Deployed CAB pilot watches mother retire after 33 years of civil service

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt | Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Oliphant, battalion standardization pilot, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Avn. Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from Copperas Cove, Texas, takes a picture from Camp Taji, Iraq, of his mother, Pat Sprabary, executive assistant for Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, at her retirement ceremony via teleconference from Fort Hood, Aug. 28, 2008. Sprabary has been the executive assistant for eight III Corps commanders and served as a civil servant for more than 33 years.  

TAJI, IRAQ

08.28.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt 

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A pilot from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, via teleconference from Camp Taji, Iraq, watched his mother retire after more than 33 years of civil service at a ceremony on Fort Hood, Aug. 28, 2008.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Oliphant, battalion standardization pilot, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, CAB from Copperas Cove, Texas, sat back and enjoyed from the other side of the planet as his mother, Pat Sprabary, retired among a room full of family, co-workers and friends.

Sprabary, formally the executive assistant for Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, has been the executive assistant for eight III Corps commanders.

"This is a great day and it is great to have this warfighter here with us from Iraq," said Lynch as he pointed to Oliphant on the VTC screen. "I am very grateful for her [Sprabary] service to the nation."

Sprabary began her civil service career in 1975 and has been the executive assistant in recent years for III Corps Commanders Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz and Lt. Gen. Ray Odinero.

At the ceremony, Sprabary received a Certificate of Retirement and a plaque depicting all eight III Corps commanders she has served. After putting in her retirement paperwork, more than 120 people have applied for her former position.

Her son was just happy to be a part of the festivities.

"I think this is awesome although I can't be there in person," Oliphant said smiling from ear to ear. "This is the next best thing to being there and this is definitely one of those morale improving situations."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2008
• Date Posted: 08.29.2008 09:45
• Story ID: 23005
• Location: TAJI, IQ