Greywolf gala 'Keeps the Fire Burning'

By Spc. Sharla Lewis, 3rd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.January 18, 2011

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FORT HOOD, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. Ronnie Kelley and his wife Alice greet guests of the Greywolf Gala, a military ball by 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Jan. 7 at the Killeen Civic Center. The ball promoted unit cohesion and camarad...
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas - Command Sgt. Maj. Ronnie Kelley and his wife Alice greet guests of the Greywolf Gala, a military ball by 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Jan. 7 at the Killeen Civic Center. The ball promoted unit cohesion and camarad... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - The Greywolf Gala, a military ball by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, was held Jan. 7 at the Killeen Civic Center.

The brigade held the ball in order to promote unit cohesion and morale between Soldiers and their spouses before their upcoming deployment to Iraq.

The ball provided an opportunity for couples to "Keep the Fire Burning" with a proper deployment send-off by spouses.

"This was to increase camaraderie and esprit de corps throughout the formation and conclude a long year of training before our deployment," said Capt. Jennifer Atkinson, who headed the planning of the ball.

Special guests included keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, the commanding general for the 1st Cavalry Division, Col. (P) Gary Volesky, the division's deputy-commanding general for maneuvers and Col. (P) James Richardson, the division's deputy-commanding general for support.

Also in attendance were Staff Sgt. Patrick Zeigler, with 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, who was wounded in 2009 on Fort Hood and Sgt. (Ret.) John Hyland, who was wounded in Diyala Province in 2007 where he also served with the 6th Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt.

More than 800 Soldiers, family members and supporters of the brigade, representing each of the brigade's six battalions, arrived in black tie attire for the evening's festivities. Service members in their dress uniforms, ladies in ball gowns and gentlemen in tuxedos filled the foyer where cocktails were served. Couples posed for portraits and battalions displayed their unit colors with pride.

"Deb and I are delighted - honored, really - to spend tonight with the Soldiers and families of our 3rd BCT," said Allyn, during his speech. "You have a year of tremendous accomplishments to celebrate, and an important mission on the horizon."