No easy job ahead for new chief

MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Last updated: June 12th, 2007 01:24 AM (PDT)

The 52-year-old Detroit native pledged at his assumption of command ceremony to support the families of deployed soldiers and the rear detachments of deployed units “as they truly shoulder the load during this tough fight.”

As if to underscore the point, the Department of Defense later announced that three more Fort Lewis Stryker soldiers were killed in Iraq over the weekend. Thirty have died since the beginning of May.

Jacoby noted the post has sent more than 26,000 soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan. There are some 11,000 in Iraq now, or en route.

“We’ve been there since the beginning, and we’ll be there until we finish the nation’s calling,” Jacoby said. “We will remain committed to success in our principal responsibility, to generate combat power for the nation.

“Our Army and our country need us to do that, and we will not fail.”

Jacoby is a West Point graduate with combat experience in Grenada and Afghanistan. The past two years he commanded U.S. Army Alaska and before that, while a deputy commander of the 25th Infantry Division, was charged to lead an investigation, still classified, into problems in U.S. military detention centers in Afghanistan.

Jacoby did not stop to talk with reporters after Monday’s ceremony. A post spokesman said officials are trying to arrange a news conference, but no date has been set.

Jacoby did not address memorial ceremonies for soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the controversial question of whether to hold them individually or in groups.

His wife, Grace, and their three sons attended Monday’s ceremony in front of the I Corps headquarters, as did his mother, Roberta, and his sister and brother.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, was in the audience, as was Mike Gregoire, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s husband, and consul generals from Japan and South Korea, and a number of local mayors and council members.

Military leaders from across the region attended, along with numerous members of the South Sound’s fraternity of retired general officers, including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John Shalikashvili.

The post commander, who generally stays a few years, is in effect the chief executive officer of Pierce County’s largest employer. Fort Lewis has some 26,000 uniformed service members, twice that many family members and some 10,000 federal government workers and contractor employees.

The I Corps commander is also responsible for maintaining relations with military leaders across the Pacific Rim, leading training exercises in Japan, Thailand and elsewhere.

Gen. Charles Campbell, four-star head of the U.S. Army Forces Command, called the command “a complex, challenging, demanding assignment, but we have placed the right soldier with the right family in this place.”

Jacoby succeeds Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik as the post’s 62nd commanding general. Dubik assumed command Sunday of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, the effort to train and equip the nation’s new military and police forces.

Jacoby praised Dubik and said he’d followed him in previous assignments.

“Like him, I am committed to the development of our community, well-being of our soldiers and families and the success of our deployed units,” he said.

Jacoby did not address the question of memorial ceremonies for fallen soldiers. Until last month, the post conducted them on a case-by-case basis, usually for one or two soldiers at a time. Due to the greater numbers of casualties, though, the post’s interim commander, Brig. Gen. William Troy, announced that the ceremonies would be held monthly.

The change was met with wide criticism and is on hold, officials said. Two ceremonies are planned this week – one for three soldiers today; another for eight soldiers Thursday.

Jacoby said development of the Stryker brigades and other Army transformation initiatives will continue, but he added that “our soldiers and families remain as important to the Army as any new equipment fielding.

“To me, taking care of soldiers and families is as critical as any mission we have,” Jacoby said. “Every soldier, every familiy counts right now.”

He said that means ensuring soldiers get enough time at home between deployments, that their families get help with housing, child-care and other needs, and that if they are hurt or wounded, they get top-quality health-care.

“We are determined to provide nothing but the best possible care for our wounded warriors,” he said. “Their sacrifices demand that, and they deserve nothing less from the Army and our country.”

Charles H. Jacoby Jr.

Born: June 1954, Detroit

Education: United States Military Academy, Class of 1978; master’s degree in history, University of Michigan; National War College

Experience: Much of his Army career in the 82nd Airborne and 25th Infantry divisions. Led an 82nd infantry company in the invasion of Grenada in 1983. Commanded 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Commanded Joint Task Force-Bravo in Honduras.

As assistant division commander in the 25th, deployed to Afghanistan and was deputy commanding general of U.S. forces there. Taught history at West Point. Deputy chief of staff and later executive officer to the commander of U.S. Southern Command. 2005-07, commanded U.S. Army Alaska and oversaw deployment of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Family: He and his wife, Grace, have three sons, Charles, Victor and Michael.

Originally published: June 12th, 2007 01:24 AM (PDT)