By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Fort Hood Herald

The 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team said farewell to its final Fort Hood commander during a ceremony Thursday at Cameron Field.

Col. Ted Martin relinquished command to Col. Jeffrey Martindale.

The brigade returned to Fort Hood earlier this year and will re-locate to Fort Carson, Colo., no later than August.

Martin said he absolutely loved serving as the brigade's commander the last two years, adding it was the best assignment he ever had.

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, the division's commander, praised Martin's leadership during his year in Iraq.

"Martin knows three words; attack, attack, and attack," Hammond said. "The casual observer may not understand that there is a war to be won and Martin and his brigade did their share of winning that war in southern Baghdad."

Martin told the soldiers standing in formation before him that he was proud to be their former commander and he saluted them for all their hard work and sacrifices.

Always remember the time spent during the most decisive point in the war in Iraq, he told them.

"And you prevailed."

Hammond said Martindale would take the brigade to a whole new level.

Martindale said it was an honor for him to command the brigade "whose ethos has always centered upon doing what it takes to win the nation's battles."

"It matters very little whether our next mission lies in Iraq, Afghanistan, or some other locale, the Raider soldiers and leaders of this storied brigade will train and fight to win," he said.

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