CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - The Relief in Place and Transfer of Authority is complete as the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade takes over command of Aviation Operations from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade here in Kuwait Friday.
As the deployment tour comes to an end for the 29th CAB, the 35th CAB is trained and ready to conduct the mission to build and maintain partnerships with Kuwait and other friends in the region.
There is a rich heritage with these two units working together, in the Second World War, the 29th Division and the 35th Division conducted a relief in place right before the two divisions fought side-by-side in the battle of Saint-Lo. The 35th Division spearheaded the battle, while the 29th Division came from the left flank and liberated the town of Saint-Lo, which was a center of German power and started the collapse of German control.
“[Now] 68-years later these two units are coming together for an equally commendable cause. We are not fighting or liberating anyone, but we are promoting stability, peace, and security within this region of the world,” Said Col. Mark McLemore, 35th CAB Commander in his speech at the Transfer of Authority ceremony.
The 35th Division was formed as a National Guard unit from the states of Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The 35th CAB is proud to represent the National Guard with citizen-soldiers from Illinois, Colorado, and Missouri as we do great things during this deployment. Perhaps the most famous 35th Division alumni is President Harry S. Truman, from Independence, Mo, who was a Battery Commander during the First World War. There is a tremendous amount of prestige and honor that comes from wearing the Wagon Wheel Division patch.
The patch was adopted consisting of a white Santa Fe cross, symbolizing the white crosses placed along the trail to guide travelers along the trail during dust storms. The cross is placed upon a wagon wheel with four quadrant projections, symbolizing the courage, ruggedness, and pioneer trail-blazing spirit of the people whose descendants form the nucleus of the division.
We continue that blazing spirit among the ranks here, which carries over in our duties to do the very best we can in the mission ahead. It is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the friends of this region to train with and work alongside them to promote stability and security here.
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