For many on Fort Stewart, Col. Terry Ferrell is best known for his smile and his relentless love for soldiers.
“His code name for everyone is sweetheart,” Staff Sgt. Joseph Waterman said of the outgoing 3rd Infantry Division’s chief of staff. “He’s just a soldier who happens to be a colonel.”
On Tuesday, the 3rd Infantry Division said goodbye to Ferrell and his wife Robbie at Fort Stewart’s Marne Garden.
Ferrell has received orders to become the assistant division commander for the 2nd Infantry Division currently stationed in Korea.
He and Robbie will be leaving Fort Stewart this weekend, reporting for their new assignment in mid-May.
The orders came on short notice to the Ferrells and the division, but Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo said he could not let the Ferrells report to their new duty station without a formal goodbye.
“They have served this division proudly and they did it with humility … with patience … with warmth and they did it with pure dedication to soldiers,” he said. “And that’s why we could not let them leave us without a proper farewell.”
Ferrell, who received plenty of hugs and a shell casing in honor of his time here, had few words in response.
“I’m not special. I am one of them, a soldier,” he said. “That’s why I do what I do. That’s what makes me get up every day.”
Waterman has known Ferrell since he was squadron commander for the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3-7th Calvary Regiment in 2007, just before he took command of the division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The sergeant was only a private at the time.
After the ceremony, he was one of the first in line to hug Ferrell.
“I love that man,” he said. “I would do anything for him. You could arm me with a plastic spoon and I’d jump in a foxhole with that man.”
“He treats everyone the same,” Waterman said of his leader. “It’s sad, because this division will never be the same without him.”
In line to take Ferrell’s place is Col. Thomas James, the former commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team.
“His code name for everyone is sweetheart,” Staff Sgt. Joseph Waterman said of the outgoing 3rd Infantry Division’s chief of staff. “He’s just a soldier who happens to be a colonel.”
On Tuesday, the 3rd Infantry Division said goodbye to Ferrell and his wife Robbie at Fort Stewart’s Marne Garden.
Ferrell has received orders to become the assistant division commander for the 2nd Infantry Division currently stationed in Korea.
He and Robbie will be leaving Fort Stewart this weekend, reporting for their new assignment in mid-May.
The orders came on short notice to the Ferrells and the division, but Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo said he could not let the Ferrells report to their new duty station without a formal goodbye.
“They have served this division proudly and they did it with humility … with patience … with warmth and they did it with pure dedication to soldiers,” he said. “And that’s why we could not let them leave us without a proper farewell.”
Ferrell, who received plenty of hugs and a shell casing in honor of his time here, had few words in response.
“I’m not special. I am one of them, a soldier,” he said. “That’s why I do what I do. That’s what makes me get up every day.”
Waterman has known Ferrell since he was squadron commander for the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3-7th Calvary Regiment in 2007, just before he took command of the division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The sergeant was only a private at the time.
After the ceremony, he was one of the first in line to hug Ferrell.
“I love that man,” he said. “I would do anything for him. You could arm me with a plastic spoon and I’d jump in a foxhole with that man.”
“He treats everyone the same,” Waterman said of his leader. “It’s sad, because this division will never be the same without him.”
In line to take Ferrell’s place is Col. Thomas James, the former commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team.