Topic: Viet Luong

3rd Brigade Combat Team Welcomes New Commander

By Bill Larson | June 20, 2011 |

Fort Campbell, KY – The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) held a change of command ceremony on Friday June 17th, 2011, Colonel Viet Luong relinquished command to Col. R.J. Lillibridge before the entire brigade.

The change of command ceremony is rooted in military history dating back to the 18th century during the reign of Frederick the Great of Prussia. At that time, organizational flags were developed with color arrangements and symbols unique to each particular unit. To this flag and its commander, the soldiers of the unit would dedicate their loyalty and trust. When a change of command takes place, the flag is taken from the outgoing commander and then passed to the individual assuming the command by their superior officer. This gesture is done in front of the unit so that all could see and witness their new leader assuming his dutiful position. He who holds the flag also holds the soldier’s allegiance. This symbolic tradition has survived throughout military history.

Col. R. J. Lillibridge accepts the Brigade colors from 101st Airborne Division Commander Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell

Hamburger Hill Veterans return to Fort Campbell

May 10, 2011 |

Fort Campbell, KY – Dozens of Vietnam-era, 101st Airborne Division Veterans will return to Fort Campbell, May 12th – 13th, to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, “Iron Rakkasans” will welcome the Veterans back to Fort Campbell and will host several events in their honor.

Veterans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division gather at a memorial dedicated to fallen Soldiers of the 187th Infantry Regiment.

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The 3rd Brigade Combat Team receives new Command Sergeant Major

May 5, 2011 |

Written by3rd BCT Public Affairs

Fort Campbell, KY – The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has entered a new era of leadership as a new brigade command sergeant major took responsibility for the unit’s 3,500 Soldiers, May 4, in a Fort Campbell ceremony.

Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Crabtree, incoming brigade command sergeant major assumed responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Patton, who held the position since 2007.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Crabtree, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) incoming Command Sergeant Major, receives the brigade colors from 3rd Brigade Commander U.S. Army Col. Viet Luong at the Fort Campbell Pylon, 4 May. The brigade conducted a change of responsibility ceremony, where Crabtree formally took responsibility for the welfare, training, and professional development of the brigade's Soldiers from U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Patton. (Photo by U.S. Army Maj. S. Justin Platt)

Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team received a snowy Welcome Home, Monday

By Bill Larson | February 10, 2011 |

Fort Campbell, KY – In a flight that arrived on a snowy Monday afternoon 189 members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team returned home. They had been on deployment to the Khowst Province of Afghanistan for the last year.

Family and friends of the returning soldiers had gathered together to give their loved ones a proper welcome home.

The returning soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team form up in the snow for their grand entry during the Welcome Home Ceremony.

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Task Force Rakkasan transfers authority to Task Force Duke

January 31, 2011 |

Written by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ben K. Navratil
Task Force Duke Public Affairs

Khowst Province, Afghanistan – The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Rakkasan handed over command of Khowst and Paktya Provinces to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khowst Province January 30st.

The Rakkasans also ceremoniously cased their colors in preparation of their trip back to their home base in Fort Campbell, KY, while the 3rd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. of TF Duke from Fort Knox, KY, uncased their own.

U.S. Army Col. Viet Luong, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Rakkasan, and a resident of Fort Campbell, KY, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton, a resident of Fort Campbell, KY, case their brigade colors for the transfer of authority ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khowst Province Jan. 30th. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Tobey White, Task Force Duke Public Affairs)

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Forward Operating Base Salerno Soldiers pay silent tribute to 9/11

January 30, 2011 |

Written by By U.S. Army Spc. Tobey White
Task Force Duke Public Affairs

Khowst Province, Afghanistan – A color guard of Soldiers from Company B, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion raised a flag up the flagpole at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Afghanistan January 24st.

It’s an act performed everyday by U.S. Soldiers across Afghanistan and, indeed, across the world.

This flag, however, is different. It’s one that has flown at Ground Zero in New York City after 9/11 and holds special meaning to the 404th Soldiers, based out of Fort Dix, NJ, many of whom are from the New Jersey and New York areas.

