Retired SC Army National Guard chief warrant officer receives Order of Saint Martin Award

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the Adjutant General of S.C., and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Five Paul M. Thurston, a reserve component warrant officer personal developer for the Quartermaster Corps, present the Order of Saint Martin to retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Madison Simmons at the South Carolina National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Building in Columbia, S.C., May 21, 2015. Established in 1997, the Order of Saint Martin recognizes Quartermasters who have made significant contributions to the Quartermaster Corps. Simmons served honorably for over four decades before retiring from the S.C. Army National Guard in 1998. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Brian Hare/Released)  

COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES

05.21.2015

Story by Capt. Brian Hare 

South Carolina National Guard

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Five James Madison Simmons was presented with the Order of Saint Martin award at the South Carolina National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Building in Columbia, S.C., May 21, 2015. Simmons received the award in recognition of his many years of service to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps as a member of the S.C. Army National Guard.

Remarks were made at the ceremony on the behalf of Simmons by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the Adjutant General of S.C., U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kent B. Puffenbarger, command chief warrant officer for the S.C. Army National Guard, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Paul M. Thurston, reserve component warrant officer personal developer for the U.S. Army Quartermaster School, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 William L. Priester, Jr., property management officer for the S.C. Army National Guard U.S. Property and Fiscal Office.

Several others among the crowd of supporters also stood and offered remarks of support during the ceremony, which included memorable stories from their time serving with Simmons.

Livingston told of one experience serving with Simmons upon his taking command of the S.C. Army National Guard’s 125th Engineer Company.

“He said to put your hand on everything and make sure you understand what you’re getting ready to sign for,” Livingston said. “Mr. Simmons established a way of thinking about things. Making sure that you understand everything and get down to the details was a very key message to me.”

Simmons first entered the S.C. Army National Guard in 1953, rising to the rank of Sgt. 1st Class before receiving a direct appointment to Chief Warrant Officer 2 in 1974. His final position held before retiring from the S.C. Army National Guard in 1998 was as a Technical Adviser and Analyst in Force Modernization and Logistics Support for the S.C. Army National Guard U.S. Property and Fiscal Office.

The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps established the Order of Saint Martin award in 1997 in order to recognize Quartermasters, either on active-duty, reserves or civilian status, for providing outstanding service to the Quartermaster Corps.

Simmons was married to the late Edna R. Simmons for 52 years, with whom he raised three children.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2015
• Date Posted: 05.29.2015 09:50
• Story ID: 164888
• Location: COLUMBIA, SC, US