Fort Rucker honors 29 retirees

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 675 years of service, 29 Soldiers retired April 20 at the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony in the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.

This quarter's retirees are listed below.

LT. COL. PHILLIP G. JENISON

Jenison entered military service in 1988 as field artillery cannon crewmember. He served in combat in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was always being value added by doing more than what was expected throughout his career, and realizing early on in his career that servant leadership equals relationship. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children and plan to reside in Huntsville.

LT. COL. MICHAEL A. TODD

Todd entered military service in 1994 as a field artillery officer. He served in two combat tours in support of OIF and Operation New Dawn. He said the highlight of his career was working with an outstanding team of Soldiers, Airmen and civilians as joint fires observers, and training over 3,000 joint service members in close air support procedures as many were preparing for deployment. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children and plan to reside in Middle Tennessee.

CW4 KEVIN N. FRANCISCO

Francisco entered military service in 1990 as a UH-1 mechanic. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was providing instruction and mentorship to the next generation of Army Aviators. He and his wife, Margaret, have two children and will reside in Enterprise.

CW4 RAFAEL A. RODRIGUEZ

Rodriguez entered military service in 1992 as a carpentry and masonry specialist. He served in combat in support of OIF. He said the highlight of his career was being the first technical assistance field team chief, instructor, and Aviation maintenance adviser assigned to the U.S. Office of Defense Coordination in Mexico. He and his wife, Glenda, have one child and will reside in Enterprise.

CW4 KEVIN P. BRILLHART

Brillhart entered military service in 1992 as a Chinook mechanic. He served in multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being a standardization instructor pilot on Fort Rucker. He and his wife, Christy, have four children and plan to reside in Enterprise.

CW4 MAYNARD D. CAMPBELL

Campbell entered military service in 1991 as a petroleum supply specialist. He served in multiple combat tours in support of OIF and operations in Bosnia. He said the highlight of his career was having over 5,000 accident-free flying hours. He plans to reside in Enterprise.

CW4 JAMES F. HAGERTY

Hagerty entered military service in 1993 as a multiple launch rocket system fire direction specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being a flight lead in support of Australian special operations in Afghanistan. He and his wife, Samantha, have two children and plan to reside in Enterprise.

CW4 EDWARD B. PERRONE

Perrone entered military service in 1996 as a clarinet player. He served in multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being a theater-level personnel recovery director in support of joint operations in Jordan. He plans to reside in Macomb, Michigan.

CW3 JASEN M. JAMES

James entered military service in 1992 as an armor crewman. He served multiple combat tours in support of OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being a gun pilot with the 1-101st Attack Aviation Battalion. He and his wife, Kristina, have three children and plan to reside in Enterprise.

CW3 CHAD D. MCPIKE

McPike entered military service in 1994 as a signal support systems specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being an instructor in support of the Flight School XXI program here at Fort Rucker. He and his wife, Melissa, have two children and plan to reside in the Fort Rucker surrounding area.

CW3 SHAWN D. RODGERS

Rodgers entered military service in 1991 as a combat medic. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being the standardization officer in C Co., 3-25th General Support Battalion in Hawaii. He and his wife, Roselie, have two children and plan to reside in San Antonio, Texas.

CW3 ADAM S. COX

Cox entered military service in 1998 as an armor crewman. He has served multiple combat tours in support in support of OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marring his wife, Shawna. He and his wife have five children and plan to reside in Enterprise.

CW3 HANZ L. WELO

Welo entered military service in 1998 as an infantryman. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was participating in the airborne invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and marrying his wife, Rebecca. He and his wife have three children and plan to reside in Birmingham.

COMMAND SGT. MAJ. JAMES E. JOHNSON

Johnson entered military service in 1987 as a scout helicopter repairer. He has served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Tracy, and serving his country. He and his wife have two children and plan to reside in Florence, Montana.

COMMAND SGT. MAJ. STANLEY L. WATTS

Watts entered military service in 1990 as a fuel and electrical repairer. He has served multiple combat tours in support of Desert Storm, Desert Shield, OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Rechell, and having their two children. He and his family plan to reside in Wylie, Texas.

1ST SGT. THOMAS C. LANE

Lane entered military service in 1991 as an infantryman. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Rochelle, and having their five children. He and his family plan to reside in Longview, Texas.

1ST SGT. CHRISTOPHER B. ROWLEY

Rowley entered military service in 1997 as a combat medic. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Sarah, and having their two children. He and his family plan to temporarily reside on Fort Rucker.

SGT. 1ST CLASS PAWOO T. THE

Teh entered military service in 1994 as an Aviation operations specialist. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Talysha, and having their two children. He and his family plan to reside in Enterprise.

SGT. 1ST CLASS ALVIN J. O. PAET

Paet entered military service in 1998 as a bridge crewmember. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Joyce, and raising their six children. He and his family plan to reside in Bonifay, Florida.

SGT. 1ST CLASS KIMBERLY N. FLOYD

Floyd entered military service in 1996 as an avionics mechanic. She has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. She said the highlight of her career was being a production control NCOIC at Fort Drum, New York. She plans to reside in Defuniak Springs, Florida.

SGT. 1ST CLASS ERIC S. VANCE

Vance entered military service in 1996 as a Kiowa Warrior mechanic. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Gwendolyn, and having their three children. He and his family plan to reside in Enterprise.

SGT. 1ST CLASS CARMEN L. PUENTE

Puente entered military service in 1996 as a combat medic specialist. She has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF four and nine. She said the highlight of her career was marrying her husband, Guillermo, and having two children. She and her family plans to reside in Alpharetta, Georgia.

SGT. 1ST CLASS CURTIS M. HARRIS

Harris entered military service in 1997 as a Kiowa Warrior mechanic. He has served multiple combat tours in support OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was serving as a crew chief on the OH-58 during a nine-month deployment to Bosnia. He has four children and plans to reside in Alabama.

SGT. 1ST CLASS JEFFERY S. RUNION

Runion entered military service in 1998 as a cannon fire direction specialist. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was serving as a platoon sergeant in Afghanistan and marrying his wife, Stefanie, and raising their four children. He and his family plan to reside in Enterprise.

SGT. 1ST CLASS WILLIS K. HAYES

Hayes entered military service in 1998 as an air traffic control equipment repairer. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OEF. He said the highlight of his career was training civilians to become warriors as a basic training drill sergeant. He plans to reside in Daleville.

STAFF SGT. ANTONIO MONTES JR.

Montes entered military service in 1989 as an infantryman. He has served multiple combat tours in support of Desert Storm, Desert Shield, OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Stephanie, and having their seven children. He and his family plan to reside in Tallassee.

STAFF SGT. ARTURO RAMIREZ JR.

Ramirez entered military service in 1998 as a Kiowa helicopter repairer. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Jami, and being a father figure for his nephews. He and his wife plan to reside in the local area.

STAFF SGT. JOHN T. DARNELL, II

Darnell entered military service in 1998 as a tank systems mechanic. He has served in multiple combat tours including Bosnia and in support of OIF. He said the highlight of his career was being selected to assist the U.S. Secret Service with VIP security for then-President Barrack Obama in 2010. He plans to reside in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

STAFF SGT. WILLIAM G. JOHNSON

Johnson entered military service in 1998 as a UH-60 mechanic. He has served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Rexanne, and having their three children. He and his family plan to reside in Enterprise.

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