Courtesy Photo | Sgt. First Class Larry Haught, Sgt. First Claudio Pena, Sgt. First Class Bruce...... read more read more
By Capt. Antonia Greene
The Soldiers first turned to their mothers, wives, significant others, and children sitting directly behind the row of retirees. Each man awarded a bouquet of flowers to the people in their lives who without their reassurance, he wouldn't have made it to this day. Seven Steel battalion Soldiers retire from the ranks.
Family support and encouragement is significant to Soldiers to name 2010 Year of the Military Family. Lt. Col. Troy Ramirez, commander, 2-315th FA Regt., addressed those in attendance. Brimming with pride for his Soldiers, Ramirez commented on each of the retirees' distinguished careers. Then each retiree was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, retirement certificate, Presidential certificate of Appreciation, folded American flag and U.S. Army retirement pin. The men also received individual recognition awards from various Soldiers of the "Steel" battalion for special achievements within the organization.
Fellow Soldiers, family members and friends gathered to celebrate the retirees' accomplishments tallying a combined 150 years of military service. As the men embark on the next stages of their lives, each took to the podium for the last time in uniform to share a few words.
Master Sgt. William Yenser led off, thanking everyone for coming and extending his gratitude to all the professionals who wear the uniform and serve God and country. He credited his mentors for his success and said he made it a point to give back at each duty station, to the organizations that supported him, and help make each servicemember better before moving on. If he could leave the audience with one bit of advice, he said, "Train to lead and lead by example."
Next, Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Buchanon spoke. He said, "Twenty years is a long time and looking back, I was born for this — defending my country — there is no bigger and better job out there." The Steel battalion response was simply a loud and thunderous, "Hooah!" He ended by recalling a letter his mother wrote to him in basic training. She reported that three of Buchanon's close friends had just died and she asked him one favor, to stay in the Army, do his twenty years and get his education. Buchanon looked at his mother across the room and said, "Mission accomplished, Mom."
Then Sgt. 1st Class Terry DeCamp made his way up to the podium. He had words of encouragement for those Soldiers still "middle of the road" in their careers to keep them focused. "The only thing I ever wanted to do was be an NCO, we don't just train Soldiers, we influence the way they think — there's nothing more important."
Next was Sgt. 1st Class Larry Haught, or "the man of little words," as Ramirez referred to him. When speaking of his style of leadership, Ramirez called him a "give me your intent, Sir, and let me execute" kind of guy. Haught lived up to the reputation, saying his comrades said it best , thank you for coming, and sat back down.
Sgt. First Class Claudio Pena, resident comic, was up next. He opened by saying it's been a long wait and he felt like river dancing. As the audience smiled, Pena mentioned "closing the loop." His first assignment was with 3rd Battalion 35th Regiment, 72nd FA Bde. in Wertheim, Germany where he served as a fire direction specialist. And now his last assignment was with 2-315th which falls under the 72nd FA Bde. at AAS-Dix. He thanked God, his Family and fellow Soldiers before returning to the front row of retirees.
Sgt. 1st Class L.C. Thames, like his fellow retiree Haught, kept it short. He thanked God and country and returned to his seat.
Staff Sgt. Roderick Brown, who made it a point to mention saving the best for last, shared a few words. "You better take a good look, because this may be the last time many of you see me — I'm ready to go," he said with a smile. He thanked God above all, credited his wife as his rock and thanked the command team for honoring him and his fellow retirees. Brown too, came full circle, saying he first flew out of Dix to Germany for his first assignment, and it's fitting to end his career here.
Then Brown concluded the comments with a known field artillery phrase, sounding off, "Rounds complete, end of mission," and saluted the crowd as he left the podium.
Retirement is but a closing of one chapter and a beginning of another book. As the ceremony came to an end, the retirees requested that the Field Artillery Song was sung. Just as the caissons go rolling along, so do the new chapters in the lives of these seven fine Soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2010 09:44 |
| Story ID: | 48401 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 378 |
| Downloads: | 289 |
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