Former Ft. Drum commander takes over V Corps

Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, who formerly commanded the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, formally took over the commanding role of V Corps Tuesday.

Gen. Terry replaces Brig. Gen. Ricky Gibbs, who had served as V Corps’s acting commander since its move from Heidelberg, Germany in June.

V Corps will head to Afghanistan and replace the 1st Corps International Security Assistance Force Joint Command.

Gen. Terry’s posting at Wiesbaden is a homecoming of sorts. As a lieutenant, he and his wife, Julie, were stationed in Kitzingen, Germany.

“This is where we started, and it is truly great to be back,” Gen. Terry said.

An Army press release from the change of command ceremony said that Tuesday’s event attracted a large audience of spectators, including senior U.S. and German military officials, as well as civilian dignitaries from several states in Germany.

V Corps has been located out of Germany since 1951. When the manning of the corps is complete, it will end up with over 700 troops.

“Let me recognize the outstanding soldiers in this formation today...these soldiers are our credentials,” said the general to the assembled troops at the ceremony.

Gen. Terry served as commander of Fort Drum from 2009 to 2011. He previously served as a battalion commander from 1994 to 1996 and returned as deputy commanding general in 2004. He was succeeded in command of Fort Drum by Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley.