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HEIDELBERG, Germany — The Bundeswehr, or German Armed Forces, honored Gen. Carter F. Ham, the U.S. Army Europe commander, in a ceremony March 2 on Campbell Barracks here, commemorating his time spent as commander of U.S. Army Europe.
Before the ceremony, General Ham gave his farewell remarks to guests at a reception.
“I am so very proud of all that the Soldiers, civilians and family members of the United States Army Europe have accomplished,” he said. “It has been my great privilege for these past two and a half years to serve alongside you.”
General Ham called training USAREUR Soldiers and their European partners for deployment the command’s most vital task.
“The most important mission, as we’ve said since day one, is to train and prepare our forces that have to deploy for other operations, whether it’s Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans or anywhere else in the world,” General Ham said.
After the reception was the German Grand Tattoo. The tattoo is a nighttime ceremony in which Soldiers march by torchlight to the music of a military band. The Grand Tattoo is the Bundeswehr’s highest ceremonial honor, and is usually reserved for three- and four-star generals, said Bundeswehr Chief of Staff Gen. Volker Wieker.
The ceremony saluted General Ham’s tenure as USAREUR commander. He is scheduled to assume command of U.S. Africa Command this month.
