Honoring LTC Joey Errington

by Timothy James Walz

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of Lieutenant Colonel Joey L. Errington's change of command and pending retirement from the United States Army, I want to recognize him and his family on their nearly 30 years of service to the Nation. Originally from Rush City, Minnesota, LTC Errington enlisted in the Army in 1989 as a 13B, Cannon Crewman. He was selected for the Green to Gold Program at Clemson University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1997.

He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Basic Course, the Field Artillery Career Course at Fort Sill, OK, and the Command and General's Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from Clemson University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Webster University.

During his tenure, he led our soldiers at each echelon from the platoon to battalion, and, today, LTC Errington is relinquishing command of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. His previous assignments include the III Corps G3 Chief of Training at Fort Hood, TX; Deputy Brigade Commander, Executive Officer, and Fire Support Officer for the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS as well as the Battalion S-3 for the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery; Assistant Professor of Military Science at Saint John's University, College of Saint Benedict's, and Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota; Battalion Fire Direction Officer, S1, and Charlie Battery Commander for 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; and Task Force Fire Support Officer, Platoon Leader, and Company Fire Support Officer for 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery at Fort Riley, Kansas.

LTC Errington's decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

He is married to the former Alison Adams of Hermantown, MN and they have three children: Brooke, who is going to start college at Kansas State University in the fall, Billy, and Becky.