kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen4th Sustainment Brigade Changes Command

The brigade responsible for moving our troops out of Iraq marked the return of all their soldiers today, and they got a new commander in that same ceremony.

The passing of the colors from COL Ron Kirklin to COL Mark Simerly means the beginning of a new command for the 4th Sustainment Brigade, and the uncasing of the colors signifies the end of their presence in Iraq.

For SFC Dawn Spradley it was a symbol of success.

"It was an amazing feeling, and I was there to case our colors when we left, and just to uncase them now was just a great feeling, knowing that we're back here and getting ready to do something else new," she said.

As COL Kirklin leaves for U.S. Central Command, he says he does so knowing his mission with this brigade is complete.

"I feel proud of the soldiers. I feel proud of the mission that we did, and to be part of history is just great, and those soldiers you saw standing out there, they're the best, and they did it," said COL Kirklin.

They provided transportation, maintenance and supply support during Operation New Dawn, staying until the end.

They guided 60-thousand soldiers and civilians out of the country.

That achievement caught incoming commander, COL Mark Simerly's attention.

"I'm just so inspired by what this team accomplished, and sitting back here from the vantage point of Fort Hood, I'm just amazed by the magnitude of the mission," said COL Simerly.

He says plans to leverage that in the future.

"We're certainly going to capture all that experience and those skills that they developed in doing that mission."

While COL Kirklin will be missed, Spradley says she's ready for what comes next.

"I'm looking forward to the new chain of command, a new SGT MAJ coming in. It's always good to have a breath of fresh air," said Spradley.

COL Kirklin is now headed to U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, and CSM Erik Frey is assigned to the 25th Sustainment Brigade in Hawaii. He'll be replaced by CSM Rex Ray.

Photographer/Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com