Phantom Warriors,
Serving as your commander is among the greatest privileges and honors of my life! Words cannot express the pride I feel to have served alongside the nearly 90,000 strong formation of America’s Hammer for the past two years. Beth and I thank you and your Families for your sacrifice and service to our Nation.
When America calls, you answer with a resounding “send me” every time. You bring hope to the innocent and downtrodden, and strike fear in the hearts of evildoers and adversaries From annihilating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, to responding to Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, deterring Russian aggression in Europe, strengthening our Nation’s security on the Southern border, advising and assisting Afghan Security Forces against terror, and bolstering our ironclad alliance in Korea – you exemplify what it means to be Phantom Ready and Phantom Strong!
You have trained, maintained and showcased tremendous teamwork, morale, and discipline. You honed and epitomized readiness through scorching days and cold nights at places like Piñon Canyon, Doña Ana Ranges, Sugarloaf Mountain, Signal Hill, and Douthit Gunnery Complex. At motorpools and flight lines, on PT fields and in gyms, regardless of MOS or rank, you have lived the Warrior Ethos and have carried on the proud lineage of our Corps.
Moving on to our next assignment from the Central Texas Community is bittersweet. We look forward to continuing to serve our Army, but we will greatly miss the Phantom Warriors, Families, and community that make Fort Hood “The Great Place.”
I am immensely proud of each of you and immensely proud to have served alongside you!
Phantom Ready! Phantom Strong!
Paul E. Funk II
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Commanding