Photo By Sgt. Lisa Vines | Sgt. 1st Class Thurston F. Faulkner and his wife, Sheila Faulkner, cut the cake during...... read more read more
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REIDSVILLE, N.C. - On Sept. 20, 1977 a young, dedicated man raised his right hand as he swore into the North Carolina Army National Guard, then on Aug. 2, 2015, that Soldier raised his hand for the last time in uniform to bid farewell to his fellow soldiers and the command he served here.
The Soldiers of the 732nd Forward Support Company, 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS), celebrated Sgt. 1st Class Thurston F. Faulkner’s military career during his retirement ceremony.
“Sgt. Faulkner is just one of many Soldiers here who have been here over 35 years with the same unit or same battalion,” said 1st. Sgt. Richard S. Huff, the 732nd Forward Support Company first sergeant.
The 732nd FSC is a unit like no other, with many soldiers remaining within the unit or its battalion, the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS), for decades.
“At 732nd we believe that family is first, and if it’s your blood family or military family we believe in taking care of each other,” said Huff. The men and women before me fostered an environment that created such a camaraderie that it just drew all the soldiers to want to be here.”
The farewell was bittersweet for Faulkner, who expressed his compassion for his job and Soldiers, but an eagerness to have time to spend with his family.
“I’m really going to miss those guys,” said Faulkner.
Faulkner’s role as a mentor has influenced many soldiers to join the full-time NCARNG force, to commission as officers or to return to school. The struggles undertaken by soldiers on their way to these life-changing events served as teaching opportunities for Faulkner.
“A lot of times I see Soldiers struggling, and I reckon I should have been a school teacher. I love to see them [Soldiers] make it in life. I like to see them impress their families. I make sure that their families are appreciative that they are in an organization that really cares for people,” said Faulkner.
Faulkner hasn’t only assisted other Soldiers during their times of hardship but also the citizens of North Carolina during and after two hurricanes, as well as overseas deployments to Iraq and Egypt.
Family members come up to me on occasion, even while in the grocery store, to thank me for how their son or daughter has improved from my guidance, said Faulkner.
Faulkner is one of the proud Soldiers serving or have served in the 732nd FSC or 5-113th FAR (HIMARS).
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2015 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 173036 |
| Location: | REIDSVILLE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NCNG Soldier, mentor retires after 37 years, by SGT Lisa Vines, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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