By Patrick Bray
DLIFLC Public Affairs
Col. Rex A. Berggren relinquished command of the California Medical Detachment to Lt. Col. Bill A. Soliz during a ceremony on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California, June 4. (Photo by Patrick Bray, DLIFLC Public Affairs)
MONTEREY, Calif. – Col. Rex A. Berggren relinquished command of the California Medical Detachment to Lt. Col. Bill A. Soliz during a ceremony on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California, June 4.
The medical detachment, better known as CALMED, operates the Presidio’s health clinic for service members assigned to the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language and the Naval Postgraduate School.
In his final remarks to the detachment, Berggren quoted King Solomon saying “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” He recounted his fondest memories from his two-year command and associated them with a line from the King Solomon quote. He concluded by saying “there is a season to let go.”
The ceremony was officiated by Col. Ramona Fiorey, commander of Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington. Madigan is the support organization for the clinic at the Presidio.
Col. Rex A. Berggren relinquished command of the California Medical Detachment to Lt. Col. Bill A. Soliz during a ceremony on Soldier Field at the Presidio of Monterey, California, June 4. (Photo by Patrick Bray, DLIFLC Public Affairs)
Fiorey humorously spoke about the challenges of commanding a medical detachment more than 1,000 miles away from its parent hospital.
“This command requires the strength of Superman, the agility of Spiderman, the diplomatic acumen of Henry Kissinger, and the commitment of Captain America,” said Fiorey. “Fortunately, Col. Berggren is a super hero.”
Soliz, now the new commander, thanked the outgoing commander for his service and accepted the challenge of leading the medical detachment.
