FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- United States Army, Pacific Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Roger Mathews was officially honored at a celebration of service and Flying V ceremony Aug. 14 on historic Palm Circle.
The Flying V formation was represented by USARPAC's subordinate commands and theater-enabling commands. Its name refers to the V shape in which the colors are posted during the ceremony. The Commander of Troops was Maj. Gen. James Pasquarette, USARPAC chief of staff.
"Everyday I served was a gift that I treasured and over the years I learned much," said Mathews, who originally commissioned in 1978 in the Air Defense Artillery branch. "My career included many amazing moments, but it will always be the people I remember the most [he addressed the field] you represent all the Soldiers and officers I have served with in the past 36 years. I am honored to serve with you today."
Mathews expressed gratitude to everyone from his father to many of the individuals he served with throughout his career. "My most important thanks goes to the Soldier… Soldiers represent what is best about our Army and they make us better than we ever expected to be and for me personally, they never allowed me to have a bad day."
As deputy commanding general of USARPAC, he was responsible for the daily operations of USARPAC headquarters, the execution of all senior mission commander responsibilities for Army Forces on Hawaii and also served as the Chief of Staff for USPACOM's Joint Task Force 519 from 2011- 2012.
"You've just been amazing, that's the easiest way to describe it," said Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, USARPAC commanding general and officiating officer. "Your contributions will reside here in the way we do our work everyday. It will also reside in the way we treat each other every day, because they're reflections of you."
"During his three year time of tenure as Deputy Commanding General of USARPAC, a time of great change, [Mathews] led the command though the reorganization of the Pacific, especially building the relationship with 8th Army in Korea and with 1st Corps returning from Afghanistan to its Pacific home base," said Brooks. "[Mathews] was the key to the Pacific Army to the means that we had out here…keys that would make a difference for the Pacific Command and Soldiers. And finally [he] was the key for the command's transition from a three-star to a four-star headquarters."
Mathews was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal, U.S. Army Space Professional Association Order of St. Dominic, Retirement Service Award, Certificate of Appreciation from the Commander in Chief, a Certificate of Appreciation from U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno, a retirement pin and a U.S. flag flown on Palm Circle. Mrs. Connie Mathews was presented the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for her outstanding volunteer service to the United States Army, a certificate of appreciation from the Secretary of the Army and a letter of appreciation from Brooks.
Brooks offered a final bit of advice to Mathews in the next chapter of life. "Live the rest of your days happy and satisfied with the people who served with you, including us today, respect and admire you, everything else will fall into place," said Brooks.
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