Garrison KATUSA soldiers get new leader

By Kevin JacksonMay 26, 2010

Garrison KATUSA soldiers get new leader
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

RED CLOUD GARRISON - Koreans Augmented to the U.S. Army soldiers in Warrior Country received a new leader when the mantle of command was passed to Lt. Col. Lee Kyun-chul in the packed Red Cloud Theater May 18.

Lee is the 26th commander of the Republic of Korea Army Support Group, 2nd Infantry Division. He comes to USAG-Red Cloud from the Combined Forces Command where he was a planning officer for the Personnel and Administration Division of the ground component.

Host officer, Col. Yun Won-hui, commander of the ROKA Support Group, Eighth U.S. Army, began his remarks by expressing appreciation to the KATUSA soldiers who serve alongside Americans and accomplish their missions as part of the combined ROK-U.S. alliance.

Yun then turned his attention to the qualifications of his new subordinate commander, who previously served with him in the Capital Region Mechanized Infantry "Tiger" Division.

"He is an excellent officer who has worked at various positions at the front and the rear," he said through an English interpreter.

"I am very confident with his presence as the Area I RSG commander as he has various field experience and has performed greatly in the center of the ROK-U.S. alliance," Yun added.

The 1986 Korean Military Academy graduate previously served in personnel and administrative positions for II Corps, as a battalion commander for the 53rd Homeland Reserve Division's 126th Regiment and in several combined and joint positions at CFC.

"I fully respect what a profound honor it is to be assigned as the Area I ROKA Support Group commander, especially at this time when the Korea-U.S. alliance is of the utmost importance," Lee said to the standing room audience.

"As the Warrior Country ROKA Support Group commander I will invest the entirety of my efforts into completing my missions with the intentions of the ROKA Support Group commander, namely fulfilling duties, fostering talent and expanding the base for reinforcement of the Korea and U.S. alliance."

Lee acknowledged that as a member of the Korean and American alliance he would emphasize several points during his tenure as commander. Among them are completing the mission with "pride and dignity;" making every day count and encouraging Soldiers to fulfill their roles as indispensible citizens to the nation; strengthening the friendship between ROK and U.S. Army and fostering esprit de corps within the unit.

The official party departed the nearly 30-minute ceremony to an inspiring rendition of "Arirang," the most popular and best known Korean folk song, played by the 9th Division Army Band.