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DIVARTY Activates New Battery

By Pfc. Jacob NunnenkampSeptember 7, 2022

DIVARTY Activates New Battery
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Gonzales commands a formation during an activation ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. This ceremony activated Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL
DIVARTY Activates New Battery
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew stands at parade rest during Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment's, activation ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. Andargachew assumed command of the newly formed battery. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL
DIVARTY Activates New Battery
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Gonzales salutes Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew during the activation ceremony for Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. Andargachew assumed command of the newly formed battery, while Gonzales assumed responsibility as the acting first sergeant. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL
DIVARTY Activates New Battery
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Sam M. Pearson, commander of the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment passes the guidon flag to Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew during Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment's, activation ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. This gesture symbolized Andargachew's assumption of command of Delta Battery. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL
DIVARTY Activates New Battery
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Troopers salute the flag of the United States of America during the activation ceremony for Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew assumed command of the newly formed battery, while Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Gonzales assumed responsibility as the acting first sergeant. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL
DIVARTY Activates New Battery
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Sam M. Pearson, commander of the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, smiles as he gives a speech at Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment's, activation ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 7. Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew assumed command of the newly formed battery, while Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Gonzales assumed responsibility as the acting first sergeant. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - The 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Brigade (DIVARTY) hosted an assumption of command ceremony at Charles B. Allen Hall Sept. 7 to activate a new battery in the division.

Cpt. Zemas K. Andargachew assumed command of Delta Battery, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Gonzales assumed the responsibility as the acting battery first sergeant.

“Today marks a page in air defense history, as Cpt. Andargachew takes command of the first man-portable air defense system battery of the first maneuver-short range air defense battalion within a division,” said Lt. Col. Sam M. Pearson, commander of the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and after serving nine years in the Army, this is Andargachew’s first assumption of command. He is the first to command this newly formed battery.

“I feel incredibly humbled to be a part of this historic moment,” said Andargachew. “It is my highest professional honor to take the sacred responsibility of command of the Dark Knight Battery.”

Gonzales, the acting first sergeant of Delta Battery, is accepting his first assumption of responsibility after 17 years serving in the army as an air and missile defense crewmember.

“This is exciting, it is an uncharted territory, we are all looking forward to bringing these capabilities to the 1st Cavalry Division,” said Gonzales.

The 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, reactivated on Fort Hood, under the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery earlier this year.

“I would also like to thank the soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and officers that have worked tirelessly toward preparing for this ceremony and their continued efforts to building Delta Battery from the ground up,” said Pearson. “You all have exceeded the expectations set before you and for that I am extremely grateful.”