Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | Albanian Soldiers get their photos taken after a change of command ceremony at LSA...... read more read more
Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (April 2, 2006) --At a change of command ceremony at the theater on Logistical Staging Area Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq the Seventh Albanian Contingent assumed control from the Sixth Albanian Contingent.
Albanians serve a six-month rotation and the Sixth Contingent is ending their tour.
"Maj. Sokoli, you and your Soldiers will be sorely missed, and are true professionals," said Lt. Col. Richard Fenoli, base commander. "This relationship has fostered deep admiration and a strong bond."
According to Maj. Sokoli, Sixth Contingent commander, the sixth contingent took over responsibility in October from another contingent and completed many different tasks. The most distinguished were guard duty and base security for LSA Diamondback.
"The Sixth Contingent Soldiers were committed and did an outstanding job," said Sokoli. "They were professional and it was an honor to serve in this rotation not only for ourselves but for our country."
According to Fenoli, when one door closes another door opens. That opening is Maj. Kengji and the Soldiers of the Seventh Contingent.
"We are excited to have you here and know the alliance will continue," Fenoli said, together our swords will swing as one and our shields defend, together we will be victorious."
"We will do our best to uphold the great job that the Sixth Contingent performed and accomplish the mission as best as we can," said Maj. Kengji, seventh contingent commander.
"The Albanian Contingent is a very important enabler to the brigade combat team, you have put yourself in harms way, and are a highly respected members of our team," said Col. Michael Shields, commander, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
"Your professionalism, commitment, and discipline and the effects you have achieved here while conducting force protection has been magnificent," said Shields.
Shields also said that the Albanians have a unique contribution to the overall brigade fight. What the Albanians have done has allowed brigade Soldiers to successfully accomplish their mission on the streets of Mosul.
"The Sixth Contingent wishes the Seventh Contingent the best of luck and rise above the prestige in the good name of the Albanian Army," said Sokoli.
"I want to express my congratulations to Maj. Sokoli and his Soldiers," said Kenji. "Albania has taken the side of good against evil and will stay with the Americans as long as it takes to free Iraq from terrorism."
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2006 16:54 |
| Story ID: | 5953 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 185 |
| Downloads: | 24 |
This work, Albanian Contingent's Change of Command, by SGT Dennis Gravelle, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
