CASEY GARRISON South Korea - Lt. Col. Donald Meisler passed the United States Army Garrison - Casey flag to Col. Larry 'Pepper' Jackson, USAG-Red Cloud garrison commander, who in turn passed it to Casey's new Commander, Lt. Col. Richard Fromm signifying a change of command from Meisler to Fromm July 10 in Carey Physical Fitness Center on USAG-Casey.
Fromm comes to Casey garrison from Washington D.C. where he served the Department of the Army as Headquarters G-3 Staff Officer in the Pentagon.
"On behalf of my wife and myself, I look forward to working with all of you here today for the next two years," Fromm said. "I want to thank my past mentors, peers and subordinates for the support they gave me. I especially want to thank my Family for following me to Korea and thank my mother-in-law for attending today's ceremony."
"I would be remiss in not thanking the garrison for giving us a heartfelt welcome when we arrived, and I especially want to thank Don and Pam Meisler for their help in transition. Finally, thanks to Command Sgt. Maj. Nidal Saeed and his wife, Ileana, for their help. Lisa and I look forward to working with you and forming a command team. I promise to give the garrison my full effort as we support the Soldiers and Families of the 2nd Infantry Division and Area I. Your great accomplishments with Lt. Col. Meisler the last two years, coupled with what I have seen since I have been here, and your performance today clearly makes me proud to be part of the garrison. Second to None, Support and Defend."
Fromm's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2OCL), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2OCL), Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara.
Fromm holds a Bachelors of Arts in Criminology, from the University of South Florida and a Masters of Public Administration from Troy State University. His military education includes: the Chemical Officer Basic Course, the Air Defense Officer Advance Course, the Air Defense Officer Advance Follow-on HAWK, the Air Defense Officer Advance Follow-on SHORAD, the Combined Arms Services Staff School and Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
Fromm's assignments include: NBC Officer and Air Defense Coordination Officer HQ/2-265 ADA (HAWK) Florida Army National Guard, Battery Executive Officer and Battery Commander B/2-265 ADA (HAWK), Battery Commander B/3-265 (Avenger), Deputy Operations Officer 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Battery Commander B/1-1 ADA (PATRIOT), Operations Officer for Joint C2 of ISR Joint Test and Evaluation Office of Secretary Defense, Patriot LNO ARCENT Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operations Officer and Executive Officer 1-7 ADA, BDE S3 108th ADA Brigade XVIII ABC, and HQDA G3 Staff Officer.
Fromm enlisted in the Army as a Cannon Crewman September 27, 1984. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Chemical Branch upon graduation from Kemper Military College, Mo. May 21, 1988. He received a branch transfer to Air Defense Artillery July 1, 1994.
An award ceremony for Meisler took place before the change of command.
"Both Lt. Col. Meisler and his Family and me and my Family arrived here in Korea in the summer of 2007," Jackson said. "As a garrison commander's wife I am sure Pam Meisler hears a lot of talk about the trials garrison commanders go through. If someone counted the changes made in the Humphreys garrison and Red Cloud garrison, there would be more changes here than anywhere else. We went from a dependent restricted area to a command-sponsored area with tour normalization. Throughout that time we had to have the ability to expand our capabilities to meet the intent of the unit profile and at the same time, figure out how we will collapse our footprint in the area."
"Pam, I want to say 'thank you' for being the air beneath his wings. You took the lead in coming here and participating in Army Family Covenant conferences by looking at the quality of life and finding new ideas so we can take care of those issues."
Jackson presented Pam with the Commander's Award for Public Service after addressing her accomplishments.
Jackson went on to say he tried to get Meisler to stay another year, but since he didn't give him enough money to use in his command, he decided to move on to command the 175th Finance in Yongsan garrison. He also said he remembered Meisler coming in 2007 and he "hit the ground running."
"If you think about all the things we have done in Casey," Jackson said, "I think you have had the largest infrastructure renovation restoration projects in Casey history. There have been challenges here in the last two years and I will tell all if you are not ahead of change, then you will be run over. He (Meisler) has accomplished much and has worked very hard. He has done an outstanding job on Casey. The only thing he didn't get quite right during his two years was his golf game. Don, go to the driving range before going to Sungnam Golf Course."
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