‘Imperial’ Soldiers hold hail, farewell

Sgt. Alexander Burnett

11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Bidding farewell to a fellow Soldier is met with mixed emotions from seniors, peers and subordinates. The outgoing team member departs to do other things and benefit another unit, and the unit he leaves is rarely the same without him.However, these occasions also afford the opportunity to welcome new Soldiers to the team. The 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade experienced this type of change during its quarterly Hail and Farewell at the American Land and Cattle restaurant in El Paso, March 4.

Col. Joseph DeAntona and Lt. Col. George Whitmire, the 11th ADA Bde. commander and deputy commander respectively, gathered members from the brigade’s Personnel, Logistics, Intelligence,Operations, Communications and Special Staff sections to say goodbye to Soldiers moving on to new positions or retiring, and to welcome their replacements. 

Departing team members were Lt. Col. David Epperson, Maj. Patrick Monroe, Maj. Neal Lape, Capt. Marco Vela, 1st Lt. Roy Niel, Sgt. 1st Class Luis Rueda and David Walther. Each received recognition for their achievements during their time with the brigade. Whitmire said while their loss to the brigade will be significant, he knows the impression they’ll make at new assignments will be substantial.

“It’s a big loss to the brigade, seeing these Soldiers move on,” said Whitmire. “They each did amazing things for the ‘Imperial’ Brigade and they will continue to do great things as they move to their new assignments.”

Welcomed to the brigade were Maj. Sean Passmore, Maj. Michael Davis, 1st Lt. Andrew Moncrief, 1st Lt. Court Harris, 1st Lt. Eric Lee, Chief Warrant Officer Elizabeth Turner and 1st Sgt. Brent Williams. Leaders in each of the incoming Soldiers’ respective sections were on hand at the Hail and Farewell and got information on their new Soldiers’ interests, hobbies and military background.

After dinner, Soldiers from each section told stories in an attempt to pass on the brigade’s “Golden Boot.” The Golden Boot is an esprit de corps award presented at each quarterly Hail and Farewell to an officer who displayed a momentary lapse in judgment which resulted in a humorous anecdote. Each section relates a story about another Soldier, the group votes and the boot is passed. Whether famous or infamous, Monroe, the former 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s Personnel officer in charge, took home the Golden Boot.

Moncrief, the new executive officer Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 11th ADA Bde., said the tradition which was continued March 4 was a welcome introduction to his new assignment.

“The hail and farewell was a warm welcome to the battery and my new position in the brigade,” said Moncrief.