50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) takes authority

Photo By Sgt. Amber McLamb | Lt. Col. Kathy Fox, commander of the 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), slices pieces of the cake during the reception after the 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion and 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary)'s RIP/ transfer of authority ceremony.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.20.2011

Story by Spc. Amber McLamb 

50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary)

BAGHDAD - Grand things are to come as the 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), Task Force Twin Lions, took the place of the 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Task Force Palmetto, during the relief in place and transfer of authority ceremony at the Al Faw Palace on Victory Base Complex, Baghdad, June 20. The 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) was last deployed in 2009-2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with the same responsibility of providing strategic signal assets to customers throughout the Iraqi Joint Area of Operations in support of Operation New Dawn.

The ceremony was narrated by Cpt. Matthew Harakas, the 151st ESB Adjutant with an invocation by Chaplain Charles Poore, 151st ESB, and the benediction by Chaplain Linda Murtala, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary). The outgoing command team was Lt. Col. Richard A. Wholey and Command Sgt. Maj. Jewell McCullough, Task Force Palmetto. The incoming command team was Lt. Col. Kathy Fox and Command Sgt. Maj. Shannon Cromartie, Task Force Twin Lions.

There were a whole host of guests who attended the ceremony. A few of the VIPs were Brig. Gen. Ra’ed, Iraqi Army; Col. (P) Kaffia Jones, commander of the 335th Signal Command (Theater); Col. Maria Barrett, commander of the 160th Signal Brigade; Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Tyce, sergeant major of the 160th Signal Brigade; and Sgt. Maj. Lonnie Williams, United States Forces Iraq (USF-I) J6 sergeant major. The 25th Infantry Division Band was in attendance to entertain the guests and to play the Iraqi and American national anthems, as well as the Signal Corps march and the Army song.

Along with these VIPs were the command teams from the 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), from which some traveled a distance to attend the ceremony: Capt. Joelle S. Quiapo and 1st Sgt. Wendle Marshall, Headquarters and Headquarters Company “Hellraisers,” based out of Victory Base Complex, Baghdad; Capt. Rossmary D. Alvarado and 1st Sgt. Charles Royal, Alpha Company “Gators,” based out of Contingency Operating Base Adder, Talil; Capt. Michael A. Ranado and 1st Sgt. Joseph Wells, Bravo Company “Red Bulls,” based out of Joint Base Balad, Balad; Capt. Edward P. Boyd and 1st Sgt. John Bond, Charlie Company “Cobras,” based out of Victory Base Complex, Baghdad; and Capt. Steve Cho, 820th Signal Company, based out of Joint Base Balad, Balad.

The RIP/TOA also consisted of a color guard who did an amazing job during the ceremony. The job of the color guard is to carry the national colors, as well as other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. The color guard consisted of Spc. Keawana Metts, rifleman; Staff Sgt. Michael Coffey, national colors; Airman 1st Class Evan Bartholmey, Iraqi national colors; Cpl. Brandon Wallace, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) colors; Spc. Stephen McLean, 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion colors; and Sgt. John Pak, rifleman.

The RIP/TOA symbolized the beginning of a fast-paced tour for Task Force Twin Lions and the ending of an accomplished tour for Task Force Palmetto. With Task Force Twin Lions now in full effect, this will truly be a new dawn for the country of Iraq and its citizens as their country is turned back over to them.

• Date Taken: 06.20.2011
• Date Posted: 06.23.2011 03:56
• Story ID: 72589
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