Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Howard Reed | Christopher Zielinski, collections manager, 1st Infantry Division Museum, shows off a...... read more read more
WHEATON, Ill. - About 20 senior non-commissioned officers from the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade learned about the 1st Infantry Division’s rich tradition and history June 9 at Wheaton, Ill.
The brigade staff ride allowed senior NCO’s to break the everyday grind of leading units and soldiers to enjoy a few days of bonding and learning about the 4th MEB’s parent unit. The 4th MEB Command Sgt. Maj. William Allen said the objective was to afford senior NCO’s an opportunity to build a cohesive team. He added, “It is very important to know and understand the parent unit beginning, knowing where and how the parent unit begun their journey helps better understand why they operate the way they do with a sense of pride.”
The museum is a part of the vision of Robert McCormick a prominent editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune and commander in the 1st Infantry Division during World War I.
McCormick was proud of his service to the nation but more proud of the men and women he served alongside during the Battle of Cantigny in 1928. His enlistment made such an impact that upon his return from the war McCormick renamed his estate from Red Oaks to Cantigny to honor the first American victory during WWI.
Today the estate is managed by the McCormick foundation and it includes the museum, a research center for military history, a tank park, water park, several astounding gardens and a 27-hole golf course. McCormick’s home also sits on the 500 acre estate. The 1st ID museum hosts more than 150,000 visitors each year to include students and the general public.
“When 1st Division soldiers come here they really get they have joined a distinguished organization and they walk out feeling a little taller,” said Paul H. Herbert, McCormick Foundation Executive Director.
Standing tall and feeling proud is something all 4th MEB soldiers can do as the unit inserts itself into the division’s history books. The 4th MEB activated in 2008 on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and has deployable units that support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation New Dawn in Iraq.
Herbert added the Foundation is working hard to include the 4th MEB into the 1ID history books and part of the plan includes an oral history project this fall that will allow MEB soldiers to tell their story about their past or recent deployments into theater.
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2011 17:11 |
| Story ID: | 72440 |
| Location: | WHEATON, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 4th MEB leaders get day at the museum, by SFC Howard Reed, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT