FORT STEWART, Ga. -The 260th Quartermaster Battalion held a change of command ceremony as Lt. Col. Robert J. Dixon relinquished command to Lt. Col. James L. Brown at Marne Garden at Fort Stewart, June 10.
During the ceremony, red roses were presented to Kelli Dixon, wife of Lt. Col. Dixon, in a tradition symbolizing her care and love for the Soldiers of 260th Quartermaster Bn., and yellow roses were presented to Lt. Col. Brown's wife, Amy, to welcome her to the unit.
The reviewing officer of the ceremony, Col. Stuart J. McRae, 3rd Infantry Division rear detachment commander, commented on the well executed change of command ceremony. He said he was proud to associate himself with what he called a "great outfit."
"I say 'great outfit' (to you) because if you see the many streamers that are involved on the set of colors as we pass them around, you will see that this is an outfit with a significant accomplishment over the past 66 years," he said. "I also want to recognize the stellar Soldiers represented here in the field. A couple of weeks ago, we did a color uncasing ceremony for the 260th (Quartermaster Battalion), and they set the standard for that ceremony and once again they have set the standard."
In his speech he mentioned the great work that Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, who just got back from Iraq a couple of month ago, did while they were deployed.
"The 260th (Quartermaster Battalion) not only set aside their designation as a quartermaster Battalion temporarily but also embraced a new challenge to act as a Combat Sustainment Support Battalion leading two battalions worth of companies from various logistical units in the Army, both active and reserve components," Col. McRae said. "They did it admirably supporting sustainment and distribution for more than 120,00 Soldiers and civilians throughout Baghdad, U.S. Division-Center's area of operation, and the Anbar province, an area spanning a quarter to a third of the country of Iraq. They had a lot of work that was under their responsibility and they did it."
Lieutenant Colonel Dixon has deployed four times and is on the eve of his fifth deployment. He is giving up command a month shy of the traditional 24-month assignment so that he can return to Iraq to close the 3rd ID deployment as the Division G4.
Colonel McRae thanked Lt. Col. Dixon for his excellent work as the 260th Quartermaster Battalion commander, and promised that the 3rd Infantry Division will take care of his Family while he is deployed. To Lt. Col. Brown, he said, "Listen to the moral compass in your heart; trust your intuition that you have honed this past few years. Always do what is right for your Soldiers, their Families and the unit mission and you will never go astray."
In his remarks, the outgoing commander thanked the Soldiers, Families and friends of the 260th Quartermaster Battalion.
The incoming commander thanked the Soldiers and Family Members of 260th Quartermaster Battalion for their service and sacrifice to our great nation. He thanked Lt. Col. Dixon and his wife for all that they have done for the battalion.
"We are better because of your efforts," he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Brown returns to Coastal Georgia after an eight-year break. He previously served at Hunter Army Airfield as a captain in the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment. He assumes responsibility of not only the 260th Quartermaster Battalion but also all the units of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade that did not deploy - more than 2,000 Soldiers. He has a daunting road ahead, as most incoming battalion commanders take on four to six companies, but Lt. Col. Brown has inherited 18.
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