Lt. Col. Al Morris, commander of 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, addressed Soldiers of 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist), under whom his unit fell, the Anbar Provincial Reconstruction Team, the commander of the 1st Iraqi Quick Response Force Brigade, and the Soldiers of his battalion, who were packed and ready to leave by helicopter once the ceremony concluded.
"Like many others during this time of transition, we performed a different mission than artillery for which many of us have spent our careers training," said Morris, in a speech.
"While we didn't trade in our swords for ploughshares, it allowed our efforts to be directed toward the reconstruction of this great nation and sending our countrymen and women home as we leave knowing we have done our part during the War on Terror," he said.
During their deployment, 3-157th FA conducted more than 400 escort missions, 2,000 base patrols, operated Camp Ramadi's gates and housing and oversaw its defense. Soldiers drove more than 41,000 miles on missions.
Morris said he appreciated 1/82 AAB commander Col. Mark R. Stammer's hands-off approach that gave the battalion great freedom to accomplish their mission, and for the outpouring of support when the battalion's only casualty was wounded by sniper fire last year.
"The outpouring of support from you and the 82nd Association back in the States for Sgt. [Martin] May and his family as he recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center was just outstanding," said Morris.
May was shot below his right eye while providing security for a Provincial Reconstruction Team.
The Colorado National Guard unit traces its lineage back to the Civil War and was part of the division that saw the most days of combat by any division in World War II.