HEIDELBERG, Germany — Already on his way to Iraq as the commander of the Germany-based 1st Armored Division, Maj. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez has been given the nod to pin on his third star and take command of V Corps.
The Pentagon announced the pending promotion, which is now awaiting Senate approval, Monday night.
Sanchez has led the 1st Armored Division’s go-to-war workups in recent months and has shifted into peacekeeping mode as the division prepares to begin occupation duties in Iraq.
Peacekeeping duties are nothing new to Sanchez, however. As 1st Infantry Division’s deputy commander, he was among the first to lead U.S. peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo in 1999.
Sanchez will replace Lt. Gen. William Wallace as the “Victory Corps” commander.
In it unclear where Wallace will go.
It is likely, however, that Wallace — who led the Army’s monthlong campaign to remove Saddam Hussein’s regime from power in Baghdad — will move onto a new assignment.
