MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif., -- Marines, sailors and guests of 1st Tank Battalion gathered together at the unit’s tank ramp to commemorate the Battalion’s birthday with a color rededication ceremony Nov. 1, 2011.
The flag rededication was a reminder of the history of battles of unit has been through.
“A battle color rededication is something that needs to be done every once in a while,” said Sgt. Maj. Troy Dabney, battalion sergeant major for 1st Tank Bn. “The young Marines of the battalion witness first-hand the lineage of the unit.”
The full battalion was formed up for the ceremony. There were also members of 2nd Tank Battalion representing the rest of the tank community.
Along with the rededication was the retirement of Master Sgt. William Carroccia Jr., the unit’s former S-4 chief, who served 13 of his 23 years in the Marine Corps with 1st Tank Battalion.
“The battle color rededications are typically done on special occasions,” said 1st Lt. Phillip Tate, battalion adjutant. “Today the occasion is represented two-fold in the battalion’s birthday and master sergeant’s retirement.”
The battalion, which was activated Nov. 1, 2011, 1941, celebrated their 70th birthday in front of the tank community with a cake cutting. The first piece was given to the Marine who had served in the battalion longest and then passed to the newest member of the unit.
Dabney said, “[The ceremony today] was one last opportunity to get everyone in the battalion together before the companies leave for their deployments to Afghanistan.”
The battalion currently has one company deployed to Afghanistan and is preparing for another tank element to leave in the near future.