RIA'S senior leaders host community at historic Quarters 1

By Sgt. 1st Shannon Wright, ASC Public AffairsJanuary 13, 2016

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, welcomes the Honorable Frank Klipsch, Davenport, Iowa's newly elected mayor, to the New Year reception in Quarters 1 at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, Jan. 9. (Photo by Kev... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker, commanding general, First Army (right), and Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, toast to the commands at Rock Island Arsenal and to the U.S. Army at Quarters 1 at RIA, Illinois, Jan. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Rock Island Arsenal's senior leaders welcomed members of the surrounding Quad Cities community to ring in the new year during a celebration at Quarters 1, here, Jan. 9.

Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker, commanding general, First Army; Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Young, First Army; Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command; Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, ASC; Brig. Gen. Stephen Farmen, commanding general, Joint Munitions Command; Command Sgt. Maj. Walton Jones, JMC; Melanie Johnson, executive director, Army Contracting Command-Rock Island; Col. Elmer Speights Jr, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Rock Island Arsenal; and Command Sgt. Maj. Myris Callwood, USAG-RIA, hosted the event for more than 130 community leaders and RIA personnel.

"Welcome everybody to historic Quarters 1 here at what we call our national treasure (Rock Island Arsenal)," said O'Connell. "Two-thousand sixteen is going to be a special year for some of us. It's our (Tucker's and O'Connell's) last year in uniform."

Both Tucker and O'Connell will retire this summer after 44 and 34 years of active duty service, respectively.

"Teresa and I have served in 24 communities," said Tucker. "This is the best community for military relations we've served in. Thank you very, very much; the community support here is unprecedented. You've proven it time and time again."

Following the social, RIA's senior leaders invited the crowd to join them in toasting to their units, to the U.S. Army and the United States of America.

Quarters 1, built by former RIA commander, Gen. Thomas Rodman, is located at RIA on the banks of the Mississippi River and once served as the living quarters for the island's past commanders. Today, it remains mostly closed, but is available to rent for events such as weddings and other parties.