Voodoo bids adieu as Pegasus wings to Joint Base Balad

Photo By Spc. Jodi Krause | Col. R. Clay Brock Jr., Task Force 34 commander, addresses the audience of he transfer of authority ceremony from 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion to 1-137th AHB took place at Joint Base Balad's Morale Welfare and Recreation Center on March 30.  

IRAQ

03.30.2009

Story by Spc. Jodi Krause 

34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

"Today marks a very special day for both of your commands. Soldiers of Task Force Voodoo, your superb professionalism across the battalion front, your long-enduring and high motivation over the last 12 plus months, along with your determination to flat out get the job done is very ,very impressive," remarked Col. R. Clay Brock, Jr., Task Force 34 Commander. "Soldiers of Task Force Pegasus, insurgent groups can, and will, target us if they have the means and opportunity. We must effectively work together to deny their course of action."

The transfer of authority ceremony, marking the departure of 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion and the incoming of 1-137th AHB, took place in Joint Base Balad, Iraq's west Morale, Welfare and Recreation center on Mar. 30.

Outgoing 1-244th AHB Commander, Ltc. Patrick Bossetta, addressed the TOA audience following the casing of the 1-244th AHB colors, signifying the departure of the unit.

"As I look at our own unit, Task Force Voodoo, out of the last 54 months, this unit has been deployed 37 of those months. We've completed two combat tours, and we were the lead force in the largest natural disaster this country has ever seen," Ltc. Bossetta said. "And in that time, we have logged 42,000 hours, 100s of thousands of man hours turning wrenches on aircraft and vehicles, pumping 6 million gallons of gasoline, all without loss of life or injury. And I will tell you to do that, there has to be a demand for an adherence to a standard that aspires in the Soldier."

Ltc. Bossetta inspired the incoming Pegasus Soldiers, as well as the remaining Task Force 34 Soldiers, to create a history to be proud of.

"This is history and we are a living part of it, and when this book is written, and it will be, what will be said and what will be written is that there were people who were willing to sacrifice for that sanctity and that dignity of humanity, and that's what Soldiers need to take away," Ltc. Bossetta said. "Task Force Pegasus, as you roll in, it is now your time to take your place in history, and to you we toss the torch. Fly efficiently, fly effectively, fly safely. I know you will."

Following the uncasing of the 1-137th AHB colors, incoming 1-137th AHB commander, Ltc. Anthony Digiacomo, spoke to the Soldiers who gathered to honor the event.

"We are falling in under an outstanding brigade and an outstanding battalion. Folks in the 244th have been outstanding in teaching us, mentoring us and telling us how to do business and setting us up for success. I know that our organization will function as well as they did," Ltc. Digiacomo said. "I am very proud of 1-137th; we've received accolades throughout our training and throughout upbringing into this theater of operation. I'm quite confident that we will all do well during our time here."

• Date Taken: 03.30.2009
• Date Posted: 04.03.2009 07:53
• Story ID: 31952
• Location: IQ