101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)-FINAL Eagle 6 Update

17 JUL 2011 FINAL Eagle 6 Update:

Since our return, we have seen many changes. On 29 June, the Division bid farewell to both of our Deputies, BG Warren Phipps and BG Steve Townsend in an Honor Eagle Ceremony.  Both are headed to Washington, D.C.  Steve Townsend is the Afghanistan-Pakistan Chief on the Joint Staff, and Warren is the J-33, Deputy Director for Regional Operations (my old job before coming to Div command). Our new DCG-S is BG Jeff Colt who has been onboard as our Senior Commander for the past few months (and doing a fantastic job!). COL(P) Bill Hickman (now serving with Gen Petreaus as his XO) will arrive shortly to become our DCG-O/Eagle 8. COL R.J. Lillibridge replaced COL Viet Luong as Rakkasan 6 (3BCT, 101st).  COL Paul Bontrager replaced COL Bill Gayler as Destiny 6 (101st CAB), and on this past Friday COL Dan Walrath replaced COL Art Kandarian as Strike 6 (2BCT, 101st).  This coming week COL Drew Poppas will change command, and Bastogne (1BCT, 101st) will welcome COL JP McGee as the new Bastogne 6.


Farewell to BG and Mrs. Phipps


Farewell to BG & Mrs. Townsend


BG Townsend - MG Campbell - BG Phipps

Prior to our deployment last year, I instituted a new recognition, "The Champions of Fort Campbell", in an effort to honor and recognize some of our phenomenal citizens who enhance the quality of life for Soldiers and Families at Fort Campbell.  The inaugural recipients of this award are COL (R) Ted Crozier, T.C. and COL (R) Bob Freeman, Anna Caryl Guffey, Bill Harpel, Phil Harpel, Chuck Henderson, Ben Kimbrough and Jack Turner.  This year I bestowed this recognition on five additional Champions of Fort Campbell:  Sam Bass, Ed Rufo, Bob Seitz, Shirley West, and Dick Winters.  As some of you may know, Sam Bass is no longer with us so his wife Llewanne accepted on his behalf.  Like the inaugural class, this year's class puts forth tremendous energy for our Soldiers and Families.  Nothing is more important than returning thanks, and all of Fort Campbell appreciates the service of these great individuals.

I was able to get to Chicago for some Outreach and to help celebrate the 236th Army birthday. While there I addressed the World President's Organization, had breakfast with the Chicago National Strategy Forum, toured the Federal Reserve; meet with the Chicago USO to say thanks; addressed a "Boys and Girls Club" that was celebrating the Army birthday; addressed the "Chicago 502" at a breakfast engagement; Ann and I visited the Pritzker Military Library and conducted an hour long interview for the Pentagon Channel (you can the program at http://editor.qbsoft.com/www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org ); cut a cake and celebrated the birthday with Mayor Rahm Emanuel; and to cap it off I threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field as the Cubs played the Brewers (and won in extra innings!)...and yes it didn't bounce and yes it was a strike!

Over the July 4th weekend, we had a tremendous celebration here on Fort Campbell.  On the night of 2 July, we had a concert with performances from Daryl Worley, Buddy Jewel, Mark Wills, Ted Gentry and Randy Owen. Congressman Marsha Blackburn stopped by as well to wish all a Happy 4th of July weekend...she has been a great champion of our Families and Soldiers and we thank her for that.  On the 4th we had Laura Bell Bundy. The concerts were fantastic and all in attendance had a great time.  We had a carnival on the Division Parade Field over the weekend, and we finished on the events with a fireworks extravaganza.  The entire team that put these events together did a superb job celebrating the birth of our Nation.  Well done! On the 10th of July we had yet another free welcome home concert with Blake Shelton...all were great!


Daryl Worley


Buddy Jewel


Mark Willis and Crew


Teddy Gentry



Randy Owen


Laura Bell Bundy


Laura Bell Bundy

We've lost two Currahee heroes in the past week; I ask that you keep their families in your thoughts and prayers...we can never forget that we still have three brigades deployed (4-101; 159 CAB and 101 Sustainment), plus 49 dog team handlers from Strike...they all continue to do great work and we look forward to their return.

As I said at the beginning, my time as Eagle 6 is rapidly coming to an end.  As I prepare to enter the honored ranks as a former Eagle 6, I can tell you that this Division remains one of the most powerful and capable Divisions the world has ever known.  It has been a distinct honor to carry the title Eagle 6, and 12 August will be a trying day. My sorrow for leaving the Division is mitigated in that we have Jim McConville, a man with a well-defined legacy in this Division, coming back to take command.  And again if you are able, I welcome your attendance at the change of command ceremony. (If you're coming and part of the "Top of the Line"...pls let protocol know that. Contact Judy at: judy.fortner1@us.army.mil.  We will hold the change of command ceremony in conjunction with the Week of the Eagles so come spend a couple of days with us, and enjoy what the Fort Campbell and surrounding communities have to offer.

If in the DC area in the future pls give me a heads up so we can get together; I can always be reached at my AKO email of: john.f.campbell@us.army.mil 

Thanks for your continued support of this great Division and of our Soldiers and Families.

