deployed safely and learned more than you probably realize during this transition process," Hill said. "I am confident that we will carry the successes of the Wolverine Battalion and the 4th BCT, 1st Inf. Div., forward under the colors of the 1st STB and the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div."
Hill also expressed his gratitude to the 4th BSTB for its helping the Phoenix Battalion throughout the transfer of authority.
"I give sincere thanks for the Wolverines' patience, coaching and dedication throughout the transition process and for the great sacrifice the Wolverines have made over their deployment," Hill said.
The Phoenix Battalion is manned by Soldiers from a variety of military occupational specialties within its ranks. Among them are the specialty skills Soldiers, such as Human Intelligence Teams, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platoon, military police, and many others.
The Phoenix Battalion will continue to assist the 1st BCT's mission during its 15-month-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to provide security and stability to the 1.2 million residents of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Lt. Col. Joseph Birchmeier, commander, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and 1st Sgt. Richard Meadows, the battalion's acting command sergeant major, who serves with Company C, 4th BSTB, 4th BCT, 1st Inf. Div., case the battalion's standard April 9 during a Transfer of Authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Falcon. The ceremony signifies the end a 14-month deployment for the "Wolverines" Battalion. The 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, will assume responsibility of the wartime mission to provide security and stability for the 1.2 million residents of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
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| Sgt. 1st Class Catron Jones, a combat engineer, and Staff Sgt. Wayne Lindsey, a network switching systems operator and maintainer, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, raise the 1st STB guidon during a Transfer of Authority ceremony April 9 at Forward Operating Base Falcon. The 1st STB, "Phoenix" Battalion guidon replaced the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, guidon, signifying the assumption of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B) |
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