New commander takes the helm of the 3rd Infantry Division | savannahnow.com

A slight smile quickly crossed Maj. Gen. Mike Murray’s face as he accepted the 3rd Infantry Division colors Friday morning in front of a massive formation of the unit’s Dog-face Soldiers.

A moment later, the new commander of the Marne Division took his place at the front of the thousands of soldiers of the division’s six subordinate brigades spread across Fort Stewart’s Cottrell Field, replacing his longtime friend Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams who completed his tenure as the unit’s commanding general Friday.

For 27 months Abrams commanded the 3rd ID as it sent battalions, brigades and smaller units one after another into the fight in Afghanistan. Abrams, himself, spent a year in the southern region of that country commanding operations in the International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command-South as thousands of his 3rd ID soldiers and troops from various other U.S. and international forces worked side-by-side with Afghan soldiers and police, who took the lead for ensuring the security of their home region after more than 11 years of war.

One-by-one, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, the commander of the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps, read off a laundry-list of accomplishments achieved by the Marne Division under Abrams’ direction, ranging from Fort Stewart’s honors as the Army’s top installation to soldiers’ actions in combat.

“Abe’s leadership is clearly a big part of the wonderful success this division has experienced,” said Anderson, whose corps includes the 3rd ID. “At the end of the day, (success) can only be contributed to one thing — our soldiers. Abe has been an outstanding commander both in combat and here at home … and it obviously shows in his and this division’s accomplishments.”

via New commander takes the helm of the 3rd Infantry Division | savannahnow.com.