Keesler bids farewell to commander Published April 7, 2009 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS -- Team Keesler said goodbye to Brig. Gen. Greg Touhill, 81st Training Wing commander, with a parade and a decoration ceremony in which he was awarded the Legion of Merit medal. General Touhill, who led the base for 18 months, is headed to Kuwait for a new assignment as chief of the Office of Military Cooperation at the American. Embassy. Col. Christopher Valle serves as wing commander until Col. Ian Dickinson arrives later next month. Colonel Dickinson is the Joint Staff deputy chief information officer at the Pentagon. "When I think of Greg Touhill, I think of those three words - renew, rebuild, reload," said Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers, 2nd Air Force commander. Noting that General Touhill had arrived at Keesler on the heels of Hurricane Katrina, the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, the 2nd Air Force commander remarked that Keesler's leader had forged ahead with rebuilding the base, renewing the enthusiasm and commitment of the base and surrounding community and reloading the Air Force with well-trained trained Airmen. "You've made a difference at Keesler every day," General Flowers told General Touhill. "You're leaving this base in better shape than you found it -- well done, my friend. "You'll do your job as the senior military officer in Kuwait and assist the ambassador with the same zeal, pride and a lot of class," he added. After receiving the Legion of Merit, a military decoration for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, General Touhill thanked Team Keesler, including base and community leaders. "Even though I'm transitioning on to wherever the nation needs me, your mission of 'renew, rebuild, reload' will not subside," he emphasized. "It's more than brick and mortar -- it's the attitude of taking on any challenge and doing better than anybody else. Have a plan and execute it with precision." General Touhill challenged Team Keesler to renew the base and surrounding area because "it doesn't matter where you came from -- while you're stationed at Keesler, in this community, it's your home. "For my fellow Dragons, our principal mission here is to reload the Air Force -- we're the world's finest warriors, and every Airman here reloads the Air Force by remaining deployment-ready," he continued. He had glowing praise for Colonel Valle, "a fabulous vice commander and architect behind our air show. Keesler, you're in very good hands." The departing commander encouraged Keesler to continue to embrace an attitude of championship. "Soar over obstacles - you can surmount whatever life brings," he concluded. "Our base, our community is back better than ever. Strive to be champions -- do ordinary things in an extraordinary way."