thedrifter
05-04-07, 12:22 PM
Devens hand selected as 4th
Marine Div. command shifts
By Don Eriksson
Nashoba Publishing
Article Launched:05/04/2007 08:34:36 AM EDT
Staff Writer
DEVENS -- As it has so many times during the last century, historic Rogers Field hosted a plethora of uniformed military personnel when U.S. Marines from the 4th Marine Division gathered to observe the change of command from Maj. Gen. Douglas V. O'Dell Jr. to Maj. Gen. James J. Williams.
O'Dell chose Fort Devens for his retirement because of close ties with the 25th Marines, two companies of which -- Headquarters and Weapons -- are stationed here. Both companies returned from a year in Iraq last fall.
Early in his 39-year career, O'Dell served as a company executive officer, Weapons Company commander and battalion operations officer for the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines.
The 4th Division is the ground forces element of the Marine Corps Reserve with headquarters in New Orleans, La. It's the Marine Corps' largest with 20,721 Marines and Sailors at 109 sites in 38 states.
Nine generals and at least 60 other senior officers, many of them stationed in New Orleans, along with family, friends and Marines who served as far back as World War II were guests in the reviewing stand. Marines of the 25th formed in the field with rifles. The division's band was flown in from Louisiana.
During the ceremony, O'Dell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and citations for outstanding achievement in humanitarian relief following Hurricane Katrina from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee, Navy Secretary Donald Winter and President George Bush.
O'Dell's wife, Judy, and mother, Ann, were presented flowers.
Marine Forces Reserve Commander Lt. Gen. John W. Bergman included Devens in his opening remarks.
"If you need more than a day like today for inspiration on how to attack a day when you wake up, you need help," he said. "Just the grounds and military history here and the progress in Iraq represent the past, present and most assuredly the future."
Calling on everyone in "the spectrum from the Peace Corps on one end and the Marines on the other" to serve, Bergman said everyone is cut out to serve the nation in some way and promised to work on making the Marine Corps better reflect the diversity in America.
"I see centuries of service sitting and standing here," he said. "It's still up to us as parents, mentors, and grandparents to explain how important it is to serve. It isn't the uniform, it's in the heart. We have to start now with the young.
"Gen. O'Dell has done it his way, which worked for the Marine Corps' way," Bergman said. "He wouldn't get it right if not for Judy, like the rest of us. Thanks for hanging in, (Judy). It was for the right reason. You shaped a career of a Marine officer."
Williams, whose most recent commands have been combat operations in Afghanistan and with the First Marine Expeditionary force at Camp Pendleton, CA and Camp Fallujah, Iraq, thanked first the Marines of the 25th standing on Rogers Field "for what you do," then O'Dell's mother for "giving us a great man."
"At the end of the day I'm proud to stand here, and I'm proud of the lance corporals and sergeants because "those are the guys doing the fighting and dying on the field," he said. "I would charge all Marines here to dedicate yourselves because the leadership in the country and in many areas is devoid."
To applause, O'Dell said he'd brought "the president's own, the commandant's own and the best band in the Corps from New Orleans."
"When I talk about Marines and our Corps it's difficult for me to maintain my composure," said O'Dell, who had extended his retirement date for five years because of Sept. 11.
Giving credit to his chiefs of staff, he told Williams he's getting "one heck of a division and a heck of a challenge."
"Focus on Marines, for they will do amazing things for you. When you wake up and when you go to bed, focus on that," said O'Dell. "None of us do this for thanks, and we can agree that when we reach this transition the affection, friendship and fidelity for the Corps survive.
"There have been some great moments, but there's a lot I won't miss," he said. "What I'm really going to miss is being in the company of men and women of every stripe and grade who get out of bed in the mountains in Afghanistan, in Iraq or in the jungle with the only intent being that of doing right things.
"These of the 25th (Marines) represent the 20,000-plus well," he said. "I'll miss their company desperately, but I'll be back. Semper Fi."
Throughout the ceremony Marines standing across Rogers Field had been ordered to present arms, order arms, and right and left shoulder arms by relayed commands -- no loud speakers, no visual aids. The sound of 250-odd rifles slapping into hands was like one giant clap.
As senior officers lined up to greet O'Dell in a scenario that lasted more than a half-hour, Bergman looked around Rogers Field.
"Nobody likes a base to close," he said. "Devens is a success story of how you can take the lemon of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) and make lemonade.
"We'd be remiss if we didn't have and see the reminders of those who served," he said.
Far away from the ceremony, a small group of lance corporals packed up gear. Looking across Rogers Field, one said, "Those buildings are beautiful, what are they? What are they used for?"
"I've never seen grass so green," another said. "It isn't that color down south."
