Photo By Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo | The official party of the Louisiana National Guard's 527th Engineer Battalion Change...... read more read more
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Army National Guard's 527th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade welcomed new commander, Lt. Col. Willard B. Conley, in an official ceremony on the parade field at Jackson Barracks, Aug. 7.
This was the first change-of-command ceremony to be held at Jackson Barracks since the installation was renovated after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“There will be many ceremonies to follow today, but you will always be the first,” said Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, adjutant general of the LANG.
Conley, who originally enlisted in the Headquarters Support Company, 527th Eng. Bn., assumed command from Lt. Col. Daniel P. Bordelon, who served as commander of the battalion since September 2007.
There were many smiles and hugs exchanged after the ceremony.
“This is more than just a good unit, these are good people,” said Bordelon, who will be deploying to Iraq to serve as the construction facilities maintenance officer. “They automatically took me in as a part of their family, and they didn’t have to do that.”
This was a very proud moment for Conley, as he was able to return to the battalion he first served under back in 1986.
“They say you never get to come home,” Conley said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to come back to where I first started.”
Bordelon has high expectations for Conley, and feels that he will do well as the new commander.
“He has a great personality,” Bordelon said. “He knows how strong the battalion is and that they know how to do their job.”
“I definitely plan on serving as long as I can,” Conley said. “Lt. Col. Bordelon reminded me to make sure I stay in touch with the community as well, because they’re the ones that support us.”
Since its birth in 1973, the 527th has served the state of Louisiana during numerous disasters and emergencies, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, and currently, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They have served federal missions during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.
“What makes this battalion so strong is that they focus on group success and not individual success,” said Bordelon. “The Soldiers got their orders from higher command, and I just got out of their way and let them work.”
The 527th Eng. Bn., is located in Ruston, La., and has Soldiers from across Louisiana.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2010 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 54228 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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