1st Cav holds patch ceremony
Posted On: Saturday, Apr. 19 2008 04:58 AM
By Iuliana Petre
Killeen Daily HeraldOn a cold, windy morning at Fort Hood, members of the community and representatives from each of the 1st Cavalry Division's brigades gathered on Cooper Field to welcome Brig. Gen. Frederick S. Rudesheim as the deputy commanding general for support, and bid farewell to the division's command sergeant major, Philip F. Johndrow.
Johndrow served 42 months in combat in Iraq since 2003, in three different units at three different levels during three separate deployments, and was decorated twice for personal valor, said commanding general Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks. "(Johndrow) is the epitome of what it means to lead by example," Brooks said.
Johndrow listed some of the names of leaders with whom he served in the division, and referred to them as brilliant minds. Among those were Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, Lt. Gen. Joseph Fil, Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Brig. Gen. Charles C. Campbell and Col. John Ballantyne. Johndrow compared his time spent with the division to being in a leadership clinic.
"I am still waiting for someone to hand me a bill for attending this clinic," he said.
Johndrow honored the soldiers, noncommissioned officers and leaders in the entire division for the successful operations conducted in Iraq.
"We went to Iraq with a mission some thought was impossible," Johndrow said, "but when it looks too tough for everyone else, it's just right for the Cav."
Johndrow's next assignment is with the Combined Arms Command at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Rudesheim, who was welcomed, is no stranger to Fort Hood. He served here for six-and-a-half years through three assignments.
"I've got a picture on my desk of (wife) Peggy and the kids standing on this same patch about nine years ago," he said. "A lot has changed ... but there are constants – and the pride in excellence that is this division's hallmarks remains unchanged."
Prior to joining the "First Team," Rudesheim served as the senior mission commander for III Corps and Fort Hood.
The 1st Cavalry Division has not yet identified Johndrow's replacement.