TULSA, Okla. - It was a family affair at the promotion ceremony for the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deputy commander as his wife and children placed his new lieutenant colonel insignia on his uniform April 1 at the district office.
Lt. Col. Don Nestor’s son and daughter each stood on a chair, his wife held their infant son, they removed the rank insignia for the office of Army major and placed the shoulder straps bearing the silver oak leaf of the office of lieutenant colonel on his uniform.
“A promotion in the Army is really a promotion for the whole family,” said Nestor. “Yes, I get to pin on the rank, but all of your success goes back to the one that holds up the family, does the day-to-day operations. The heartbeat and pulse of our family is my wife, and the best part is our three bundles of joy.”
After the insignia pinning, Nestor received the Bronze de Fleury Medal of the Army Engineer Regiment. The prestigious medal, named for a courageous French engineer who served with the American Army during the Revolutionary War, recognizes Nestor’s superior service to the Engineer Regiment in support of the Army mission.
Nestor accepted a commission into the Army 17 years ago after graduation from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in mechanical engineering. His assignments have taken him overseas several times and included tours of duty in Colorado and California.
“One of the driving forces of why I’m in the military is being a part of something bigger than me. It’s really that whole team aspect,” said Nestor. “Some units really have it and some don’t. I think coming to Tulsa District I really felt that team concept right away. I think what we have here in Tulsa is a really strong team.”
Nestor also received news recently that with the promotion to lieutenant colonel he is eligible for a command-level position when his tour of duty is over in Tulsa.