Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alexander Burnett | Army tugboats docked at 3rd Port on Fort Eustis, Va., render a water canon salute...... read more read more
FORT EUSTIS, Va. - A battalion formation of soldiers stands in front of three docked Army tugboats, waiting for the beginning of this ceremony. The blistering heat and intense humidity does not take away from their excitement at the future and the fond memories they are bidding farewell to. For the soldier and commander alike, this is a bittersweet moment in the battalion’s history.
The 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, hosted a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony at 3rd Port on Fort Eustis, Va., July 20.
“This is a look at the future of the Army,” said Col. Lawrence Kominiak, the 7th Sustainment Brigade commander. “Command teams are coming into battalion positions together, and leaving together.”
The ‘Waterborne’ battalion bid farewell to Lt. Col. Kenneth Williams and 1st Sgt. Compton Johnson, the 10th Trans. Bn. commander and command sergeant major, respectively. Before the ceremony began, Williams received the Meritorious Service Medal for his exemplary command of the battalion. Johnson, an ordinance soldier by trade, was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Christopher, making him an honorary transportation non-commissioned officer.
“This officer and non-commissioned officer team has done an outstanding job leading this battalion,” said Kominiak. “I really cannot say enough about their accolades.”
During their tenure with the battalion, the command team oversaw the deployment of countless Army watercraft in support of Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercises around the world, Operation Pacific Reach in Japan, U.S. Army South missions in Fla., and the use of watercraft in support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shuttle missions. The team traveled together to Georgia to assist the 3rd Infantry Division with their first waterborne deployment exercise. Both Williams and Johnson spoke fondly of their time with the ‘Waterborne’ battalion.
“It seems like just yesterday I was at Third Port for my assumption of command ceremony, I guess time flies when you’re having fun,” said Williams. “Fun does not even begin to describe what me and Command Sergeant Major Johnson have had during our time in command. We have been truly blessed with officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who are second to none.”
Taking command and responsibility are Lt. Col. Megan Gumpf and Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Reed, respectively. Gumpf comes to Fort Eustis from Fort Leavenworth and Reed from Fort Hood. Both expressed their excitement and preparedness to take charge of the ‘Waterborne’ battalion.
“We are both very excited and ready to take charge of this amazing group of soldiers,” said Gumpf. “We want to thank all the soldiers who came out for the ceremony today, making it so special for both of us… this is ‘Waterborne’ six and seven signing on the net.”
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2012 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 91910 |
| Location: | FORT EUSTIS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 355 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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