USAREUR Public Affairs

June 25, 2002

Sky Soldiers welcome new commander

173d Airborne Brigade changes command

Story and photos by Sgt. Thorin Sprandel,173d Airborne Brigade Public Affairs

VINCENZA, Italy -- It was a day of transition for the brigade that has seen more
transition recently than maybe any unit in the Army.

Col. William C.
Mayville, Jr. took
command of the
173d Airborne
Brigade in a
ceremony at
Hoekstra Field
June 20. Since its
reactivation two
years ago, the
brigade has added
a reconnaissance
company and a
second battalion,
2d Battalion, 503d
Infantry
(Airborne).
Paratroopers from the 173d Combat Support Company salute during the 173d Airborne
Brigade change-of-command ceremony at Vicenza, Italy June 20.

Col. James C. Yarbrough, brigade

commander since March 2000, will
deploy to Afghanistan in approximately
one month as the operations officer for
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Reflecting on his command, Yarbrough

said, "I'm positive it never gets any better
than this."

On Yarbrough's watch, the brigade has

deployed elements to more than 20
locations including the Balkans, Czech
Republic, Hungary, Morocco, Tunisia,
Poland and Slovenia.
At the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Robert W.
Wagner, SETAF commander, called
Yarbrough's command "100 percent
successful by all measures."

Addressing the formation of paratroopers,

Mayville said, "Victory in battle is our
only course," referring to the 173d's role
as European Command's only
conventional airborne strategic response
force.

Mayville comes to Vicenza from an

assignment at the Operations Directorate
of the Joint Special Operations Command
at Fort Bragg, N.C.

His awards and decorations include the

Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
Army Meritorious Service Medal with
three oak leaf clusters, Army
Commendation Medal with one oak leaf
cluster, Army Achievement Medal,
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, left-right: Outgoing commander Col. James C. Yarbrough and
Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert incoming commander Col. William C. Mayville, Jr. march on
the parade field during the ceremony.
Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist
Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Ranger Tab.