Winds of change sweep through Baumholder

BAUMHOLDER, Germany - Barely one and a half months after it's return from Iraq, the 2nd Brigade Combat team is on the move again. In a combined reflagging and change of command ceremony, the brigade's leadership said goodbye to Baumholder and a new brigade leadership team took over what is now the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Heavy.

The ceremony itself was unique - a combined reflagging and change of command. One by one, each battalion commander stepped forward to case their unit's colors, relinquish command and ceremoniously march off the field. Immediately the new colors were brought forth, uncased and the new battalion commander marched on the field to accept command. The only unit that did not reflag was the 40th Engineer Battalion.

After all the battalions reflagged, the brigade was reflagged in the same manner. Col. Pat White, 2nd BCT commander, cased the brigade colors and marched of the field. The new colors were brought forth, uncased and Col. Patrick Madlock stepped forward to accept command of the 170th IBCT from Maj. Gen. Terry A. Wolff, 1st Armored Division commander.

As the battalions reflagged, each one took on a new name and lineage. The 1st Battalion, 6th infantry Regiment became the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment became the 3rd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment became 4th Battalion 70th Armor Regiment; 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery is now the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery; 47th Forward Support Battalion is now the 27th Brigade Support Battalion. The 40th Engineer Battalion did not reflag.

"Only a month ago we stood on this field on two separate days and celebrated the return of the brigade from an incredible 14-month deployment. In a moving ceremony we also honored your fallen comrades. Those Iron Brigade Soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. So before we further let's acknowledge the dept we owe to those teammates we lost and to those who were wounded in action. We vow to never forget our comrades, our buddies and our friends. So if you would please, let's honor them with a moment of silence," said Wolff after the reflagging and change of command.

"Today marks one of those transition points in the Army. It marks change in Baumholder. Yes, change in Baumholder - the end of the Iron Brigade's service in Europe and preparation for a new chapter to open at Fort Bliss, Texas. It marks the departure of key, battle experienced commanders and Soldiers and it sets the stage for the arrival of a group of combat experienced leaders, and with their returning veterans and new Soldiers, that they will write the next chapter in the 170th Infantry Brigade for our Army," said Wolff.

Garrison command changes hands

One day before the brigade and tactical units reflagged, command of the U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder, the support garrison for all Soldiers and civilians on Baumholder, also changed hands in a ceremony outside of the Rheinlander Club. The USAG Baumholder's new commander is Lt. Col. Paul R. Pfahler. Lt. Col. Derek Rountree, the garrison's former commander departs Baumholder for his next assignment in Washington, D.C. as the Installation Management Command assistant G-3.

The garrison's new commander is no stranger to Germany and to the local area. Before coming to Baumholder, Pfahler served as the deputy commander of the newly formed 357th Air and Missile Defense Detachment (AMD-D), V U.S. Corps, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Presiding over the garrison change of command was Col. Jeffery W. Dill, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander.

"Thank you for being here and helping me to honor these two outstanding leaders, Lt. Col. Derek Rountree, who has served as the commander and quasi mayor of the American members of this closely knit community and Lt. Col. Paul Pfahler, who just received the colors and is about to find out first hand about the many different things a garrison commander deals with every day," said Dill.

"Our job as part of Installation Management Command Europe is to take the best possible care of Soldiers and Families entrusted to us and to do so with physical restraint and in close synchronization with the mission commander's requirements and priorities. Derek you've carried out the mission in an exemplary manner. From superbly implementing the Army Family Covenant, to supporting the 15 month deployment of the 2nd BCT to Iraq," said Dill.

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