Capt. George Hopkins, commander, Troop D, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, chats with Retired Col. Dan French, former 3rd ABCT commander, while touring the squadron’s motor pool Feb. 26, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers)
By Sgt. Gregory T. Summers
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, received a visit from one of its former brigade commanders Feb. 26, 2016.
Checking in on his old brigade, Retired Col. Dan French, “Iron” Brigade commander in 2000, visited with current 3rd ABCT Soldiers and leaders.
Currently employed in government service with the Asymmetric Warfare Group, French said he has kept close ties with the Army. He has visited Fort Carson quite often in the last 16 years and said he remains impressed with the progress of his former brigade.
“The brigade has moved to levels I never thought it would,” French said. “The Soldiers here are absolutely phenomenal and the equipment is better than I could have ever hoped for. By just talking with the Soldiers (you can tell) they are trained and ready.”
French, accompanied by his wife, Debbie, his son, Lief, and two grandsons, began his afternoon at the post attending a change of command ceremony for Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd ABCT. They met Lt. Col. Doug Chimenti and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Jacobs, commander and command sergeant major, 3rd Bn., 29th Field Artillery Reg., and discussed the brigade’s recent deployment and its current operations.
Artillerymen guided Dan French’s grandsons on a tour of an M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and explained its critical role in the brigade’s missions.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the former 3rd ABCT commander met the current commander.
Col. Christopher Norrie, commander, 3rd ABCT, and Dan French discussed the brigade’s rich history, current mission and promising future. Dan French presented Norrie with a brigade coin from when he was in command and together they reflected on the brigade’s advancement.
“It is so impressive to see an organization move so far forward in just a short time, honestly,” Dan French said. “It is great to see how far they have come.”
Dan French and his family also met with Soldiers and leaders from 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, and toured an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank and an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
An infantry officer by trade, Dan French expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the armored cavalry and explained to his grandsons the importance of its role.
As Soldiers began closing up the hatches on the Bradley Fighting Vehicles in preparation for the weekend, the visit was also coming to a close.
“I would like to thank the brigade for presenting my family and (me) one of the greatest experiences I could ever imagine. To bring my grandsons … and everyone be so open and share great thoughts and ideas is absolutely incredible,” he said.
The visit was also a humbling experience for his wife.
“I haven’t been back here since the change of command” in May 2000, Debbie French said. “It’s been wonderful to be back here again, because there is nothing like the Army and this all just feels like family. This is like home to us.”
Before his departure, Dan French shared some advice with the Soldiers.
“The greatest asset that the United States Army has is its Soldiers,” French said. “You have to take care of them, privates and noncommissioned officers alike, because if you take care of them, everything else within the brigade will sort itself out.”