Colonel says goodbye once more General praises Hildebrand for his work with fort unit

Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — Calling Col. John B. Hildebrand “the epitome of a soldier-leader,” Brig. Gen. Jennifer Napper said the 11th Signal Brigade has been well-served during Hildebrand’s time as its commander.

On Thursday morning, Hildebrand turned over the brigade to Col. Francis J. Huber during a change-of-command ceremony on the fort’s historic Brown Parade Field.

Signal Corps history, going back to the Civil War, was part of the event, as two soldiers, Staff Sgt. Kevin Kinnari and Sgt. Dustin Anderson, both members of Company B, 86th Signal Battalion, waved commands using red and white semaphore flags.

In relay of the silent commands during the ceremony, Kinnari received instructions from the commander of troops, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Mangelsdorf, and then had Kinnari semaphore the message to Anderson, who was located in a bucket in a cherry picker.

From the high perch, Anderson relayed the commands — such as come to attention, present arms, order arms and others — to the soldiers on the parade field.

Napper, who heads the 7th Signal Command at Fort Gordon, Ga., was the reviewing officer, taking the place of Maj. Gen. Susan Lawrence, who heads the Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command (Army). Lawrence was away on duty elsewhere, as was her deputy, Col. Lawarren Patterson, who is on the brigadier general promotion list. NETCOM is the higher headquarters of the 7th and the 11th.

As for Hildebrand, Napper said the colonel’s mission “was accomplished flawlessly” during his deployment to Iraq with his headquarters staff for 15 months.

Saying Hildebrand ensured success through “hard realistic training,” the general added that through the colonel’s leadership, the brigade’s “soldiers were combat ready” and by leading the away “you not only embraced the warrior ethos, you lived it.”

The brigade’s headquarters staff, consisting of nearly 125 soldiers who deployed, returned Christmas Eve. Members of two battalions of the brigade are deployed, the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, stationed at Fort Huachuca, and the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, located at Fort Lewis, Wash.

In late 2007, soldiers of the 86th Signal Battalion returned from a deployment to Iraq. Hildebrand said he has been saying goodbye to the 86th on many occasions during his assignment as brigade commander.

Most of the soldiers on the field were from the 86th, representing their own unit as well as the 51st, he said. The rear detachment of the 40th represented themselves.

Two weeks after he assumed command of the brigade, the 86th left for a 15-month deployment to Iraq. When the brigade headquarters arrived in Iraq for its 15-month deployment, the battalion left Iraq 10 days later.

“I was once again saying goodbye to them as they headed home. Now only two weeks after reassuming command of the CONUS (Continental United States) units, I am once again saying goodbye,” Hildebrand said.

Regardless of the coming and goings of units in the 11th, he said to have the opportunity to command a signal brigade in today’s Army is a rare privilege.

“To command the 11th Signal Brigade is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream,” he said.

He said his contribution to the success of the Thunderbirds, the brigade’s nickname, is trivial during his 30 months of command, especially in light of “the accumulated effort from the commanders, staffs and soldiers of the bridge.”

As for his replacement, Hildebrand told Huber that the Army picked a highly capable officer.

Napper said Huber is an exceptional leader with extensive Signal Corps background.

“He is not only a great leader but a strategic thinker,” she said, adding Huber is an exceptional multi-skilled leader.

There is no question Huber “possesses the characteristics required for senior leadership in today’s Army and has the precise experience necessary to command this challenging brigade,” Napper said.

Hildebrand gave some friendly advice to Huber.

“Keep your eyes on the horizon, not on the path … trust your NCOs, they are your key to success, and great things happen when you don’t care who gets the credit,” Hildebrand said.

Keeping with tradition, the incoming commander kept his remarks short.

“Soldiers of the 11th Signal Brigade, you are magnificent. Together we will continue to build this great team that you have had with Col. Hildebrand,” Huber said.

He said part of what will be done will ensure the brigade’s standard of excellence in every mission while soldiers are well-trained is part of “this great Army Strong team.”

Although the brigade has changed hands, it doesn’t mean the colonels will not be in contact on post.

Hildebrand is becoming assistant deputy chief of staff for operations at NETCOM. Huber’s previous assignment was as NETCOM’s director of strategic communications.

Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

Profiles

The 11th Signal Brigade had a change-of-command ceremony on Thursday.

The outgoing commander is Col. John B. Hildebrand, who is a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., and who was commissioned in 1983.

He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, a master’s of military arts and sciences from the Command and General Staff College, and a master’s of strategic studies from the Air War College.

He has served in a number of Signal Corps command, troop and staff positions.

His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals.

He and his wife, Paula, have a son, Joseph, 16.

The incoming commander is Col. Francis J. Huber, who was born at Fort Knox, Ky., and who was commissioned in 1985 after graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s of science in business administration from Boston University, a master’s of military arts and sciences from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a master’s of strategic studies from the Army War College.

He has served in a number of Signal Corps positions during his career.

His decorations include a Bronze Star Medal, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, six Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals and an Army Achievement Medal.

He and his wife, Ursel, have two daughters, Erin, 19, and Francesca, 14.

On the Net

• 11th Signal Brigade:

http://netcom.army.mil/11th/index.htm

[SandRat]

From left, Brig. Gen. Jennifer Napper, Col. Francis J. Huber and Col. John B. Hildebrand wait for the 11th Signal Brigade change-of-command ceremony to start Thursday on Fort Huachuca. Napper is the commander of the 7th Signal Command at Fort Gordon, Ga., and was the reviewing officer for the event on Brown Parade Field. Huber took over the command from Hildebrand.(Ed Honda•Herald/Review)

Sgt. Dustin Anderson, of Company B, 86th Signal Battalion, uses Signal Corps semaphore flags to order soldiers on Brown Parade Field to execute a command during the 11th Signal Command change-of-command ceremony on Friday.(Ed Honda•Herald/Review)

[TADSLOS]

Damn. I’m gettin’ old, Sandy.

[SandRat]

Aren’t we all...

[Old Sarge]

Col. Francis J. Huber, who was born at Fort Knox, Ky., and who was commissioned in 1985

The year group after me - and now he's an O-6.

File this under What Might Have Been...

[SandRat]

I had left Fort Knox that year as a Major bound for Korea; dang I’m feeling old!

[Old Sarge]

Oh, snap! I got to Knox April ‘85 - when did you leave?

[SandRat]

Late March