Change-of-command ceremony held for National Guard unit
MOUNT PLEASANT – The military flag guidons, the colors of the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, were passed from the commander to his successor Saturday as Pennsylvania Army National Guard officials and soldiers marked the change of command for the Mount Pleasant Headquarters unit. As the flags of the nation, state and National Guard freely moved with the morning breeze and soldiers stood at attention, Lt. Col. Loris F. Lepri, who most recently served as the commander of the 1/110th at Camp Habbinayih in Iraq, turned over the command to Maj. Timothy H. Blayney, who returned last year after being deployed to Iraq with Task Force Dragoon.
“It is an honor and a privilege to assume command of the 1/110th combined arms battalion,” said Blayney. “This battalion has a rich and successful history, and I look forward to continuing the traditions and to build on the history.”
Blayney said that his goal is to serve the soldiers in his command, continue to instill the values of the U.S. Army and fulfill the Soldier’s Creed.
“Never have the phrases, “I will always place the mission first; I will never accept defeat; I will never quit; I will never leave a fallen comrade; I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of; I am an American soldier” meant so much and have defined America’s war on terror,” he said. “These are important times for the nation, the United States Army, and the (Pennsylvania Army National Guard) 28th Division.
“The 1/110th combined arms battalion will be an integral part of this fight and it is an honor to be part of the greatest division, brigade and battalion in the United States Army.”
Lepri, who served as the 1/110th commander for 20 months, said while his tenure was brief, it was the “most meaningful.”
“The 1/110th Infantry will always be my home regiment,” he said. “The soldiers I served with in Iraq will always be an extension of my family.”
The unit was stationed in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq, referred to as one of the “most dangerous” areas of the country and an insurgent stronghold, but when the 1/110th left in June, it was safer for the Iraqi citizens, said Lepri.
“Our tank company secured the most dangerous regions in Iraq,” he said, noting the hundreds of improvised explosive devices located and detonated. “We supported and helped train Iraqi army units; there was one battalion when we arrived (and) four battalions, a battalion headquarters and a division headquarters when we left.”
Lepri said the dedication of the soldiers also led to the development of a functioning Iraqi Police force.
“All of this was possible because of the excellent character and professionalism of each and every soldier,” he said.
During the deployment, approximately 50 soldiers of the 1/110th were awarded the Purple Heart for their bravery.
“Some of these great soldiers suffered through terrible pain and agony,” said Lepri. “Some of them have injuries that will remain with them for a lifetime. The resilience of these great soldiers was always a great inspiration for me.”
Serving with the 1/110th in Iraq were National Guardsmen from other states and members of the U.S. Marines, said Lepri, with 15 losing their lives while serving their country.
“I would ask that they be memorialized in this armory,” he said. “They came to us from different states and units, but they died as members of the 1/110th Infantry unit.”
Those that died included Staff Sgt. Ryan Ostrom, Sgt. Brian Dunlap, Spec. Tim Brown, Gunnery Sgt. Darryl Boatman, Staff Sgt. Michael Parrot, Sgt. Joshua Torando, Pfc. John Dearing, Sgt. Spencer Akers, Spc. Dane Carver, Sgt. Joshua Yeomans, Staff Sgt. Brock Berry, SFC Randy McCaulley, Spc. Mark Melcher, Sgt. Matthew Webber and Sgt. Duane Dreasky.
“No matter where I go in my life or career, I will always take great pride in saying that I was a soldier in the 1/110th Infantry,” said Lepri.
Also taking part in the ceremony was Col. Regis Cardiff, brigade commander and Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, adjutant general, Capt. Craig Forsythe and Lt. Col. Doug Etter.