The United States Maj. Gen. Edward Cardon, who most recently served as deputy commanding general for support for U.S. Forces-Iraq, was inaugurated as the new commander of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division on Sept. 20 at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi.
At a change-of-command ceremony, outgoing Maj. Gen. Michael Tucker handed over control of the division to Gen. Cardon with a division flag.
Tucker served as 2ID commander for two years. Information about his next assignment was not available.
In his inauguration speech, Cardon said that he is committed to working with the South Korean military “to continue performing as the formidble deterrent to aggression.”
“You have our solemn promise and commitment that we will continue to train, live and work together to ensure peace, stability and security on the Korean Peninsula,” Cardon said. “And should deterrence fail, we will remain ready to fight and win.”
Cardon went on to stress that the priority in his duty will not be changed and pledged to always devote himself in fulfilling tasks Korea-U.S. alliance burdens.
“We should take pride in a history of the alliance,” said Cardon. “The history of the alliance is a history full of devotions and contributions that performed in defending peace and freedom on the Korean Peninsula and sustaining endless cooperative spirit.”
In his farewell remarks, Tucker told those in attendance that the division’s alliance with the South Korean military and readiness to “fight tonight” were “put into real-world practice last year when North Korea provocations reached extremes,” with the sinking of the warship Cheonan and shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.
“The 2nd Infantry Division stood ready alongside our alliance partners and was prepared to ‘fight tonight’ with radars deployed, aviation platforms airborne and launchers at the ready,”
Outgoing commander went on to say that all 2ID troops are advanced members who are skilled in carrying out massive combat operations in all fields.
“Our combined artillery, tanks, infantry and attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles came together in an awesome display of coalition firepower,” he said. “This left a lasting impact on those who observed it, including our neighbors to the North.”
In his address, Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, commanding general of the 8th U.S. Army, said that the 2ID has made tremendous accomplishments in last two years. Johnson highly praised the performances of 2ID by saying that the division has accomplished mission of combat readiness.
“Against continuous provocations from North Korea, U.S. Army has quickly changed used weapons and other military supplies to new ones with the latest Abrams tanks, Bradley military vehicles and other chemical vehicles,” Johnson said. “The 2nd Division has been assigned with the most difficult and tough duties from the Department of Army [in the U.S.]. However, we have developed innovative training programs that have never been discovered in the world so far.”
Cardon was commissioned as an Engineer Officer from the U.S. Military Academy in 1982. He had served as the commander of 3ID Engineer Brigade in Iraq for two years from 2003.
The 2ID has about 10,000 soldiers, most of whom are stationed in the northernmost region of South Korea, between Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone