200714 HHB Change of Command

SAGAMI GENERAL DEPOT, Japan – The Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade bid farewell to their commander and welcomed a new one during a change of command ceremony here July 14. Col. Matthew W. Dalton, #PacificGuardian Brigade commander, officiated the ceremony as Capt. Frederick L. Sherman, the battery's outgoing commander, passed the reins to Capt. Ashley Patrick. Sherman thanked all the integral sections throughout the brigade during his farewell remarks. "In less than two years, the mighty 38th has grown from just five personnel and a water buffalo to more than a hundred strong," said Sherman. "We continually increase our capacity and readiness with equipment arrivals, new personnel, facilities, successful exercises and evaluations, inspections and inventories. The dream job for a captain, in a dream location, with a dream team of Soldiers and leaders, ready to execute whenever called upon, and faithful to our ever-evolving mission here in the land of the rising sun." Sherman, a Birmingham, Alabama native, will be attending the Command General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Patrick, a Virginia Beach, Virginia native, arrived to Japan from the Air Defense Artillery Captain's Career Course US Army Fort Sill, Oklahoma. "Col. Matthew W. Dalton and [acting] Command Sgt. Maj. George S. Rupprecht, thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead Soldiers," said Patrick. "It is truly an honor of a lifetime to be in command of HHB “Lightning Battery,” 38th ADA BDE and I am truly grateful and honored to serve in this position. I appreciate your confidence in my ability to serve as a battery commander and I pledge that I will give it my all."