Strawberry Point native promoted to brigadier general

Strawberry Point native Ben Corell was promoted to the rank of brigadier general at a ceremony Wednesday in Rosemount, Minn.

Corell, 51, who rapidly ascended the ranks in the Iowa Army National Guard, will continue as deputy commander (support), 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard – a position he's held since Sept. 7.

“One of his great leadership strengths is his ability to communicate with and build relationships with soldiers of all ranks,” said Col. Greg Hapgood, an Iowa National Guard spokesman and 1987 classmate of Corell's at Officer Candidate School.

Corell, an enlisted soldier before becoming an officer, understands what a lower-ranking soldier feels and thinks, Hapgood said. That affinity has been strengthened by his relationship with three sons who are enlisted soldiers in the Iowa Army National Guard, Hapgood said.

During his lengthy service with the Iowa Guard, Corell commanded the 3,000 troops of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, during its deployment to Afghanistan from July 2010 to July 2011.

Before that he commanded the Waterloo-based 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry during its marathon Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment from Oct. 2005 through July 2007.

Corell's wife Beth and their three sons, all non-commissioned officers in the 34th Infantry Division, participated in the ceremony, which coincided with the eve of Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

“He is a man I would want on my left or my right, in my foxhole, or should it come to it, leading my children in combat,” said Maj. Gen. David Elicerio, commander of the 34th Infantry Division, who with Corell's wife placed his new shoulder boards on his uniform.

The Corells' sons --Sgt. 1st Class Travis Corell, Sgt. 1st Class Wade Corell, and Staff Sgt. Tyler Corell -- presented the customary one-star flag, belt and pistol.

In remarks during the ceremony, Corell said he knew since childhood, when his dad took him to visit World War II veterans at the Veterans of Foreign War post in Strawberry Point, that he would serve in the military.

Corell said he wanted to live by the same values and standards that he admired in those WWII vets.

“This promotion isn't so much about what I've done, but about what I'm going to do and what the expectations are. I see a responsibility that I have with this promotion and assignment. It is to shape this organization as a collective and to pull each individual up to their highest potential,” said Correl.