Photo By Dustin Gautney | The 87th Army Reserve Support Command - East color guard ceremonially folds the U.S....... read more read more
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Magic City’s own 87th United States Army Reserve Support Command (East), bid farewell to four Soldiers with over 125 years of combined military service during a ceremony held at the Hoover, Alabama, Holiday Inn hotel, June 7.
The official retirement ceremony honored Col. Dan J. Basik, Col. Paula Z. Jones-Edwards, Chaplain Col. William. C. Prewitt and Col. Doug H. Stubbe for their honorable and distinctive years of service.
“Today’s honorees have demonstrated, through their many years of distinguished service, an uncommon dedication to our country, to their families and to the United States Army,” said Brig. Gen. Peter Bosse, the ceremony’s guest speaker.
“They all came from different walks of life and for some, who came from states other than Alabama, their service culminates here today in Alabama with the historic lineage of the 87th Golden Acorn Division,” Bosse added referring to the unit’s history dating back to 1917.
Basik, a native of Park Ridge, Ill., most recently served with the 87th USARSC (E) as the assistant chief of staff of operations and planning, G3. His nearly 30 years of service includes battalion command of the 490th Chemical Battalion in Anniston, Alabama and company command of the 314th Chemical Company in Carrollton, Georgia. He retires having been recognized with many awards including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Join Services Commendation Medal.
“I’ve had a great 30-year career. It really has been a lot of fun.” Basik, whose original plan as a young officer was to only serve for six years, said. “I’m thankful the Lord has given me the opportunity to serve in a lot of different capacities … it’s really been a blessing.”
When not in uniform, Basik serves as the Director of Meetings and Incentive Division for Brownell Travel located in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been married to his wife Jacqueline for 30 years and they have three adult children Brett, Kaitlyn and Brianna.
Jones-Edwards, a native of Chicago, served with the 87th USARSC (E) as the assistant chief of staff of human resources/personnel, G1. Her 32 years of service include battalion command of the 318th Public Affairs Operations Center and company command of the Headquarters Company, 472nd Chemical Battalion. She retires having been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters amongst numerous other awards and recognitions.
“What I’m going to remember the most is just all the people and all the travel opportunities with the military. I traveled to 10 different countries and 42 different states for one reason or another,” Jones-Edwards said. “I really learned to lead with my heart, care about those under your charge and do your best in all you do.”
Outside of the Army Reserve, Jones-Edwards is a full-time student at the Golf Academy of America and resides in Orlando, Florida. with her husband, retired Army Soldier, Sgt. Maj. Karium Edwards. She has four adult children--Samuel Jones III, Candice Summers, Jasmine Jones, Kyle Jones — and one grandson, Carter Summers.
A native of Kentucky, Prewitt retired as the command chaplain of the 87th USARSC (E). During his 28 years of service, Prewitt also previously held the positions of brigade chaplain of the 3rd Brigade, 98th Division in Lexington, Ky.; 7th Brigade Training Support, 100th Division, Fort Knox, Ky.; 2nd Brigade, 100th Division, Owensboro, Ky. amongst many others. He retires having been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous other awards and recognitions.
“I thank God for the opportunity to meet and help so many more people than if I was just a pastor in Kentucky,” Prewitt said. To all the Soldiers … you may not know where you are going but God is going to give you direction.”
As a civilian, Prewitt serves as a full-time pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion, Kentucky. He resides with his wife Lisa Prewitt in Paducah, Kentucky. And they have two adult children -- Leslie Horman and Matthew Prewitt --plus two granddaughters, Emi and Eleanor Horman.
Stubbe, originally from Fond du Lac, Wis., retired as the assistant chief of staff Logistics/Distribution/Maintenance/Supply, G4. His 39 years of service include many assignments, such as battalion command of the 213th Quartermaster Battalion, Wausau, Wisconsin; the 620th Combat Service Support Battalion, Wausau, Wisconsin; company commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2/340th and 85 Training Division, Camp Ripley, Minnesota. His many awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal and countless others.
“Other than the day I enlisted in 1977, and the day my parents pinned my second lieutenant bars on me in 1986, my proudest moment was in 1998 as a captain when the Army finally called upon me to do what I was trained to do and that was to deploy to Bosnia in support of the 1st Cav Div,” Stubbe said.
When out of uniform, Stubbe continues his community service as a nationally accredited Veterans Service Officer with Burnett County, Wisconsin. He and his wife Lynn have two children. Their daughter Synclare is 16 and son Kerik is 14 years old. Stubbe says he is looking forward to spending much more time with his family. Stubbe also said he plans to further develop an outreach program he began to coordinate hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities for disabled combat veterans and their families.
Common to all honorees’ comments was the emphatic thanks given to their respective families for all the sacrifices and commitments they’ve given to the military. In recognition for that support, each retiree’s spouse received an Army Certificate of Appreciation signed by Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, United States Army, Chief of Staff. Bosse presented all four retiring officers with the Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America also signed by Odierno and the Presidential Certificate of Appreciation, signed by President and commander in chief, Barack Obama. They also received an Army lapel pin.
“You would honor us by sharing your military leadership skills in each of your respective communities,” Bosse said in one last order to the retiring Army officers. “Turn your military experience into a positive call to action that helps our fellow citizens build stronger communities.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2015 16:02 |
| Story ID: | 168526 |
| Location: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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