Fort Rucker honors 12 retirees

By Sara E. Martin, Army Flier Staff WriterAugust 1, 2013

Fort Rucker honors 12 retirees
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A ceremony was held July 26 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum to honor Soldiers retiring from the Army. Front row " Lt. Col. Tewanna Marks, Sgt. Roberta Gonzalez and 1st Sgt. Alisa Gonzales. Back row " CW5 Charles Selph, Sgt. 1st Class Duncan Knight I... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Rucker honors 12 retirees
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A ceremony was held July 26 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum to honor Soldiers retiring from the Army. Front row " Sgt. 1st Class Rose Bergstrazer, CW4 David Lewandowsky, CW3 Ruben Diaz. Back row " CW4 Dennis Bergstrazer, CW3 Michael Young and Master... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (August 1, 2013) -- Fort Rucker honored 12 men and women with a collection of more than 275 years of military service and 130 permanent change of station moves between them at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum July 26 during the quarterly retirement ceremony.

The "true American heroes" began a new chapter in their lives during the weekend, but they will always be remembered as the generation of Soldiers who ushered in the new technology that has forever changed how the Army trains and teaches, said Col. T.J. Jamison, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker's chief of staff.

"They ushered in new technology, where computers were on every desk . . . and most importantly we can thank them for the demise of the overhead projector," he said. "We can also thank them for the introduction of the PowerPoint presentation.

"This is the most important generation of Soldiers in our nation's history," he continued. "They have all made contributions to the Army and because of them we continue to develop as professionals. Never forget what sets you apart from others -- your discipline, patriotism and standards."

Lt. Col. Tewanna Marks entered military service in 1993. During her 20 years of service she served in numerous overseas locations in Germany, Hungary, Bosnia, Nicaragua, Korea and Iraq. She said the highlight of her career was helping the people of Nicaragua rebuild their country during humanitarian relief efforts after hurricane Mitch destroyed their country, and serving as the USD-S division engineer in Basra while providing theater master planning support and base closure operations to coalition forces. Marks has one child and upon retirement she plans to reside in Geneva.

CW5 Charles Selph entered military service in 1984. During his 29 years of service he served in numerous overseas locations in Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Selph stated the highlights of his career were serving as an East German / Czechoslovakian border pilot, flight lead in Operation Desert Storm and the Arizona state standardization officer. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children and six grandchildren. Upon retirement, he will continue as a Fort Rucker DAC/UH-60 instructor and reside in Level Plains.

CW4 David Lewandowsky entered military service in 1993. During his 20 years of service he served in various overseas locations in Panama, Germany, Korea and Iraq. He stated the highlight of his career was serving his country in three separate combat tours in Iraq. He has one child. Upon retirement, he plans to reside in Dothan.

CW4 Dennis Bergstrazer entered military service in 1972. During his 40 years of service, he has served in overseas locations in Japan and Korea. In addition, he served as a research assistant and flight leader. He stated the highlight of his career was receiving his Aviator wings after flight school.

Sgt. 1st Class Rose Bergstrazer entered military service in 1979. During her 34 years of service she served in overseas locations in Japan and Korea. She has served multiple tours in support of Ulchi Focus Lens. She stated the highlight of her career was serving in combat support in Korea.

CW3 Michael Young entered military service in 1990. During his 23 years of service he served in various overseas locations in Korea, Colombia and Iraq. In addition, he served multiple deployments in Central and South America. Young stated the highlight of his career was having the opportunity to achieve all he did and getting a chance to meet all the great Soldiers along the way. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children. Upon retirement they plan to reside in Enterprise.

CW3 Ruben Diaz entered military service in 1992. During his 21 years of service he served in various overseas locations in Germany, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq and Honduras. He stated the highlight of his career was being an instructor in support of Central and South America. He and his wife, Danielle, have two children. Upon retirement they plan to reside in Enterprise.

1st Sgt. Alisa Gonzales entered military service in 1986. During her 27 years of service she served in overseas locations in Germany, Korea and Iraq. She stated the highlight of her career was implementing and managing the SHARP program for a brigade that was comprised of four battalions with over 2,100 Soldiers, civilians and KATUSAs that increased the mission effectiveness and reduced the behaviors that lead to sexual assault. She has two children and two grandchildren. Upon retirement she plans to reside in Enterprise.

Master Sgt. Raymond Dawson III entered military service in 1990. During his 23 years of service he served in overseas locations in Korea and Afghanistan. Dawson stated the highlight of his career was training young men and women to become air traffic controllers, thus ensuring the community remains alive and strong. He and his wife, Christine, have three children. Upon retirement they plan to reside in Enterprise.

Sgt. 1st Class David Kintz entered military service in 1993. During his 20 years of service he served in overseas locations in Germany, Iraq and South Korea. He stated the highlight of his career was meeting his spouse in Illesheim, Germany, while they were both young Soldiers in the United States Army. He and his wife, Teresa, have three children. Upon retirement they plan to reside in Enterprise.

Sgt. 1st Class Duncan Knight III entered military service in 1993. During his 20 years of service he served in overseas locations in Germany, Bosnia and Iraq. Knight stated the highlight of his career was when he was a senior drill sergeant transitioning civilians into Soldiers at Fort Knox, Ky. He is engaged to Lisa Miller. He has one child. Upon retirement, they plan to reside in Louisville, Ky.

Sgt. Roberta Gonzalez entered military service in 1989. During her 24 years of service she served in overseas locations in Germany and Korea. Gonzalez stated the highlight of her career was graduating from George Washington University with an associate's degree and becoming a certified medical laboratory technician through American Society for Clinical Pathology. She and her husband, Jose, have three children. Upon retirement they plan to reside in Enterprise.

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