‘Battle Boars’ bid farewell to Command Sgt. Maj., welcome new one.

Courtesy Photo | From left; Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny Meadows, the outgoing command sergeant major, Lt. Col. Mark Olsen, battalion commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Quentin Fenderson, incoming command sergeant major, prepare to render honors to the colors during the Change of Responsibility ceremony for 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Marne Gardens, Fort Stewart, Ga., May 6, 2015. (U.S. Army Photo by Capt. Johnathan Fleming, 1-30 Inf., 4th IBCT, 3rd ID, Unit Public Affairs Representative)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

05.06.2015

Story by Sgt. Bob Yarbrough 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny Meadows turned over the position of command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division to Command Sgt. Maj. Quentin Fenderson during a ceremony held at Marne Gardens, Fort Stewart, Ga. May 6.

Meadows enlisted in the Army in 1990 as an infantryman, and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His career has included assignments at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Stewart and Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion, as well as six deployments.

Meadows served the last two years of his Army career as the Battle Boar commander’s enlisted adviser, and spent time reflecting on his career while addressing the formation for the last time.

“I would have never dreamed of being a command sergeant major when I joined,” said the Salem, Virginia native. “It has been an honor, and a privilege.”

Meadows handed over the moniker of “Battle 7” to Command Sgt. Maj. Quentin Fenderson, who returns to 1-30 Inf. where he has previously served twice in positions ranging from rifle team leader to platoon sergeant and deployed twice. “I have served in this battalion with frequency in my career,” said the Demopolis, Ala., native. “I attest much of my success in my career to what I learned in this very battalion.”

Additionally, Fenderson has also served as a first sergeant in two companies of 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., so he is no stranger to the Marne patch and the Dog Faced Soldier song.

Lt. Col. Mark Olsen, commander of 1-30 Inf., spoke highly of his departing partner in the Battle Boar command team. “[Command] Sgt. Maj. Meadows has consistently lead from the front,” said the Seattle native, “He has been the rock of the battalion over the last 24 months, the voice of wisdom and experience bringing over 25 years as an infantryman to bear on the problems that have confronted the battalion. Thank you for your faithful service”

“It is now [Command] Sgt. Maj. Fenderson’s turn to step up and lead the Battle Boars as Battle 7,” said Olsen as he welcomed Fenderson. “It is with great pleasure that we welcome you and Olivia back to the Battle Boars.”

Moving forward, Fenderson will be guiding the Battle Boars through Marne Focus, as well as a scheduled rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

• Date Taken: 05.06.2015
• Date Posted: 05.12.2015 16:18
• Story ID: 163070
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US
• Hometown: DEMOPOLIS, AL, US
• Hometown: SALEM, VA, US
• Hometown: SEATTLE, WA, US