Uberti pins on second star

By U.S. ArmyAugust 6, 2012

Unfurling the two-star flag
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Assisted by his son, Michael and daughter, Giovanna, Maj. Gen. John "Sonny" Uberti" unfurls his two-star general flag while Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commanding general of Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Assisted by his son, Michael and daughter, Giovanna, Maj. Gen. John "Sonny" Uberti" unfurls his two-star general flag while Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commanding general of Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commanding general of Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, pins two-star rank on Maj. Gen. John "Sonny" Uberti's right shoulder while Uberti's wife, Linda pins the rank on h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commanding general of Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, pins two-star rank on Maj. Gen. John "Sonny" Uberti's right shoulder while Uberti's wife, Linda pins the rank on h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - In a ceremony with 100 family members, friends, colleagues and classmates in attendance, Brig. Gen. John "Sonny" Uberti, deputy commanding general for support of Installation Management Command, pinned on two-star insignia at historic Fort Hamilton Aug. 3.

Uberti serves in the command group of a major command with 74 Army installations around the world including in Japan, Italy, Germany and the United States.

"It's only fitting that today we promote you, and it's only fitting that we do it here in the great state of New York," said Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commanding general of Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff of Installation Management.

Uberti, who is from Merrick, N.Y. on Long Island, and was commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy West Point in 1983, chose to be promoted at Fort Hamilton, close to family and friends. Fort Hamilton is the only active duty military installation in New York City and only one of two in the state.

Among his many friends and family including his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws and West Point classmates, his wife's aunt traveled all the way from New Hampshire, and his aunt and uncle traveled from Florida to see the promotion.

Uberti's wife, Linda, and his commander, Ferriter, pinned major general rank on his Army Service Uniform and Uberti's children Giovanna and Michael helped unfurl his two-star flag.

Uberti thanked the audience gathered saying they each had a part in getting him into the Army and keeping him in for the past 30 years. He thanked his parents for instilling a great work ethic in him and joked that the only reason he went to West Point was to take a break from being at home. He said he receives encouraging texts and phone calls on patriotic holidays from appreciative friends and family.

"Thank you for your support and understanding for missing all the…'fill in the blank'--birthdays, communions, weddings. Thanks for sharing this special day with our Army," Uberti said.

Uberti said his family serves our nation in their own way.

"The strength of our nation is our Army, the strength of our Army is our Soldiers, and the true strength of our Soldiers is our Family. Nowhere else is that true more than in this room," Uberti said. "So thank you, Linda, Giovanna and Michael--the three greatest things that ever happened to me."

Shortly after he was engaged to Linda, Uberti said he was deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm and the day after his daughter was born, he was deployed again. Giovanna, who just finished 9th grade, is on her seventh school and Michael, starting fourth grade is on his fourth school.

"They serve alongside me, to include the many nights they are home alone. You are the strength of this Soldier," Uberti said.

Uberti will stay in his position at IMCOM in San Antonio, Texas. IMCOM's installations function as small cities providing support from family programs to public works to security. Uberti thanked Fort Hamilton for letting him have his promotion ceremony near his family and friends.

"You are the face of our nation's commitment to Soldiers and Families," he said.

Ferriter renewed Uberti's oath of office with him and concluded the promotion with, "Congratulations, Major General Uberti. Hooah!"

Related Links:

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton

Installation Management Command