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Release No.
001-09-24-08
For Immediate Release:September 25, 2008
Contact:
SSG Alyn Macleod 719-433-5829
[email protected]
WarHawg roots out new commanderStaff Sgt. Alyn-Michael Macleod,
1st Battalion, 360th Infantry, Warhawg, 5th Armored Brigade, First
Army Division West
FORT BLISS, TEXAS With the passing of the unit colors, Maj.
Mathew C. Beckstead relinquished
command of the 1st
Battalion, 360th
Regiment Warhawg, 5th
Armored Brigade, First Army DivisionWest, to Lt. Col Christopher
McElveen here at McGregor Range on Sept. 5.
Col. Francis V. Sherman, Jr., commander of 5th
Armored Brigade, First Army Division West praisedBecksteads
accomplishment during his command tenure and welcomed McElveen to
the 5 th Armored
family.
He [Beckstead] did it with passion and vigor, Sherman said. He
took on a very difficult unitmobilization assistor mission . made
the personal contact with the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
and Warhawg trained them and got them documented.
Since 9/11 the Warhawgs have assisted the 5th Armored Brigade in
training over 65,000 Soldiers,
Airmen and Sailors for their missions in support of the Global
War on Terror, explained Sherman.
Sherman went on to explain the Joint Force security force
missions, the Air Force units, the Navy teams
and the Army MIT teams the WarHawgs were involved with at Fort
Riley and in Fort Carson. He
addressed their deployment on key counter IED Defeat missions
finished by saying, they have supportedother First Army taskings
and have all done this with professionalism and pride.
Beckstead thanked Col. Sherman saying, I would like to thank
Col. Sherman for the opportunity he gave
me. It is not every Major that gets to command a Battalion and
so I truly appreciate that opportunity.
Also included in Becksteads appreciation was Warhawg Command
Sgt. Maj. Henry McClellan.
I would be remiss to not thank my right arm, my Sgt. Maj. Hank
McCellan, said Beckstead. He wasalways there for me to bounce ideas
off of and I can tell you that he works everyday for the benefit
and
well being of his Soldiers and he has been a tremendous example
for me and an inspiration. praisedBeckstead.
Beckstead concluded his speech by highlighting the extensive
mission experience and high op tempo of
his Soldiers.
We hit the ground running and never stopped, he said. Beckstead
spoke of the over 319 days of
deployment the Warhawgs had logged this past year alone and
marveled at the fact that they were stillgoing strong.
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Camp McGregor, New Mexico
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There is one statistic that stands and shows what kind of men
are in this battalion. There are 54 men and
those 54 men have 117 combat tours between them, Beckstead
explained. The depth of experience isunmatched in any other unit
that I have ever been in, he enthused.
In keeping with Army tradition, once Beckstead said farewell to
his comrades and peers, it was time for
the incoming commander to make his remarks.
Col Sherman, I sincerely appreciate you affording me the
opportunity to lead Soldiers, said McElveen.I will remain committed
to serving our nation with holistic dedication, to provide quality
leadership, and
to ensure we train and prepare units to accomplish their
assigned mission in support of Global War on
Terror.
McElveen concluded his speech by lauding his new unit.
To the Soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers .. Your
performance today is simplyoutstanding. I am extremely humbled,
blessed and honored to be joining the ranks of unit with such a
rich
history of serving our nation which has continued to grow richer
through your continuous execution oftraining.
A distinguished military graduate of Benedict College Reserve
Officers Training Corps, McElveen earned
his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration
while attending there. He then wenton to receive his Master of
Business Administration from Webster University. His military
education
includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced
Courses, the U.S. Army Junior
Maintenance Officer Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff
School, the U.S. Army Command and
General Staff College, Air Defense Artillery Airspace
Coordination Digital Course, and the U.S ArmyAirborne and
pathfinder Schools.
McElveens awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal, ArmyCommendation Medal, Army Achievement
Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Navy medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,
Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War
on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense
Service Medal, Combat Action Badge,Parachutist Badge, and
Pathfinder Badge.
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Till the Bitter End
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