CAMP WALKER, South Korea - Members from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Harvey, 19th ESC outgoing commander, and welcomed Brig. Gen. Paul C. Hurley, 19th ESC incoming commander, during the change of command ceremony at Kelly Field on Camp Walker June 30.
Hurley joins Team 19 from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he was the deputy commanding general and director of operations for the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
“The sustainers have taken yet another important step into the defense of freedom here in Korea,” said Lt. Gen John D. Johnson, 8th Army commander. “You have once again demonstrated what teamwork, dedication to mission, belief in self and fellow soldiers, and expertise in your trade achieve. You have repeatedly demonstrated these characteristics and many more in the course of General Harvey’s tour of command.”
“Thank you all for being here to witness this change of command ceremony of the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and honor the soldiers, those past and present, who answered to the call to duty to serve the ROK-U.S. alliance here in the Republic of Korea,” Hurley said.
Soldiers from all the major support commands of 19th ESC stood tall behind their perspective guidons while Harvey, Hurley and Col. Craig Cotter, 19th ESC deputy commander, inspected the troops.
Upon completion of the inspection, the color guard and major subordinate command guidon bearers joined together in the center of the field, rendering respect during the ROK and U.S. national anthems.
The official party moved forward to meet Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Connie, 19th ESC command sergeant major, to conduct the official change of command from Harvey to Hurley.
Connie passed the guidon to Harvey for the final time, who in return passed it to Johnson, relinquishing his command. Johnson then passed the guidon to Hurley, officially charging him with command of the 19th ESC.
The guidon was then passed back to Connie, the most senior non-commissioned officer in the 19th ESC, as he is the watch bearer for the Team 19 colors.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be a member of the 19th ESC and to serve alongside you in the defense of both our nations,” Hurley said. “You make me proud to be counted among you as a member of this great organization.”
The ceremony concluded with a pass and review of all 19th ESC units present on the field as they marched passed Hurley and rendered their first official salute to their new commander.