Ellie
Marine Div. command shifts
By Don Eriksson
Nashoba Publishing
Article Launched:05/04/2007 08:34:36 AM EDT
Staff Writer
DEVENS -- As it has so many times during the last century, historic Rogers Field hosted a plethora of uniformed military personnel when U.S. Marines from the 4th Marine Division gathered to observe the change of command from Maj. Gen. Douglas V. O'Dell Jr. to Maj. Gen. James J. Williams.
O'Dell chose Fort Devens for his retirement because of close ties with the 25th Marines, two companies of which -- Headquarters and Weapons -- are stationed here. Both companies returned from a year in Iraq last fall.
Early in his 39-year career, O'Dell served as a company executive officer, Weapons Company commander and battalion operations officer for the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines.
The 4th Division is the ground forces element of the Marine Corps Reserve with headquarters in New Orleans, La. It's the Marine Corps' largest with 20,721 Marines and Sailors at 109 sites in 38 states.
Nine generals and at least 60 other senior officers, many of them stationed in New Orleans, along with family, friends and Marines who served as far back as World War II were guests in the reviewing stand. Marines of the 25th formed in the field with rifles. The division's band was flown in from Louisiana.
During the ceremony, O'Dell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and citations for outstanding achievement in humanitarian relief following Hurricane Katrina from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee, Navy Secretary Donald Winter and President George Bush.
O'Dell's wife, Judy, and mother, Ann, were presented flowers.
Marine Forces Reserve Commander Lt. Gen. John W. Bergman included Devens in his opening remarks.
"If you need more than a day like today for inspiration on how to attack a day when you wake up, you need help," he said. "Just the grounds and military history here and the progress in Iraq represent the past, present and most assuredly the future."
Calling on everyone in "the spectrum from the Peace Corps on one end and the Marines on the other" to serve, Bergman said everyone is cut out to serve the nation in some way and promised to work on making the Marine Corps better reflect the diversity in America.
"I see centuries of service sitting and standing here," he said. "It's still up to us as parents, mentors, and grandparents to explain how important it is to serve. It isn't the uniform, it's in the heart. We have to start now with the young.
"Gen. O'Dell has done it his way, which worked for the Marine Corps' way," Bergman said. "He wouldn't get it right if not for Judy, like the rest of us. Thanks for hanging in, (Judy). It was for the right reason. You shaped a career of a Marine officer."
Williams, whose most recent commands have been combat operations in Afghanistan and with the First Marine Expeditionary force at Camp Pendleton, CA and Camp Fallujah, Iraq, thanked first the Marines of the 25th standing on Rogers Field "for what you do," then O'Dell's mother for "giving us a great man."
"At the end of the day I'm proud to stand here, and I'm proud of the lance corporals and sergeants because "those are the guys doing the fighting and dying on the field," he said. "I would charge all Marines here to dedicate yourselves because the leadership in the country and in many areas is devoid."
To applause, O'Dell said he'd brought "the president's own, the commandant's own and the best band in the Corps from New Orleans."
"When I talk about Marines and our Corps it's difficult for me to maintain my composure," said O'Dell, who had extended his retirement date for five years because of Sept. 11.
Giving credit to his chiefs of staff, he told Williams he's getting "one heck of a division and a heck of a challenge."
"Focus on Marines, for they will do amazing things for you. When you wake up and when you go to bed, focus on that," said O'Dell. "None of us do this for thanks, and we can agree that when we reach this transition the affection, friendship and fidelity for the Corps survive.
"There have been some great moments, but there's a lot I won't miss," he said. "What I'm really going to miss is being in the company of men and women of every stripe and grade who get out of bed in the mountains in Afghanistan, in Iraq or in the jungle with the only intent being that of doing right things.
"These of the 25th (Marines) represent the 20,000-plus well," he said. "I'll miss their company desperately, but I'll be back. Semper Fi."
Throughout the ceremony Marines standing across Rogers Field had been ordered to present arms, order arms, and right and left shoulder arms by relayed commands -- no loud speakers, no visual aids. The sound of 250-odd rifles slapping into hands was like one giant clap.
As senior officers lined up to greet O'Dell in a scenario that lasted more than a half-hour, Bergman looked around Rogers Field.
"Nobody likes a base to close," he said. "Devens is a success story of how you can take the lemon of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) and make lemonade.
"We'd be remiss if we didn't have and see the reminders of those who served," he said.
Far away from the ceremony, a small group of lance corporals packed up gear. Looking across Rogers Field, one said, "Those buildings are beautiful, what are they? What are they used for?"
"I've never seen grass so green," another said. "It isn't that color down south."
Ellie