• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Community gathers to open season, wish 1st AD well on its way to Iraq

Dec 15, 2009

By Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)

WIESBADEN, Germany - "Is that the real Santa, Daddy?"

That was one among many excited exclamations as a big, red fire truck pulled up at the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Community Soldier Farewell and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wiesbaden Army Airfield Dec. 11. As the jolly old elf and his entourage made their way through the crowd to help youngsters pull the giant switch to light the community Christmas tree, community members warmed themselves with hot Glühwein and enjoyed carols performed by the 1st Armored Division Band and local Department of Defense Dependents Schools choirs and musical ensembles.

This year's tree lighting was especially poignant as community members gathered to wish Soldiers of the 1st Armored Division well as they prepare to deploy for 12 months to Iraq. The division, which will see its third deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, replaces 1st Cavalry Division and will serve under III Corps from Fort Hood, Texas.

Members of the 1st AD Band led off the event by marching up Boyd Boulevard. They were followed by a formation of 1st Armored Division Soldiers who were greeted with applause as they marched into the tree lighting site.

With a host of local national leaders, including Wiesbaden Lord Mayor Dr. Helmut Müller and Hessen State Undersecretary Mark Weinmeister, looking on, Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, 1st AD commander, took the podium to discuss the challenges his Soldiers will face and to thank those in attendance for their continued support.

"We'll do everything we can to make our subordinate units successful in our battle space," said Wolff, adding that after extensive training, "these Soldiers are ready."

Unlike past deployments, with U.S. combat operation winding down in Iraq, the division will perform mostly an advice and assistance role this time around. The division's area of responsibility, U.S. Forces Central, includes the area around Baghdad and extends to the west to include al Anbar Province. The division will also play a major role in helping withdraw equipment as U.S. Forces greatly curtail their presence in Iraq to meet time line agreements between the U.S. and Iraqi governments which call for U.S. Forces to leave the country by the end of 2011.

"We'll work you hard downrange, but you should know we're proud of you," Wolff told his men and women.

Praising the surrounding host nation and USAG Wiesbaden communities for their continued support throughout times of deployment, Wolff said, "Thanks for being such good friends and for being such good neighbors."

Once the official part of the evening concluded, Wolff joined his German colleagues in tapping a ceremonial beer keg and telling them he was looking forward to joining them again for another toast upon the division's return in a year.

Then it was family time. With the grills going full steam, face painting, Santa taking requests and young music makers filling the atmosphere with festive tunes, community members settled down to enjoy one another's company and to share the holiday spirit. As Col. Jeffrey Dill, USAG Wiesbaden commander, observed during his remarks, the community get-together during the holidays is just one more aspect of Comprehensive Community Fitness - the spirit of sharing and nurturing spiritual fitness.

While USAG Wiesbaden's Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation division and the Wiesbaden USO performed the lion's share of the work putting together the holiday celebration, corporate sponsors including Andrews Federal Credit Union, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 27, Bohling Agency, SatoTravel, United Airlines, USAA and Auto Exchange also contributed. Throughout the evening, the USO's Fred Jeter brightened the holidays for lucky active duty winners in a special drawing by giving away round-trip United Airline tickets to the United States, Army and Air Force Exchange Service shopping vouchers and free meals at the Mexico Lindo Restaurant.