News

Seahorse Battalion assigned new leaders

Staff photo by Kellie Etheridge

16TH CAVALRY REGIMENT COMMANDER COL. LEOPOLDO QUINTAS passed the 19th Engineer Battalion colors to incoming commanderLt. Col. David Ray.

By KELLIE ETHERIDGE

Turret Staff Writer

kellie.etheridge@us.army.mil

The 19th Engineer Battalion hosted a dual change of command and change or responsibility ceremony on Brooks Field June 24.

Lt. Col. Heath Roscoe passed his command to Lt. Col. David Ray, and Command Sgt. Maj. Darrell Dixon transferred his responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Walton.

Col. Leopoldo Quintas, the regimental commander of the 16th Cavalry Regiment, provided remarks about the outgoing and incoming commanders. First, however, he spoke of the 19th Engineers’ missions in Afghanistan, and how the Seahorse Battalion helped build roads and other structures.

“For the last 28 months,

Lt. Col. Heath Roscoe has commanded this great formation—providing the example, energy, and leadership to get the job done, time and again,” said Quintas. “Back in February 2008, Heath took this still-forming team and set

them on the path to mission success. Equipping, manning, maintaining, training, standards and discipline, (Roscoe) had to do it all, and he did so magnificiently.

“He then took this command to the National Training Center (at Fort Irwin, Calif.,), then to Afghanistan, and brought them all home.”

Quintas thanked Roscoe for his leadership and the positive impact it had on the battalion. Then Quintas spoke about Roscoe’s right-hand man, Command Sgt. Maj. Darrell Dixon.

“(Dixon and Roscoe) have formed that strong partnership that all commanders and (command sergeants major) strive to achieve. Dixon provided the absolutely critical complementary leadership needed to take a battalion to war, thrive in a combat environment, and bring them home again. Dixon, thank you for your strength, your love of Soldiers, and your uncompromising approach to coach, teach, and mentor our junior leaders.”

Quintas then welcomed the incoming command team—Ray and Walton. Ray PCSed from the Joint Multinational Readiness Training Center at Hohenfels, Germany, and Walton transferred from the 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment on Fort Knox.

“(Ray) is well-known in the engineering community and in the Army as a premier trainer, a seasoned veteran, and a superb leader,” said Quintas. “The Waltons have a wealth of experience in varied engineer assignments (and have) demonstrated excellence at Fort Knox.”

After Quintas finished his remarks, Roscoe took the podium.

“Ladies and gentleman…I love this battalion and what it stands for. (My wife) and I have been some of the most blessed people on Earth to have been given the opportunity to serve in such an organization made up of outstanding leaders, staff, and patriotic Soldiers.”

He thanked the Fort Knox leadership, staff, and community, saying the Engineers couldn’t have completed their missions without their help and support. He also thanked Fort Knox for making sure the families of the Soldiers were taken care of. He thanked the Family Readiness Group leaders, volunteers, and family members of the battalion.

 “I have to give a sincere thank you to my battle buddy, Command Sgt. Maj. Dixon, whose loyalty and experience were absolutely essential to the success of the battalion. I feel we forged a pretty good team, especially at the end, and would serve with you again, anytime and anywhere.”

“It’s certainly hard to give up command…I know the unit is getting an outstanding leader and command team in Lt. Col. David Ray and his wife Cheryl. I know that their energy and experience is just what the unit needs right now.”