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Aviation brigade relinquishes
authority
Story by Sgt. Jennifer J. Eidson
22nd Mobile Public Affaris Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq -- The 42nd Infantry
Division officially took over the aircraft support mission for the
Multi-National Division North Central from the 1st Infantry Division
during a Feb. 2 ceremony, at Forward Operation Base Speicher.
As Soldiers from the 42nd Aviation Brigade, and the 4th
Aviation Brigade, 1st ID looked on, Col. Walter M. Golden, 4th
Aviation Brigade commander, transferred authority to Lt. Col. Mark F.
Burke, commander of the 42nd Aviation Brigade.
Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste, Task Force Danger commander,
said during the ceremony that he has no doubt in the abilities of the
newly appointed unit and believes the incoming Soldiers will be
equally successful with their mission in Iraq.
"I am confident that you will continue to uphold the
incredibly high standards," said Batiste. "You have already made a
name for yourself since you arrived and you will continue to provide
world class aerial support."
Golden told the Task Force Liberty Soldiers that the
transition from his unit to theirs has been a seamless one due to the
efforts of both units.
"You are off to a great start establishing a
commendable reputation for aviation mission support," Golden said. He
added that the 42nd would have a good year because of "the amount and
quality of aviation operations" the two units jointly conduct."
Burke agreed. He said the work the 4th Aviation Brigade
has already accomplished would allow them to better do their job as
they take over their mission.
"We have been preparing for this mission since this
last May, and now we are fully prepared thanks to the efforts of the
4th Aviation Brigade," he told to the brigade's Soldiers. "You can be
sure that all your efforts will not be in vain."
The incoming aviation brigade's Soldiers who are
deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, include members of
1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment; 1st Battalion, 17th Cavalry
Regiment; the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, and Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 42nd Aviation Brigade.
Text for release and opsec review provided by the 1st Infantry
Division Public Affairs Office. For more information, please contact
1ID PAO at
firstid.pao@us.army.mil.
Release #A050206m |
