William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Troop Command welcomed a new command sergeant major during a change of responsibility ceremony held at WBAMC, Feb. 13.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Fetzer, outgoing command sergeant major, Troop Command, relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. William Vernon, a native of O’Fallon, Illinois.
“Words cannot signify the impact (Fetzer) has had on the almost 2,000 Soldiers who have rotated through this command and the lives of tens of thousands of Soldiers he has touched throughout his career,” said Lt. Col. Steven Knapp, commander, Troop Command. “(Fetzer) has proven that if you take care of Soldiers and give the spotlight to junior Soldiers and officers they are empowered to do the right thing and the organization will reap the rewards.”
Knapp described Fetzer as a selfless and humble leader who lived and breathed the mantra, “Soldiers First.”
The ceremony welcomed the command’s three companies and single detachment which represents broad Soldier membership from junior Soldiers in Advanced Individual Training to Echo Company’s reserve-component Soldiers who provide medical services to Fort Bliss’ Soldier Resilience and Readiness Center (SRRC).
As a demonstration of his appreciation for the Soldiers, Fetzer, a native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, presented Troop Command with a print of Robert Nisley’s “A time for healing,” a painting depicting the World War II Battle of Hürtgen Forest’s temporary ceasefire, during which combat medics from both American and German forces treated thousands of casualties.
“As the enlisted leadership we are always there, and because we are always there Soldiers expect more from us,” said Fetzer, paraphrasing past leaders. “Soldiers expect us to understand, help, suffer and if necessary die in combat with them. We are theirs, they are ours; they are a reflection of ourselves and we are what they have made us.”
“This is our opportunity to bid farewell to (Fetzer), his selection (as CSM of the) is a testimony to your dedication and professionalism,” said Vernon, who is joining WBAMC after serving as the 1st Corps Surgeon sergeant major at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
“We will continue this trajectory of success and continue to improve the lives of our Soldiers and the organization,” said Knapp, as he addressed Vernon.
Troop Command implements overall training, administrative, health and morale support to WBAMC’s Soldier population.