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Blaschke takes over Camp Clark command
By Ben Holman
Nevada Daily Mail
On a clear and bright Sunday, with the wind standing the American flag at attention, around 20 reservists, retired military personnel and others gathered at Camp Clark for a change of command ceremony. A small crowd gathered to send off an outgoing commander and welcome a new one at the training facility outside Nevada.
Lt. Col. Alan Garrison, who has been in command of Camp Clark for 33 months, is being deployed to Iraq and will be leaving his home in Taos, Mo., for Fort Riley, Kan., soon. Garrison has been in the Missouri Army National Guard since 1977.
During his tenure, Garrison has seen hundreds of thousands of troops, both active duty and reservists, pass through the gates of Camp Clark for training.
"When General Shaw passed the guidon (unit flag) to us he said, 'get ready.'" He said that, because of the war on terror, Camp Clark would play a major role in training Missouri's fighting forces for action overseas.
Three years ago, 115,000 soldiers were trained at sites in Missouri; two years ago 240,000 were trained and last year 305,000 men were trained at Missouri sites.
He said that he was impressed at the quality of training that the soldiers had received and that it had been done without any extra personnel. He added, however, that the job was not finished yet, "It's not time to rest yet."
Garrison said that he would likely reach Iraq while Company A was still there and said he was anxious to work with them.
Replacing Garrison is Lt. Col. Charles Blaschke, who served several years in active duty with the Navy and was commissioned second lieutenant with the Missouri National Guard in 1983. Blaschke lives in Lee's Summit, Mo.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Blaschke said, "I love soldiering, I love seeing soldiers train, and I love training soldiers -- I wouldn't be here if I didn't."
He also thanked his wife, Sheila, who was unable to attend due to illness, for her support over the years. "I look forward with great anticipation to working with everyone at this command."
During the ceremony, the symbolic passing of the guidon was carried out, as the unit's banner was passed from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander -- representing the exchange of leadership. Also, the "assumes command" orders were read, stating that Blaschke was to take over command.
To conclude the ceremony, the Army song was played and the new unit commander ordered the dismissal of the assembled troops.