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Community recognizes 13 Soldiers during retirement ceremony
Monday, 08 February 2010
Fort Drum community members honored 13 Soldiers with more than 266 years of military service during a retirement ceremony Friday at the Multipurpose Auditorium.
Congratulating them on their retirement and thanking them for their years of service was Col. Bertram Providence, MEDDAC commander.
Providence spoke about the Soldiers’ desire to serve and defend uniting them all.
“Although you are looking ahead to retirement from active duty, you will not be cutting your links entirely. The sacrifices you have made, like the uniforms you have worn so proudly, will not be forgotten. They will not be forgotten, because you will always be part of the Army Family and a warrior first.
“Wherever you go, you will always take your Army experiences with you. The Army values are deeply ingrained in you and will affect your life outside the Army from now on,” he said.
“Army service cannot help but change a person for the better,” Providence continued. “You are stronger, prouder and more capable as a direct result of your Army life. Every one of you had something different to offer the Army; whatever your individual role, you have played it well.
“Today, we not only thank you for your service, we salute you and wish you well in the days to come. God bless our retirees, God bless the United States Army and God bless America,” Providence said.
The colonel thanked Soldiers and their Families and wished America’s newest civilians good luck for their futures.
The following retirees each received the Meritorious Service Medal:
*Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jose E. Domenech, HHC, 10th Sustainment Brigade, retires with 21 years of active military service. He served overseas in Hawaii, Japan and Italy with combat tours as part of Operation Desert Shield / Storm, Task Force Eagle, Joint Special Operations, Task Force Philippines and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will retire in Huntsville, Ala.
*Master Sgt. Micaela M. Hickman, HHC, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with 23 years of active military service. She served overseas in Germany and Korea with combat tours during Operation Desert Shield / Storm. She will retire in Louisville, Ky.
*Master Sgt. Tirrell A. Hickman, HHC, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea with combat tours during Operation Desert Shield / Storm. He will retire in Louisville, Ky.
*Sgt. 1st Class Blake C. Dehner, HHC, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, retires with 21 years of active military service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea with combat tours during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom twice. He will retire in Calcium.
*Sgt. 1st Class Sonya D. Jones, HHC, 10th Sustainment Brigade, retires with 20 years of active military service. She served overseas in Germany twice, Korea and Bosnia with combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She will retire in Watertown.
*Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth J. Parsons, HSC, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Korea and Germany with combat tours in Operation Joint Endeavor, Bosnia and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will retire in Bristol, N.H.
*Staff Sgt. Scott W. Athey, HHC, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Korea with combat tours during Operation Desert Shield / Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor twice and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will retire in Toms River, N.J.
*Staff Sgt. Noel Guerrero, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), retires with 21 years of active military service. He served overseas in Egypt and Hawaii with combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Joint Guardian and Operation Joint Forge. He will retire in Watertown.
*Staff Sgt. Bruce M. Hunter, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Hawaii and Germany with combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He will retire in Virginia Beach, Va.
The following retirees each received the Army Commendation Medal:
*Staff Sgt. Daniel I. Parks, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea with combat tours in Operation Desert Shield / Storm and Kosovo. He will retire in Watertown.
*Staff Sgt. Brian S. Williams, 3-10 General Support Aviation Battalion, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Japan, Korea twice and Egypt with combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He will retire in Felts Mills.
*Sgt. Lawrence M. Ford, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Korea twice with combat tours as part of Operation Just Cause, Operation Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force. He will retire in Watertown.
*Sgt. Jeffrey L. Kilgo, 3-10 General Support Aviation Battalion, retires with 20 years of active military service. He served overseas in Germany twice and Korea with combat tours during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will retire in Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Each retiree also received an Army retirement pin, a U.S. flag and a letter of appreciation from the commanding general.
