Photo By Staff Sgt. Jason Thompson | Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, presents...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas —The 4th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion congratulated its outgoing commander June 30 during a Change of Command Ceremony at Cameron Field, and welcomed its newest addition to the "Ironhorse" family.
Standing one last time on the parade field before Soldiers, families and friends in Fort Hood, Texas, Lt. Col. Dale Buckner, outgoing commander, DSTB, relinquished command to the DSTB's newest commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Tedesco, who will lead the battalion after relocating to Fort Carson, Colo.
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div., and reviewing officer for the ceremony welcomed Soldiers, family and friends of the division and the Fort Hood community to say goodbye to Buckner, whose service enabled the 4th Inf. Div. Headquarters to lead more than 28,000 Soldiers, while performing more than 22,000 maintenance operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09.
Hammond applauded Buckner for ensuring key leaders had the flexibility to get into the fight to successfully accomplish any given mission. He also welcomed the Tedesco family, wife Cari and children, Joseph and Natalie, to the 4th Inf. Div. Family.
Buckner, a native of Rochester, N.Y., reflected on his 29 months of service as the battalion commander, including the completion of the battalion's 15-month deployment in support of Multi-National Division—Baghdad, and thanked his officers and non-commissioned officers for their efforts during the recent relocation of more than 1,000 DSTB Soldiers and nearly 95 percent of the battalion's equipment to Fort Carson.
"Today closes an outstanding chapter in the already phenomenal history of the 4th Inf. Div. and the most unique battalion in the U.S. Army," said Buckner. "The DSTB has to be the most specialized, politically sensitive and decentralized team — and the largest of any battalion — in the Army, and these Soldiers and leaders have been running hard for the last 29 months."
Buckner thanked the command group for their leadership and recognized the DSTB's companies for their roles in ensuring excellence in training, maintenance, signal, personnel management, security and support.
"Thanks to every DSTB Soldier; you have executed everything the nation has asked you to do — flawlessly," he said. "This has personally been the most fulfilling two and a half years of my career, and I will be forever grateful."
After the passing of the battalion colors, Tedesco thanked the distinguished leaders and visitors for the unique opportunity to command the DSTB and gave special thanks to his wife and family for their continuing support.
Tedesco, a distinguished military graduate of Pennsylvania State University, commissioned in the Air Defense Artillery in 1991, made clear his enthusiasm to take command of the support battalion.
Tedesco is the third commander of the DSTB's short history after standing up in 2005 and being called to combat twice.
"It is a great sense of honor and humility that I assume command today," said Tedesco. "We are an Army at war and the command of this battle tested and accomplished battalion is an awesome responsibility that I eagerly embrace."
The DSTB will continue to bring unparalleled support to the "Ivy" Division Headquarters as the unit remains fit for any test and progresses to be the most efficient lethal force in the 21st century combat environment.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2009 12:48 |
| Story ID: | 35849 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 1,472 |
| Downloads: | 416 |
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