Friends and Family of the Washington Artillery,

The past few months have been spent closing out the requirements from the deployment. Most of the equipment that was shipped from Iraq is now staged at Camp Shelby waiting to be inspected then shipped to Jackson Barracks. Our weapons and other sensitive items have been recovered and are awaiting inspection as part of our unit post-deployment re-set. We have also started with our normal IDT weekend training schedule. The first weekend was conducted in March at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans as part of our Yellow Ribbon Training. This training is designed to inform M-Day Soldiers and their families of the myriad of benefits that they are entitled to as veterans. These benefits are all encompassing covering the physical and mental aspects of life after deployment. These benefits are also available to the Soldier’s spouse and children. Yellow Ribbon Training is designed so that the Soldier’s entire family can participate and express the changes that they have encountered as a result of the deployment. It seems to have been especially beneficial to the children who were recognized for their courage and sacrifice while their Soldier was deployed. A second Yellow Ribbon event was held in April at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans for those families who could not attend the first event. I attended that event with my family and found that it gave “closure” to the deployment for many families. This is a great program that needs to remain as part of the post deployment transition for Soldiers.

In April, the 256 Infantry Brigade conducted a Change of Command in Lafayette at the University of Louisiana. COL Ball, former Washington Artillery Commander and WAVA member, relinquished command to COL Jacques Thibodeaux. It was a beautiful event set on the ULL Football Field. Bravo Battery did an exceptional job providing a Salute Battery and display howitzer. It was great to hear the thunderous report of the howitzers once again. WAVA also held its first meeting in the new Washington Artillery Armory on Jackson Barracks. This is the first meeting in the St. Bernard area since Hurricane Katrina. The building committee did a fine job getting the WAVA Room prepared for this historic event.

On May 22, 2011 at 1300 hours, the Washington Artillery will conduct a Change of Command Ceremony between MAJ Steven M. Finney, the current Battalion Executive Officer and me at Jackson Barracks. At the time of the event, I will have been in command for 52 months. It has been the pinnacle of my career and I am humbled to have served in such a distinguished organization. My twenty four years in the Washington Artillery will come to an end that day however I can think of no better Soldier to hand over the reins. MAJ Finney has been a great Executive Officer, loyal confidant and best of all; my friend. He will continue to grow and shape the battalion in his image so I know great things lay ahead.

I have been re-assigned to the Louisiana Joint Forces Headquarters J-6 position and look forward to taking all of the great lessons that I have learned through my years in the Washington Artillery and applying them there. I will continue to remain active in WAVA; an organization which has provided me great mentorship because it is comprised of the best that this nation has to offer. This will be may last report as the Commander of the Washington Artillery and I bid you all farewell.

Try Us!
LTC Champagne
1-141 Field Artillery Battalion
Commanding