Courtesy Photo | BALAD, Iraq (April 2, 2006) -- New 1st Sgt. David Kozak (center) poses with Lt. Col....... read more read more
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Spc. Lee Elder
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BALAD, Iraq (April 2, 2006) - As his former and future Soldiers watched, Sgt. 1st Class David Kozak received the diamond-adorned stripes signifying his promotion to a new rank and a new position as a company first sergeant.
Kozak, an Akron, Ohio, native, was promoted to first sergeant during a ceremony attended by members of his former company, B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), along with Soldiers of his new company, A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). He assumed his new position immediately.
"You ran a great platoon," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Martindale, 1st Battalion commander. "I want you to run a great company. Take care of the men and balance it out with completing the mission."
Martindale and his top noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey, presided over the ceremony that was held at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda. Kozak served here while he was a platoon sergeant with Company B, but will now move to nearby FOB McKenzie, where Company A is stationed.
"I want to thank the colonel and the sergeant major for giving me the opportunity to serve the soldiers of Alpha Company," Kozak said. "I intend on working hard to serve the Soldiers of Alpha Company."
Dailey said that Kozak was an example of a non-commissioned officer doing what it took to move in today's highly competitive Army rank structure. He cited Kozak's achievements in completing the rigorous Army Ranger School and his service as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Ga., as challenging assignments that had paid off for him now. Kozak is also a member of the Army's prestigious Audie Murphy Club.
"Here's a non-commissioned officer who did what it took to get promoted," Dailey said. "We at battalion are happy to have him as a first sergeant."
Kozak is a 1987 graduate of Firestone High School in Akron. He joined the Army shortly afterwards.
His tour with 1st Battalion, which is a part of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Band of Brothers, is his third major overseas deployment. He also served in Operation Desert Storm and with peacekeeping forces in Bosnia.
Kozak is the son of Heidi Kozak of Akron, and James Kozak of Demerest, Ga.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2006 11:37 |
| Story ID: | 6029 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 345 |
| Downloads: | 10 |
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