The Fightin' Fifth: Changing commands since 1861

By Staff Sgt. Heather A. Denby, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public AffairsAugust 1, 2013

Army's oldest engineer battalion hails new command team
FORT LEONARD WOOD " Col. James F. Reckard III, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander, passes the 5th Engineer Battalion colors to Lt. Col. Sebastien P. Joly, 5th Eng. Bn. commander during a change of command ceremony held July 31 on Gammon Field... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- The "Fightin' Fifth" 5th Engineer Battalion held a change of command ceremony July 31 on Gammon Field with more than 600 Soldiers standing behind all seven unfurled company guidons.

Lt. Col. Sebastien Joly received the 5th Eng. Bn. colors from Col. James F. Reckard III, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander, after Lt. Col. Christopher McGowan relinquished command.

At the ceremony, Reckard commended the battalion for its successes under McGowan's leadership.

"During the course of the last two years, this entire battalion has redeployed from combat, done the necessary things that it takes to regenerate the force and to be ready to deploy again," said Reckard.

He said the battalion faced several challenges during their deployment cycle including resourcing an internal deployment certification for two companies, serving as part of the Global Response Force as an on-order rapid deployment asset and training another engineer unit for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Those are just some of the challenges they took on," he said. "And they did it incredibly well."

During his farewell speech, McGowan said this is his final command.

"Two years ago when I took command, I told myself this would be the third time I have had the honor of calling myself a Fighter and I'd better not mess it up … because I won't get another chance," McGowan said. "I certainly hope I didn't mess it up because this has been the most cherished and rewarding experience in my 20 years of military experience."

McGowan said the new commander shared his experience of previously serving with the battalion.

"Lt. Col. Sebastien Joly is also no stranger to the 5th Eng. Bn.," McGowan said. "He kept me straight on countless occasions as my company executive officer in Bravo Beast of the Fightin' Fifth as well as on long days and cold nights as a battle buddy in Sapper School."

Joly said his prior experience with McGowan and the battalion only fueled his desire to lead the Army's oldest engineer battalion.

"I have dreamed of commanding the Fifth since the first day I joined the battalion as a lieutenant," Joly said. "This battalion has always attracted the best and brightest of our regiment because all Soldiers want to be part of great units."

The 5th Eng. Bn. lineage can be traced back to 1861 during the Civil War where hundreds of engineer Soldiers fought and earned the first of 10 campaign streamers that hang from the battalion colors.

"The reputation of those who went before you established what you carry on today, that of the best combat engineer battalion in the Army," Joly said. "I am honored, humbled and proud to be your commander and look forward to serving alongside each and every one of you."

In addition to Joly, the battalion welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. H. G. Isaacs, who previously served as the 1st Engineer Brigade operations sergeant major.