FORT BLISS, Texas -- The Dick Poe Motor Family of Dealerships welcomed the “Bandit” soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, into their family during an adoption ceremony at Dick Poe Toyota in El Paso, Texas, Feb. 10.
The adoption paperwork was signed by; Dick Poe, the owner of the Dick Poe Family of Dealerships, Letty West, an Association of the United States Army representative, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Catlett, the “Bandit” commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel L. Willing, command sergeant major of the “Bandits.”
Dick Poe, who has been a partner to Fort Bliss for over 75 years, unofficially adopted the unit while they were deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, in 2010, in order to assist the Families.
Now that Dick Poe has officially adopted the “Bandits” any of the Soldiers and their families can consider Dick Poe their family.
The “Bandits” can call on Dick Poe for anything; not just transportation needs, according to Lewis Burfitt, marketing director with the Dick Poe Family of Dealerships.
“We are so grateful for corporate partnerships like the one we celebrate today, between the Bandits and Dick Poe,” said, Catlett. “To me, it’s a form of Texas hospitality—welcoming the newcomers to your community and helping them transition to their new home.”
According to Burfitt, the Dick Poe Family has enjoyed having the “Bandits” in their family so much the Dick Poe Family is looking to possibly adopt 2-3 more battalions.