DAGGER BRIGADE WELCOMES COLONEL SMITH AS NEW COMMANDER

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Simon McTizic | Col. Anthony Thomas Murtha III, outgoing commander of 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks during the “Dagger” brigade change of command ceremony on August 26. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division held the brigade change of command between Col. Anthony Thomas Murtha III, outgoing commander, and Col. Thomas Brandon “Bull” Smith, incoming commander, at Robertson Field, Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Kpfc. Chung, In Ha)  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], SOUTH KOREA

08.26.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Simon McTizic 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

CAMP HOVEY, Republic of Korea - The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, held a brigade change of command ceremony at Robertson Field, Camp Humphreys on August 26.
The ceremony served as the official transition of brigade command between the outgoing commander, Col. Anthony “Tom” Murtha, and the incoming commander “Col. Thomas “Bull” Smith.”
Maj. Gen. Steve Gilland, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, presided over the ceremony. He took the opportunity to thank Murtha for his service as the “Dagger” brigade commander and to recognize the achievements of the brigade over the past two years.
“Korea's transition season seems to be year round,” said Gilland. “We punctuate the season with transition in command of the ‘Dagger’ brigade from Col. Tom Murtha to Col. Bull Smith. Gilland noted how Murtha has been a mainstay in the ‘Dagger’ community for over two years, and that experience paid tremendous dividends.
“The training for accomplishing near impossible tasks in preparation for ‘Dagger’s’ deployment to Korea, was exactly what made the ‘Dagger’ team the right unit at the right time to support the mission here,” said Gilland.
Murtha will move from brigade command to assume the position of Chief of Operations Group at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.
“It has been a great ride; a ride that Bull is about to giddy up on. The ‘Daggers’ are exceptionally lucky today that Col. Brandon and Lynda Smith are joining the outfit. Bull and I have known each other for a long time, and there is no one else I trust more to lead this great team,” said Murtha. “No mission was too difficult for this brigade because of the team play and climate that we all built at echelon. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served with you and your Families.”
Smith comes to Dagger from Istanbul, Turkey where he served as the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps-Turkey G3. He had previously attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
Taking command of such a storied unit is an opportunity Smith has looked forward to.
“My Family and I are ready for this new adventure,” Smith said. “We are honored to become a part of this history ourselves; the history of the ‘Dagger’ Brigade, the Second Infantry Division, and the Big Red One Family. Second to None! Duty First! Ready Now!”

• Date Taken: 08.26.2020
• Date Posted: 09.29.2020 04:41
• Story ID: 378883
• Location: CAMP HUMPHREYS, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR