121st Combat Support Hospital Bids Farewell to Senior Leader

More than 26 years of military medical service came to a close on February 11, as the 121st Combat Support Hospital (CSH) / Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital (BAACH) said farewell to its most senior enlisted leader.

Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher C. Irwin relinquished his responsibilities to Command Sgt. Maj. Diahann J. White at a ceremony held at Yongsan Korea's Collier Community Fitness Center. A second ceremony followed in which he officially retired from the U.S. Army. Both ceremonies were presided over by Colonel Mark M. Reeves, the 121CSH/BAACH Commander.

Irwin, a Boston Massachusetts native, became a combat medic when he joined the Army in 1990 and maintained that military occupational specialty throughout his career as he rose to the top of that career field in both rank and position.

He has held numerous assignments all across the Army Medical Department including three tours to Iraq as an Evacuation Platoon Sergeant, Senior Health Care Non Commissioned Officer and Medical Evacuation Company First Sergeant. He also served in the 1st and 3rd Brigades, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade and Surgeon's Office of the 101st Airborne Division; 3rd Brigade, 2d Infantry Division and Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Salt Lake City Recruiting Battalion, 6th Recruiting Brigade, Ogden, Utah; Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. and the Warrior Transition Command, Alexandria Virginia.

His service awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and many more to include the Expert Field Medical Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, Aviation Crew Member Badge and Gold Recruiter Badge.

Irwin departed the command with the flair he is known for by bidding farewell to the command and taking a final helicopter ride over the city of Seoul, South Korea.

CSM White, an army practical nurse of 27 years, comes to the 121CSH and BAACH from the 30th Medical Brigade, Sembach, Germany. A native of New York City, White like Irwin has also held a multitude of positions throughout the AMEDD career field. Joining White on this new assignment is her husband, Frederick White and daughters, Jessica and Jennifer.