Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment gains a new commander

Photo By Sgt. Brandon Le Flore | Lt. Col. Doug Cardinale, commander of 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, passes the guidon for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., to Capt. Cash Freeman, incoming commander of HHC, during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Wessam, May 23.  

BASRA, IRAQ

05.23.2009

Story by Sgt. Brandon Le Flore 

Multi-National Division-South

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — A new commander took charge of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, after a change of command ceremony at Camp Wessam, May 23.

Capt. Cash Freeman, a Lacey, Wash., native and former commander of Company B., 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., assumed command of HHC from Maj. James Wiles, who is leaving after a year with the company, most of which was spent in Iraq.

"It's hard to leave," Wiles said. "I've made a lot of friends here with the Soldiers and their families and I've learned an awful lot from the battalion commander, [Lt. Col. Doug Cardinale]."

"Capt. Freeman is by far one of the best leaders I know. He understands what success means to us and will help the battalion achieve success," the Danville, Wash. native added.

HHC has successfully completed several important missions during their deployment in Diwaniyah and Basra, said Wiles. Those missions included capturing the brigade's third-highest value target, working on two division-level cordon and search missions, training the 8th Iraqi Army Division on the use of indirect fire systems and helping rebuild the health system in Diwaniya.

Although the company's leadership has changed, its Soldiers will still strive for excellence in the future, Wiles said. Capt. Freeman will continue to hone and sharpen the skills of the Soldiers in the company, he added.

"We're going to continue to give the maximum effort and increase the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces with a partnership in training," said Freeman.

Wiles will serve as the brigade assistant operations officer for 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

• Date Taken: 05.23.2009
• Date Posted: 05.28.2009 06:13
• Story ID: 34202
• Location: BASRA, IQ