Photo By Lt. Col. Brandon Mace | U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Alex Fink (right), the 4th Sustainment Command...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The U.S. Army Reserve’s 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) said farewell to two of their ‘full bird’ colonels at a retirement celebration Jun. 2, 2017.
U.S. Army Reserve Col. Kenneth Lawrence, 4th ESC deputy commanding officer, and Col. Herman Ter Meer, 4th ESC chief of staff, are retiring after decorated careers of service to the U.S. Army Reserve.
“Both of these officers will be very difficult to replace,” said Brig. Gen. Alex Fink, 4th ESC commanding general. “You just don’t go out and replace a Ken Lawrence or a Herman Ter Meer with any O-6. They will be greatly missed by all of us.”
Col. Lawrence joined the Army in 1982 at the age of at 17 as a cannon crewmember. He said he signed up for college money with no intention of making the U.S. Army Reserve a career, but his early years in the service changed his perspective.
“When you are on a gun crew you only see a gun crew,” said Lawrence. “When you are an officer you see the battery or the battalion, your lens is just bigger. I wanted to see the bigger picture.”
After achieving the rank of sergeant, Lawrence attended Officer Candidate School in 1987, were he commissioned as a second lieutenant before attending the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. Over his 35 years of military service, he served in many different capacities including command at the company, battalion and brigade level.
Col. Ter Meer enlisted as an artillery radar repairman in 1981, hoping to gain a skillset as he entered the workforce after high school. Like Lawrence, Ter Meer never planned on making the U.S. Army Reserve a career but he changed his mind after the leadership in his unit saw his potential.
“I originally thought I would just go in, do my six year obligation and get out,” said Ter Meer. “My platoon sergeant said they had a green to gold program, and that I might be a good candidate. I could have got out and been very happy because I never thought I’d be an officer let alone make it all the way up to colonel.”
He was selected for the program and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1987 before heading to the Signal Officers Basic Course. Ter Meer has had a variety of assignments in his 36 years of service including command at the company and battalion level, command of a joint special operations logistical support element, and as the interim commander for the 4th ESC in the summer and fall of 2016.
When they were asked what they would miss most about their time in the U.S. Army Reserve, both men said they would miss the camaraderie. Lawrence shared how much his visits with the troops have meant to him as he has served as the 4th ESC’s DCO.
“As the DCO, I get to see lots of great things happening out there,” said Lawrence. “I just enjoy going out and visiting with the troops and seeing what they are doing. They are doing such great things. Those are the kind of experiences that I’m going to miss.”
As he retires, Ter Meer hopes the younger generation of soldiers remember how important they are in keeping the country safe.
“It brings me satisfaction because I feel like I am part of an organization that is doing something good,” said Ter Meer. “We are part of something bigger than ourselves. We might have a small part in it, but each one of us contributes a lot to the ultimate goal of keeping this country safe.”
Together Lawrence and Ter Meer have a combined 71 years of service to the U.S. Army Reserve. All of the soldiers of the 4th ESC agree that their leadership and mentorship will be missed.
The 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) is made up of Soldiers, civilians and their families in units headquartered throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. As part of America’s Army Reserve, these units are trained, combat-ready and equipped to provide military and logistical support in any corner of the globe.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2017 12:46 |
| Story ID: | 237059 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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