Courtesy Photo | Col. Timothy J. Edens (left), the commander of Task Force XII, presents Maj. Gen....... read more read more
By Sgt. Brandon Little
Task Force XII Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Maj. Gen. James Simmons, the deputy commanding general for Multi-National Corps – Iraq, made a special visit to the Task Force XII area of operations, Jan. 15.
Simmons, who has been a distinguished guest at several Task Force XII ceremonies, presented awards to the senior leadership of Task Force XII.
"I came here to present some awards to some great leaders," he said. "You've (earned) an incredible reputation because of your standards and discipline."
He presented Air Medals to Col. Timothy Edens, commander of Task Force XII; Task Force XII Command Sgt. Maj. H. Lee Kennedy; and the executive officer Lt. Col. Charles Bowery. The operations officer, Lt. Col. Bryan Hoff, was presented a Bronze Star.
In addition to presenting the awards, Simmons had lunch with all the company commanders, battalion commanders and staff officers of Task Force XII.
"You play a huge and significant role in the operations being conducted in Iraq," he said. "I call this war the second helicopter war because I don't know any (brigade combat team) commander who would take on a combat mission when you can't fly."
Simmons, who is also the senior pilot in theater, has flown numerous times with Task Force XII helicopter flight crews.
"Those door-gunners, crew chiefs and pilots are the ones whose shoulders you are standing on," he said. "You have to continue to maximize every hour you have to get every hour of effectiveness out of those blades."
He also talked about leaving Iraq in a few weeks, because his replacement had arrived, and his plans to retire this summer.
"This may be the last time I talk to some of you," said Simmons. "I'm going to ride off into the sunset; you are the future, and you have to continue to take charge of that future."
Edens presented him with a cyclic grip, a helicopter control stick, attached to the end of a staff as a going away present and thanked him for all that he has done for Task Force XII.
"All of you have done an absolutely magnificent job and I'm proud to even be associated with you," said Simmons. "We're winning this war because you are doing good stuff ... but there's still more to get done."
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 15:27 |
| Story ID: | 15627 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 132 |
| Downloads: | 40 |
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