Courtesy Photo | 1st Sgt. Dean A. Walker of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division takes...... read more read more
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by Pfc. Durwood Blackmon
25th CAB PAO
TIKRIT, Iraq − Senior leaders and guests of Task Force Diamondhead, 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Aviation Brigade grilled food and took some time to relax at their first senior leadership barbecue Friday, Sept. 9 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
The barbecue was designed to recognize the hard work and efforts of the unit's leadership, as well as build unit cohesion among peers.
"What we are doing here today is the first of what will become our monthly senior leaders' barbecue. The leaders of the task force are constantly out there doing a good job taking care of the Soldiers, working hard and with little time off. This event is just a chance to show our senior leaders that we appreciate them, let them relax a little bit and build that brotherhood-in-arms bond that we all need," said Lt. Col. Frank W. Tate, unit commander of Task Force Diamondhead, 2-25th Aviation.
The dinner offered everyone who attended a variety of tasty choices to pick from. 1st Sgt. Dean A. Walker, Alpha Company, 2-25th Aviation, stayed busy most of the evening as he took charge of the grill and cooked steaks.
"We have steak, crab legs, ribs and chicken. This is a great chance to build fellowship, let our hair down and take it easy," said Walker.
A symbol of the unit's history and tradition was also on exhibit at the dinner. The Diamondhead Bell, a representation of the unit's heritage dating back to its Vietnam Era roots was proudly on display for everyone at the event to see.
"This bell has a lot of significance. The name, Task Force Diamondhead, goes back to the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, they would take the shell casings from the 20mm Cobra gun ships and have them forged into these bells."
Tate continued, "when a pilot and command would survive a tour they would take one of those bells and engrave the names of all other pilots of the command and send it home with them."
"I managed to come across two of these bells in Afghanistan. I brought them back and we now use this bell to ring new Soldiers into the battalion and when Soldiers leave they ring it three times. It's a link in and ties us to our heritage and brotherhood with our previous warriors from the Vietnam era. It has really taken on a special significance for us," said Tate.
Although the Diamondhead Bell is an important part of Task Force Diamondhead's unit history, the barbecue was primarily focused on the leaders and their crucial role of taking care of Soldiers.
"A great job is what is demanded for our Soldiers everyday. That's what they expect out of their leadership, that's what they deserve from their leadership and that's what you all give them day in and day out," Tate said.
"I'm real happy with the task force and especially our Soldiers and how they have performed. We are flying everything, maintaining everything, improving our area of operation and taking care of our Soldiers. That all happens because of the leadership that is sitting at this barbecue. This is a chance to let you know we appreciate you and relax," Tate concluded.
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2006 11:32 |
| Story ID: | 7710 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 70 |
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