Eagle 6 OUT.

JOHN F. CAMPBELL
MAJOR GENERAL, USA
COMMANDING GENERAL
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT)

101st Airborne Division--Final Eagle 6 Update from Ft Campbell

This is the FINAL Eagle 6 Update. I wanted to send the final one from Ft Campbell after the Div HQ returned. My intent was to get this out over the Memorial Day weekend but I was up in DC visiting our wounded warriors and attending some events with the 101st Airborne Division Association.

The Division Headquarters conducted our Transfer of Authority in Bagram on 19 May with the 1st CAV Division. We boarded a C-17 immediately thereafter and started our journey back to Ft Campbell. Along the way we had the opportunity to stop at Ramstein AFB, Germany and visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. There we visited some of the wounded warriors and thanked the staff for their great support over the past year.

We landed at Ft Campbell on 20 May to a great homecoming. Several distinguished guests were in attendance; GOV Bill Haslam of TN; GOV Steve Bershear of KY; SEN Mitch McConnell of KY; Sen Rand Paul of KY; CONG Ed Whitfield of KY and CONG Marsha Blackburn of TN; all of our Civilian Aides to the SecArmy (CASAs); our Mayors from Clarksville; Hopkinsville and Oak Grove; and most importantly our Families! Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the USA!" and we uncased our colors.

Over the Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC and visit our wounded warriors. On Thursday I was able to visit all of our wounded warriors...most are outpatient status now so we linked up at the Malogne House throughout the morning. It was a great to see many of them again along with their families. Our LNOs (MSG Barnes, SFC Motes and SSG Daniels) have done a superb job of taking care of our Soldiers and their Families and it was great to thank them as well.

I was able to do an interview with NPR that day as well to discuss Afghanistan and talk about what the meaning of Memorial Day was all about:

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/28/136750687/general-we-cant-kill-our-way-out-of-afghanistan  

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/29/136775687/a-general-honors-fallen-soldiers

On Friday I was able to lay a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier with members of the 101st Airborne Association; what a great honor...some of the pics can be found at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/mmckee101/101stAbnDivWreathLayingAtTheTombOfTheUnknowns27May11

On Sunday we conducted the annual Memorial Ceremony at the 101st Airborne Division Memorial outside of Arlington. I was again able to talk about what Memorial Day was all about and again I was humbled and honored to have the opportunity to see many of our great Veterans and their families. Despite the heat and humidity, many of our wounded warriors made it to the ceremony with their families. Chaplain (LTC) Paul Hurley led the innovation and then after I had a chance at speaking the Association and members laid 34 wreaths representing many of the Divisions units and some individuals as well. This was followed by the Annual luncheon where I had the opportunity to give the members an update on the Division AND I was able to present Bob Seitz with his Eagle statue and lapel pin as one of the 2011 inductees into the "Champions of Ft Campbell". The rest of the Class of 2011 will be inducted at Ft Campbell on 29 June and they are: Dick Winters; Ed Rufo; Shirley West and Sam Bass (Posthumously).

Sunday evening my family and I had the great opportunity to attend the Memorial Day Concert on the steps of the Capitol with Gary Sinise. Gary and his Lt Dan Band will perform at Ft Campbell on 27 Aug. Gary has given so much of his time to our Soldiers and families over the years...he is truly the "Bob Hope of our Generation".

On Memorial Day ABC Evening News (Martha Radditz) led with a story about my last battle field circulation in Afghanistan; then on Nightline that same evening they featured "No Slack" 2-327 and LTC JB Vowell and the story of Operation Strong Eagle. http://abcnews.go.com/US/memorial-day-maj-gen-john-campbell-final-battlefield/story?id=13719044&sms_ss=email&at_xt=4de431b730e31d6c%2C0  

Today we welcomed home the last two flights for 2-502 Strike Force. LTC Pete Benchoff brought back the last members of 2BCT; they had remained in Kandahar after the rest of 2-101 returned last month. It was great to get them all home. We can't forget that we still have 4-101 (Currahees) deployed in Paktika Province; they will return in August; the Sustainment Bde (Lifeliners) will return in Sept; and 159 Combat Aviation Bde (Thunder Bde) in Feb 2012. Unfortunately over the weekend we lost seven more 101st Soldiers...we can never forget the sacrifice of these fallen heroes or of their families; I ask that you continue to keep all of our deployed Soldiers in your thoughts and prayers.

Memorial Day is a day to remember, and honor, the men and women of our military who have paid the ultimate price to defend our nation. It is also a day to say thanks for those who serve today...my wish is that every day is Memorial Day; and that we never forget that we are so very fortunate to have young men and women continue to volunteer to serve our great Nation knowing that they will end up in harms way...

It has been my great honor to send out these updates over the past year; hopefully they have been informative and have given you all a little more insight into Afghanistan...the fight, the complex problem set we faced, the human terrain, but more importantly a little about the great men and women of the Screaming Eagles...this has been our latest "Rendezvous with Destiny"...no doubt there will be more...as George Orwell said..."We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

Thanks for your continued support.

Eagle 6 OUT.

JOHN F CAMPBELL
MG, USA
COMMANDING GENERAL
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT)