Photo By Spc. Eric Liesse | Army Master Sgt. Leonard Pimentel gives a speech reflecting on his years of service...... read more read more
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By Erica Isaacson
Joint Task Force Guantanamo
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Almost 50 years of military service gracefully left the U.S. Army with the help of Joint Task Force Guantanamo personnel, Dec. 12. Master Sgt. Jeffrey M. Sweeney and Master Sgt. Leonard J. Pimentel, both with JTF's 525th Military Police Battalion, were honored with a dual retirement ceremony at Troopers' Chapel here.
The event was presided over by 525th commander Lt. Col Alexander Conyers who honored the two retirees and their families, saying deployed Soldiers miss an innumerable amount of important events at home. However, the oath and the institution and the ways of Army life keep Soldiers in.
"You stay in as long as you have because you love Soldiering," Conyers said.
525th Headquarters, Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. Rodney Sanchez spoke on behalf of Sweeney, echoing Conyers' words on the importance of the military family.
"These two could write a book on how to raise a family," Sanchez said. He continued by mentioning his time working with Sweeney before the JTF and repeating how much love he saw in Sweeney's family.
During Sweeney's own speech, he reminisced on both his military career and how his family supported him.
"This has been the most exciting 23 years of my life," Sweeney said, "and it's more excitement than anyone should be allowed to have."
Starting as a private in March 1986 at the age of 22, Sweeney rose in the ranks steadily and deployed several times. His assignment here as the JTF's Joint Detention Group senior intelligence advisor and operations sergeant is his final mission.
"It's sort of like buying a car – buyer's remorse," Sweeney said of his decision to retire. "I just hope I find a job that's just as rewarding as this one."
Sweeney closed by again praising his family, especially the support he received from his wife of 24 years.
"She has put her life on hold to help me with mine," said Sweeney. "Thank you, my love, my friend."
After Sweeney received two awards and his ceremonial end-of-service flag, Sgt. 1st Class Virgilio Angeles took the pulpit to talk about his friend "Lenny."
"I asked [Pimentel]," Angeles began, "'Are you going to stop working?' He said 'No, I can't stop working – especially now.'"
Throughout his speech, Angeles repeated Pimentel's commitment to work and serve as a "fine example" for the junior Soldiers. "Lenny always steps ahead and sets standards," Angeles said, "and steps up Troopers to meet those standards."
"I've been waiting and looking forward to this day for a long time," Pimentel began.
Pimentel said that throughout his career and his life, he always tried to take away "one good point" from everyone he meets, saying everyone has at least one thing about them worth remembering and emulating. This philosophy has guided his life and how he handles himself with others.
"Just remember: you got to take all the good and leave the bad," Pimentel said.
Pimentel began his military service in September 1973, enlisting as a Marine Corps infantryman. After reaching the rank of gunnery sergeant in the Marines, he retired from the service. He re-enlisted as an Army Soldier after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Pimentel is currently finishing his final assignment as the senior NCO of the JDG's J-1 office, as well as the drug and alcohol coordinator, detainee standardization team, and equal opportunity advisor. He will end his current assignment January 2009.
Pimentel said he is often asked why his personal achievement coin is styled after a poker chip, but he has his reasons.
"I feel life is a gamble. But as long as you make the right choice, you'll never lose."
JTF's deputy commander, Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Zanetti, gave a speech after Pimentel received his two awards and end-of-service flag. Zanetti talked about the role of a master sergeant within a command, saying "when we're young; we're immature," and the master sergeants and first sergeants are looked up to as the quintessential Soldier, commanding respect and wielding authority. However, once a Soldier becomes a master sergeant, they learn it is not that simple.
"All those people aren't working for you. You're working for all those people," Zanetti said. "You become a true public servant, not just for the Army, but for the nation."
www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2008 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 28034 |
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| Web Views: | 256 |
| Downloads: | 201 |
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