A new commander took over the Third Army –“Patton’s own” – on Friday as the unit packed up to move from Fort McPherson to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina as part of the military’s massive reorganization.
President Barack Obama’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, gave the send off as the Third Army held a change-of-command ceremony. Gen. Vincent Brooks is replacing retiring Gen. William Webster.
Several hours later on the same field, the U.S. Army Reserve Command was to have its “colors casing” ceremony to mark the end of its assignment at the sprawling post in south Atlanta; that unit’s move to Fort Bragg, N.C., is almost completed. The First Army, now at nearby Fort Gillem, was to have its “colors casing” ceremony also Friday to formerly mark its move to Rock Island, Ill. The Third Army will have its official closing next Friday.
The U.S. Armed Forces Command Center based at Fort McPherson is also relocating to Fort Bragg. The command center controls the movement of troops worldwide.
Dempsey called the ceremony Friday “bitter sweet” as several military units are leaving a post that has been known as Fort McPherson since 1885.
Five cannons sounded three times each in honor of the incoming post commander, Brooks. Then he climbed into the back of a Humvee for a slow drive to inspect the troops standing at attention as temperatures climbed into the mid 90s. At least two soldiers were taken off the field as they began to show the affects of the heat.
Fort McPherson, affectionately called "Fort Mac," was among several bases to be closed under the Base Realignment and Closure plan adopted in 2005. All the moves must be completed by Sept. 15.
Some military presence will remain on the two properties that once was home to almost 79,000 civilians, active military and retired military. The Veterans Administration will have offices and clinics at Fort McPherson and the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Lab will remain at Fort Gillem, which spreads over 1,427 acres. The city of Atlanta will take control of the rest of the 488 acre Fort McPherson property.
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