“First Kansas” legacy lives on through re-designation

By CourtesyOctober 20, 2020

Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, places the Meritorious Unit Commendation streamer on the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. regimental colors at a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, places the Meritorious Unit Commendation streamer on the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. regimental colors at a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive. (Photo Credit: Maj. Margaret Ziffer) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, left, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, right, case the regimental colors of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. during a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, left, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, right, case the regimental colors of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. during a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive. (Photo Credit: Maj. Margaret Ziffer) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, left, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, right, uncase the regimental colors of the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment during a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt. in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, left, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, right, uncase the regimental colors of the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment during a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt. in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive. (Photo Credit: Maj. Margaret Ziffer) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, command sergeant major of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, receives the Meritorious Service Medal from Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, commander of the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt., in recognition for his service to the unit during his time as the senior enlisted leader at a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, command sergeant major of the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, receives the Meritorious Service Medal from Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, commander of the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt., in recognition for his service to the unit during his time as the senior enlisted leader at a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The ceremony was held to redesignate 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. “First Kansas” as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive. (Photo Credit: Maj. Margaret Ziffer) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sgt. Maj. Lee Girard, left, incoming command sergeant major of the new 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment, accepts the regimental colors from Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, right, commander of the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt., and relieves outgoing command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, from his responsibilities during a virtual change of responsibility ceremony Oct. 17. The change of responsibility ceremony was held in conjunction with the redesignation ceremony of the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment “First Kansas” as the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt. in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Lee Girard, left, incoming command sergeant major of the new 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment, accepts the regimental colors from Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, right, commander of the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt., and relieves outgoing command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, from his responsibilities during a virtual change of responsibility ceremony Oct. 17. The change of responsibility ceremony was held in conjunction with the redesignation ceremony of the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment “First Kansas” as the 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt. in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive. (Photo Credit: Maj. Margaret Ziffer) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, “First Kansas,” redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment during a virtual ceremony Oct. 17. The change was made in accordance with a 2012 Army Chief of Staff directive.

“Today marks the time in history when the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. colors will be placed at the ready for future conflicts, wars or response to the needs of our great country,” said Col. Robert Stinson, 635th Regional Support Group commander.

The 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. bears the name “First Kansas” because it is one of Kansas’ oldest and most storied units, tracing its roots back to Kansas’ territorial days pre-Civil War. Its Soldiers fought in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and across the Middle East in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Spartan Shield.

Prior to the redesignation, the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation streamer, which was added to the regimental colors by Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt. commander and command sergeant major, respectively.

“In its 156 years of service First Kansas and its Soldiers have remained steadfast in their loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage its colors represent,” Stinson said. “The Meritorious Unit streamer placed on the colors today is representative of First Kansas’ distinctive service.”

As the new 1st Bn., 635th Armor Regt., the unit will remain a combined arms battalion comprised of armor and infantry elements.

“I am confident that the 1st Battalion, 635th Armor Regiment will continue to sustain the leadership and values that have been so noteworthy in the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment throughout its lineage,” Stinson said.

“The history and the lineage of the 2nd Battalion, 137th Regiment will live on,” said Brig. Gen. Anthony Mohatt, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard. “Times change, units change. But it is a legacy - it is your legacy. And it will endure.”

Following the redesignation, a change of responsibility between the outgoing command sergeant major, Paul Purdham, and the incoming command sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Lee Girard, took place. Purdham was then awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his time serving in the 2nd CAB, 137th Inf. Regt.