Soldiers farewell Special Troops Battalion commander

BAMBERG, Germany — Soldiers and loved ones gathered to say farewell to the outgoing commander of the 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade during a relinquishment of command ceremony at the Freedom Fitness Facility in Bamberg Dec. 7.

Col. Martin B. Pitts, 16th Sust. Bde. commander, thanked Lt. Col. Christopher Chun for his service through activation of the battalion on July 16, 2007, deployment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-10 and redeployment to Bamberg in October 2009.

“As my ‘On Point’ battalion commander, you ensured successful mission accomplishment, despite your enormously diverse mission set, ranging from financial and human resources detachments dispersed across MND – North (Multi-National Division – North) to running the gateway into northern Iraq from the Turkish border, covering an area the size of Pennsylvania,” said Colonel Pitts during a speech at the ceremony.

Colonel Pitts also thanked Colonel Chun’s wife, Ginger, for her support, and Soldiers presented her with a bouquet of roses.

“Ginger, simply put, none of Chris’s exploits could have been possible without your boundless support and dedication to the home front and the STB,” Colonel Pitts said. “Your talents and efforts shone very brightly when it counted the most, during the STB’s deployment.”

Colonel Chun said he was proud of the accomplishments of the Soldiers and leaders he served with in the 16th Special Troops Battalion.

“We were able to stand up the battalion from nothing, deploy to Iraq and accomplish our mission, and come back with everyone safe and sound,” Colonel Chun said.
Soldiers said they would miss Colonel Chun, because he put Soldiers first.

“I think Lt. Col. Chun genuinely cares for his Soldiers,” said Staff Sgt. Maria Castillo, 16th Sust. Bde. chaplain assistant, and native of Port Arthur, Texas. “He will do whatever he can to help Soldiers out.”

Colonel Chun, who’s previous assignments include executive officer, 601st Division Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division; and XVIII Airborne
Corps’ chief, medical plans and operations; will become the deputy surgeon at U.S. Army North and 5th Army at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.

Maj. Marvin Kellem, 16th Sust. Bde. executive officer, became the interim battalion commander.