Photo By Staff Sgt. Takita Lawery | Lt. Col. James “Dave” Lander, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Todd R Nibarger,...... read more read more
FORT RILEY, Kan. - The 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division cased its colors April 9 during an inactivation ceremony on Cavalry Parade Field at Fort Riley.
The lineage of the “Black Lions” dates back to Feb. 2, 1901, when the battalion was first constituted and activated at Vancouver Barracks, Washington.
“Soldiers and leaders of this battalion have exemplified the ‘Big Red One values’ at every turn and with every task they have been given throughout their indelible history,” said Col. Peter Minalga, commander of 4th IBCT.
From combat and sacrifice in the Philippine-American War, World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror, the Black Lions demonstrated courage, commitment and a willingness to endure, according to information from the brigade.
Activated and assigned to the 4th IBCT, the battalion deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Most recently, the Black Lions played a role contributing to the brigade’s completing 113 theater security cooperation missions across 21 nations and two multinational brigade and battalion-level exercises in Senegal and Malawi as the brigade conducted the regionally aligned force missions on the continent of Africa.
Along with their combat and humanitarian deployment, the Black Lions also devoted time and were dedicated to interacting with the local communities of Fort Riley and the Flint Hills region. They had partnerships with four elementary and middle schools and a partnership with the Kansas State University football team, providing the battalion an opportunity to show that building relationships with surrounding communities is an Army priority.
“These Soldiers set the standard and will continue to do so for all others to follow,” said Lt. Col. James Lander, commander of 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment. “Their professionalism and dedication to excellence will be unmatched no matter where they go. They are the driving force within this battalion, division and the Army.”
The Black Lions battalion was the first of the “Dragon” brigade’s five battalions and one squadron to case their colors as a result of the Budget Control Act and the Army’s continual restructuring of divisional units.
Many Soldiers within the battalion will be re-assigned to different units across the division, while others will explore new endeavors as they carry on to permanent change of station moves.
“I am sure that these Soldiers will only prove to be assets to their gaining units and will carry on the fervent spirit of Black Lions and the ‘Big Red One,’” Lander said.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2015 14:47 |
| Story ID: | 160376 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A fond farewell: The Lions of Cantigny case colors, by SSG Takita Lawery, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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