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Twentynine Palms, California
Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

3/11 welcomes new commanding officer

21 Dec 2009 | Cpl. Monica C. Erickson Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, welcomed their new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Eduard A. Abisellan, and said goodbye to Lt. Col. James C. Lewis during a change of command ceremony at Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Dec. 11.

Lewis, a Huntsville, Ala., native, served as the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 11th Marines, for more than two years, and led his Marines and sailors through deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

 “I’ve been with this battalion for a while and I have seen these men through the good times and the bad,” Lewis said. “Being here, part of 3/11, has been a great benefit to me, and I really do believe these Marines have taught me more than I have taught them.”

Lewis will continue his career in the Marine Corps, and will attend the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Abisellan joined the Marine Corps in 1991, and began his career with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. He deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the

Landing Force Sixth Fleet with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 1996 he served as the executive officer of the Combat Service Support Detachment 21, then as the Operations Officer for the 22nd MEU Service Support Group.

After he was promoted to his current rank, Abisellan served with 12th Marine Regiment in Okinawa, Japan and deployed to Afghanistan as the officer in charge of Embedded Training Team 1-10, where he helped train the Afghan National Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the change of command, Abisellan spoke a few words of thanks to his family for all the support they provided. He then addressed his new battalion.

“It is a real honor to be here with this battalion,” he said. “I am really looking forward to serving with all of you.”


Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms