Cortez Assumes Command, Hangs LSU Flag
Lieutenant Colonel Elward P. “Pat” Cortez, a 1992 College of Art & Design graduate, assumed command of the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division on the compound called COS Marez in Mosul, Iraq, on March 7.
He writes: “One photo is of me (I’m the guy with his back sort of to you) assuming the Battalion Colors in my change of command. The funny hats are called Stetsons and are a 1st Cavalry Division tradition. During the ceremony the Command Sergeant Major receives the colors from the honor guard and presents them to the outgoing commander. He in turn passes them to the next higher commander – our boss – and he presents them to me, the incoming commander. I then pass them back to the Sergeant Major and have assumed command. During my time at LSU I was in the ROTC program and a member of Bengal Raiders. Our mission here in Iraq will end in December. The state department will take over. “Cortez’s “boss” is also a Tiger. Colonel Brian Winski, who earned a master’s degree from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2000, is commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
In early March, Cortez hung an LSU flag in the dining facility.
“When I hung the flag, it took all of two minutes to get the SEC fans going. Notice its location in front of Alabama’s banner. In fact, it is up front where it belongs. I have a bet with the soldiers in my battalion to pick a team and at the end of the season each soldier will do ten pushups for every loss his/her team takes. We have a few civilian contractors who are LSU and SEC fans. It will be a great college football year. I will try to get a photo of all of the LSU fans.”
