ND Guard aviator retires after 40 years of service

Photo By Jonathan Haugen | Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk (right), North Dakota adjutant general, presents Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ron Doll, a National Guard heritage print of "Soldiers in the Sun", at his Nov. 29 retirement ceremony. The print depicts an engagement by "Young's Scouts," members of the North Dakota National Guard in the Philippines in 1899. Doll was recognized for a distinguished 40 year military career at the North Dakota Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck, N.D.  

BISMARCK, ND, UNITED STATES

11.29.2011

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard honored Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ron Doll at a retirement ceremony Nov. 29, that reflected on his 40 years of military service. Doll was on flight status for the last 33 years of his 40 year career, and has flown with every helicopter pilot assigned to the state during his tenure. Doll has more time in a helicopter than any other aviator in N.D. Army National Guard history. About 100 fellow Guardsmen, retirees, family and friends crowded the classroom at the Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility south of the Bismarck Airport to help celebrate Doll's career.

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, presented Doll the North Dakota State Legion of Merit for his service, along with other awards in recognition of his distinguished aviation career.

"Today we salute Chief Doll for four decades of faithful, loyal service to the, state and nation and the North Dakota National Guard," Sprynczynatyk told the audience. "Our Army Guard has not seen a serious aviation accident in more than 53 years - a superb safety record in which Doll's expertise, professionalism and hard work as our senior aviation safety officer was a key component over the last 33 years."

Doll has over 9,350 helicopter flight hours, which equates to nearly 1,168 8-hour days, and 235 40-hour work-weeks, or over a year in the air continuously performing helicopter pilot, instructor or evaluator duties.

"Chief Doll has successfully trained North Dakota's Army aviators for over three decades," said Maj. Paul Helton, the Army Aviation Support Facility commander. "Everyone who has had the opportunity to fly with him is a better pilot because of the experience. We are truly going to miss his aviation expertise, professionalism and enjoyable personality."

Doll, a native of Dawson, N.D., enlisted as a combat engineer in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1971 with 141st Engineer Company in Wishek, N.D. He went to flight school and was commissioned as a warrant officer in 1978. He has served in various key aviator assignments during his career, to include the N.D. Army National Guard's senior aviation safety officer since 1994, and has been instrumental in the NDNG's great safety record.

"It was an honor to share the cockpit with so many outstanding aviators," Doll told the attendees. "Our exceptional safety record is a huge part of the great heritage associated with North Dakota Army National Guard aviation."

Doll participated in the N.D. Army National Guard's 1997 deployment to Honduras, and has served on missions in Germany as well as participating in California and North Dakota firefighting. He was also heavily involved with North Dakota flood fighting for the past three years as well as flood fighting in Grand Forks, N.D., in 1997.

His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement and the North Dakota Commendation Medal. He is authorized the U.S. Army's Master Aviator Badge.

After his military retirement, Doll plans to work full-time as a rancher in Dawson, N.D., with his wife Carrie. They have two daughters and two sons.

• Date Taken: 11.29.2011
• Date Posted: 11.29.2011 21:22
• Story ID: 80685
• Location: BISMARCK, ND, US