CoC 2/2019

Parting speech from LTC Kirby "Bo" Dennis, 2/1/2019

Thank you everyone for attending today - it’s a great day to be a Lethal Warrior. But In my case, forgive me if I say, as COL Zinn so aptly put it, today is also a little bittersweet…

A few days ago I went running with one of my company commander around the mall in Washington, D.C. - and as we passed the Lincoln Memorial he recommended I stop by to read President Lincoln’s second inaugural address to get inspiration for my remarks at today’s ceremony. Let me assure you that I will not try to top President Lincoln, or to even try to provide inspiring comments. Nope - today my message is very basic - a simple and straightforward message of gratitude and thanks to the Soldiers and Leaders of the Lethal Warrior Battalion.

To COL and Mrs. Zinn, CSM and Mrs Hillig, CSM and Mrs. Simonetti - let me extend my deepest appreciate not only for your attendance today, but also for your incredible leadership on behalf of our great Ivy Soldiers.

Ands While he couldn’t be in attendance today, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to MG Randy George - Commander of this great division. As I told MG George in a recent email - and I know I speak on behalf of all BN CDRs in this Division - all of us in command have learned a great deal from Ivy 6’s personal example, his leadership philosophy and his love for Soldiering. I’d also like to thank Mrs. George, whose commitment to teamwork and care for families has made a tremendous difference for this great installation.

Let me also take a moment to extend a Special thanks to our great Vietnam Veterans - and specifically to the honorary colonel of the 12th IN RGT - Mr. Ed Northrop. This battalion’s deep connection with our veterans is unquestionably one aspect of command that will remain with me for the rest of my years. From Massachusetts to Nevada, Georgia to right here in Colorado, and Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, our veterans travel far and wide to maintain the bond between today’s generation of Soldiers and their predecessors – and that is evident today. Craig, Arnold, Larry, Bill and others embody the spirit of service - for they continue to give back to our Soldiers to this day, and go above and beyond in their duty to the Regiment. So let me simply say thanks for your service, and thanks for all you do on behalf of the Lethal Warriors of today. Please join me in a round of applause for our great veterans.

And finally, Let me also welcome the Vasquez family - and congratulate them all on this wonderful day for Joe and Tristan.

Before I get into my remarks, let me also thank some people very special to me. First, to my mom and dad, who journeyed from Minnesota to be with me and my wife today. Whether it was 3rd grade hockey tryouts, 7th grade baseball games, or the other dozens of other activities I participated in as a youth in Burnsville, MN - my parents were always there, supporting their youngest child with the one thing a child needs the most - love. And today, here they are again - many, many years later - continuing to support their son the only way they know how, with love, support and presence. So mom and dad - thanks for being here, and thanks for your wonderful support through the years.

A few weeks ago, I was asked two questions during a job interview. The first questions was : “What do you consider your greatest achievement in life?” The answer was easy I replied - me and my wife’s two children. And although they couldn’t be here today, I’d like to say to Ethan and Ava - that you are unquestionably our greatest achievement, and will always be so - and mom and dad love you more than anything else in the world.

The second question I received in the interview was equally easy to answer. “What is your greatest failure,” the interviewer asked me, and I immediately responded: “Sir, I fail my wonderful wife each and every day, by not being the husband I always should be, and not always being the husband she needs me to be.” So Krista - thanks for putting up with me and all of my failures, and thanks being such a supportive friend and partner for these past two years, and thanks for all of the sacrifices you have made along the way. I love you with all of my heart.

I can’t believe 2 years has passed since I took the guidon of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry – standing here today, it’s a surreal feeling. But you know what they say: Time flies when you are having fun. And boy, did we have fun. As I am fond of saying - There is never a bad day in command - perhaps less good ones - but never a bad one. Command energizes you each and every day, and inspires you to be your best 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year - in good times and when times get tough.

So it was on that run across our Nation’s Capitol that I started to wrestle with the right message for this ceremony. How do I say goodbye to the battalion that I loved with all of my heart, to the battalion staff that overwhelmingly succeeded during a complex and difficult FORSCOM-directed, no-notice 30-day EDRE to Germany; to the leaders who carried the day during our decisive victories at the Joint Readiness Training Center; and to the phenomenal Lethal Warrior Soldiers that exceeded every expectation during a critical combat deployment to Afghanistan?

The only way I know how is to simply say thank you for allowing me to be a part of the best team I served with in my military career. Thank you for energizing me each and every day, and thank you for inspiring me to do my personal best to serve our Soldiers and accomplish the mission.

Thanks to my family first and foremost - who provided the love and support necessary for me to command, I’ll never be able to repay you.

Thanks to two incredible BCT Command Teams: To COL Matt Cody, COL Dave Zinn, CSM Hillig and CSM Simonetti - wow, was I blessed to be able to work for and with you over the past two years. Your wisdom, insight, team-oriented attitude and incredible ability to implement mission command across the BCT made battalion command fun and rewarding. To COL Dave Zinn specifically - sir, I couldn’t have asked for a better boss to work for. You pushed me intellectually, you developed me tactically and you inspired me to want to continue to serve and command because of your personal example. Above all else, Thanks for letting me command the Lethal Warrior Battalion the best way I knew how, and for always supporting our great Soldiers.

