Fwd: FW: McNeill Change of Command
By Don McLoud
Published in News on May 13, 2004 2:57 PM
FORT McPHERSON, Ga. -- Lt. Gen. Dan K. McNeill, a native of Warsaw, assumed command of U.S. Army Forces Command during a change of command ceremony last week at Fort McPherson, Ga.
McNeill commanded almost all of the 7,000 U.S. forces and coordinated the efforts of coalition forces from Canada, Britain and other countries in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan.
He follows Gen. Larry R. Ellis, who is retiring from the Army after more than 35 years of service. The change of command was hosted by Gen. George Casey, vice chief of staff of the Army, and attended by Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., NATO supreme allied commander, and by Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
"For those on the field, I will work with you and for you," McNeill said. "But you can count on this. All my work will be about you.
"I'm proud of what you did yesterday. I'm proud of what you're doing today, and I'm proud of what you are going to do tomorrow. You live the Army values, and we'll weather every storm.
"Let's get after it."
McNeill served as the command's deputy commanding general and chief of staff before taking command. McNeill has been confirmed by Congress for promotion to the rank of general and will be promoted at a later date.
He is also a graduate of N.C. State University and will be the speaker at the college's graduation on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the RBC Center in Raleigh.
McNeill's military career has included command of airborne infantry units at the company, battalion, brigade and corps levels. McNeill commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and later the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg.
In 2000, under his command, Fort Bragg won recognition as one of the two top Army posts in the nation.
McNeill earned a bachelor's degree in wood technology from N.C. State in 1968 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He received an honorary degree from N.C. State in December.