YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - A change of responsibility ceremony for the command sergeant major of Eighth Army was held here July 8.
Eighth Army welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney D. Harris and bid farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Robert A. Winzenried.
The ceremony was attended by senior ROK-U.S. Alliance leaders, including Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea and Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson.
According to Johnson, Winzenried has made great contributions to Eighth Army.
“For more than three years, Command Sergeant Major Winzenried and his wife Donna have provided a critical leadership and invaluable advice to all of the commanders of the Eighth Army and during the period of crisis and great transformation here in Korea,” said Johnson. “Command Sergeant Major Winzenried played a critical leadership role through the vicious and unprovoked sinking of the ROK warship Cheonan, through the senseless and violent artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island and for countless training exercises and command post exercises and time you spent with our Soldiers.”
Winzenried expressed his gratitude to all Eighth Army personnel and said he will miss them.
“To all the distinguished guests and to the Soldiers of the Eighth Army, I want to thank you for being here today … and for all you do every day in defense of freedom here on Korean Peninsula,” said Winzenried. “Our time spent with you will always be remembered and you are a part of us that we will miss dearly.”
Harris also thanked the distinguished guests and gave his impressions of being the new Eighth Army command sergeant major.
“Eighth Army has a long distinguished history of service to our country and the great Korean people,” said Harris. “I’m thrilled now to be part of that continuing service.”
Winzenried joined Army from High Bridge, N.J., in September of 1977. He was assigned as the 9th command sergeant major of the United States Army Corps of Engineers prior to being selected to serve as the command sergeant major of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea and Eighth Army in February 2008.
Harris enlisted to serve as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in 1985 and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga. His overseas assignments include three tours in Germany, four tours to Southwest Asia, and one tour each to Macedonia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. His stateside assignments include tours at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Steward, Ga.; Fort Polk, La.; and Fort Bragg, N.C.
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