Thanks to the best BN CDR wingmen I could ask for: To Brian Brobeck, Larry Workman, Troy Mills, Don Braman, Ryan Seagreaves, Don Cherry, Jerem Swendell, and Mike Wroblewski - what a talented and gifted group of commanders, from whom I learned so much. The BCT is the successful team that it is in large part because of my peer commanders, and I thank them for all that they taught me about command;

Thanks to the Lethal Lieutenants, PSGs and Squad Leaders: simply stated, because of you, our Army remains the best, most lethal and most professional in the world. Thank you for being at the tip of the spear, for professionally implementing guidance and intent, and above all else, thank you for taking care of the our Nation’s sons and daughters.

Thanks to the Lethal Staff – for advancing a culture in this battalion by forging positive, productive relationships with our higher headquarters and with our Lethal companies.

Thanks to my company commanders - Simply stated, I have been blessed to have the greatest group of company commanders in the Army - and not only did they make battalion command fun, they made it easy. To Mario Guttierez, David Buchan, Austin Caroe, Michael Hauser, Shane Joyce, Joe Wasek, Jeremiah Solven, Matt Van Dyck, Joe Atwell, Ken Smith, Scott Darhower, Matt Gambino, Will Garza and Andrew Epps. Any success that our battalion has enjoyed is directly connected to your leadership, your devotion to the mission and your care for Soldiers. With names like these, I can assure the guests in attendance that the future of our officer corps is as bright as it has ever been in my career.

And of course, I have to thank our tremendous First Sergeants and senior NCOs - truly the backbone of this great battalion. As I reflect on some of the most insightful moments that I have had in command, I think about my interactions with the Lethal 1SGs - committed professionals who offered me the best insight a battalion commander could ask for. You are an amazing group of professionals - and I thank you for your steadfast commitment to our Values and our profession.

Thanks to my Field Grade Officers and Operations SGMs: As all of us in uniform know, battalion and brigades are run by our Majors and Operations Sergeants Major, and I have been blessed with some of the best. To Mike Penney, Steve Weber, Rob Herrera, Jayson Williams, Mike Kovalsky, Drew Mumford, Willie Woods and Mike Johnston - your leadership during trying and complex times carried this battalion across the finish line, and I am eternally grateful for the effort and sacrifice you made on a daily basis to ensure that the Lethal Warrior Battalion was always prepared to “move to the sound of the guns.”

Thanks to my CSMs: As a battalion commander, you hope that your CSM helps you command - and boy, did I have that in spades with CSMs Frank Handoe and Tim Speichert. Two of the finest Soldiers, NCOs and leaders that I have served with in my career. In addition to being the compass of the battalion, the shining example for Soldiers to emulate, and the advisor that I needed during the most difficult times of command, I value CSMs Handoe and Speichert above all else for the friendship that they provided. Gentlemen - thank you for all that you did for me personally, and for all that you did for the 2nd battalion, 12th infantry. We are a better, more lethal organization because of your leadership.

And most importantly, thanks to the incredible Soldiers of this great battalion. Words can’t describe just how much our interactions have meant to me. You are the reason why leaders want to lead and why commanders want to command. You are a national treasure, and never forget what your service means to our great Nation.

To Joe and Tristan Vasquez - best of luck as you embark on this amazing journey ahead. Joe - it’s a wonderful ride, and you are the perfect leader for this fine formation. I wish you the best of luck in the weeks and months to come, and please know that I am a simple phone call away should you need anything.

Now When you get to this stage in your career - it’s a fair bet that you have heard a few speeches - whether they be at changes of command and responsibility, retirements or hails and farewells. That’s certainly been the case for me. But as I close this chapter in my Army career, I am reminded of one particular speech that was made in July 2010 by a leader most have heard of - General Stanley McChrystal.

After reflecting on his years in uniform, extolling the virtues of service, and thanking generations of Soldiers for their work on behalf of the mission, General McChrystal closed his retirement speech by characterizing service in the United States Army - stating simply that “it’s a great life.” I can think of no better way to describe our two years in the Lethal Warrior Battalion than through General McChrystal’s sentiment.

As I look out at the young Soldiers and leaders in this mighty formation, one word comes to mind: gratitude. Gratitude for your service, for your sacrifice, and for your commitment to duty. Gratitude for having a smile on your face when times got tough, gratitude for always reminding me about what is important, gratitude for your sense of teamwork and camaraderie, and gratitude for hundreds of more things.

But finally, and permit me to end on a more personal note, gratitude for giving me and my family, As General McChrystal stated over 8 years ago, a great life. Thank you, and god bless you.

Steadfast and Loyal
Warhorse
Having Been led by love of country