U.S. Army Col. Viet Luong and U.S. Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton, commander and command sergeant major of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, KY, salute the World Trade Center flag at Forward Operating Base Salerno Jan. 24th. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tobey White, Task Force Duke Public Affairs)

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DOD News Briefing with Col. Luong via Teleconference from Afghanistan

January 24, 2011 |

James Turner (deputy director, Pentagon Press Office):  Okay, Colonel Luong, this is Jim Turner in the Pentagon Briefing Room.  Can you hear me?

Colonel Luong:  I can hear you loud and clear, Jim.

Mr Turner:  Good morning here, and good morning in Afghanistan, I’d like to welcome to the Pentagon Briefing Room Colonel Viet Luong. He is commander of Task Force Rakkasan and commander of — and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.  As part of Regional Command East, Colonel Luong’s 3,800-soldier brigade deployed to Afghanistan in January of this year.  In February, the brigade assumed operational responsibility of Khost, Paktika and Paktya provinces.  In August, Task Force Rakkasan relinquished control of Paktika province to Task Force Currahee composed of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.  One of Colonel Luong’s battle task forces subsequently joined Task Force White Eagle, the Polish battle group, and is currently conducting operations in Andar and Deh Yak districts in Ghazni province. «Read the rest of this article»

Rakkasan leaders bring Christmas dinner to remote base in Khowst province

December 25, 2010 |

Written by U.S. Army Pfc. Chris McKenna 
3rd Brigade Combat Team

Khowst Province, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Soldiers eat Christmas dinner in Bak, Afghanistan, December 25th. The food was brought to the remote location by helicopter and served to the Soldeirs by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team command team.  Flying in Christmas dinner helped to brighten holiday spirits while the Soldiers are separated from friends and family during the holidays.

The unit recently began operations in the new facility, requiring the Christmas meal to be flow from a larger installation near Khowst, Afghanistan to the remote location.

Two U.S. Army Soldiers eat Christmas dinner in Bak, Afghanistan, December 25th. (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Chris McKenna)

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Campbell talks security, governance with Team Paktya

December 12, 2010 |

Written by U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nicholas Rasmussen
1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment Public Affairs

Paktya Province, Afghanistan – Maj. Gen. John Campbell, Combined Joint Task Force 101 and Regional Command East commander, visited Forward Operating Base Gardez to meet with Team Paktya’s board of directors December 8th to discuss counterinsurgency operations in Paktya and the future of the provincial governance.

Campbell had two main points to impress upon Team Paktya, which includes 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team, Oklahoma Agribusiness Development Team, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, Combined Joint Task Force 101 and Regional Command East commander, attends a briefing at Forward Operating Base Gardez Dec. 8th. Base leaders briefed the commander about counterinsurgency operations conducted in Paktya province. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Barry Loo, Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

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ANSF, TF Rakkasan rehearse Afghan elections security plan at Salerno

September 17, 2010 |

Written by U.S. Army Sgt. Brent C. Powell
3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division

Khowst Province, Afghanistan – As part of the election planning process, about 50 members of the various Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces met at Forward Operating Base Salerno for a Khowst Election Combined Arms Rehearsal September 15th to go over final details and answer questions about the security of Afghanistan’s September 18th parliamentary elections.

“The purpose of the meeting was to synchronize our efforts throughout the Khowst Province to ensure a successful election,” said U.S. Army Maj. Mark Leslie, native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and operations officer for 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. “We not only want to ensure its success in the turnout of voters and the safe transportation of ballots, but also that it is a legitimate election and that it’s perceived as a legitimate election to the local population. We also want the Afghan people to feel free to vote and to be able to exercise that freedom.”

Governor Abdul Jabar Naeemi, governor of Khowst Province, takes a few moments to speak with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division, following a Khowst Election Combined Arms Rehearsal meeting Sept. 15th at Forward Operating Base Salerno. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Brent C. Powell, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division)

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