FORT RUCKER, Ala. (January 29, 2015) -- The Fort Rucker community saluted the service of 11 retiring Soldiers whose service encompassed 242 years of service to the nation at the quarterly retirement ceremony Jan. 23 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. Jayson A. Altieri, commander of 110th Aviation Brigade, spoke at the event, saying the retirees helped the nation ensure it did not become a victim of change, and instead compelled change to craft America's future and pave the way forward.
"No matter the enemy or the obstacle, each of our retirees can stand tall as contributing members of our great Army, he said. "The men and women who are about stand before you today have earned a special place in our society -- they have set the standard for those of us who remain to follow and to build upon that success.
"The Army that these retirees are leaving is vibrant and healthy," Altieri added. "As a direct result of their contributions, the Army will continue to improve each day and will continue to do so because of the mentorship that these retirees have provided."
Lt. Col. H. David Brooks
Brooks, the executive officer for Air Traffic Services Command, entered military service in 1990 as a pneudraulics specialist and served 24 years. He served three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. He said the highlights of his career was seeing the proud look on his wife's face when he graduated Officer Candidate School, and when his dad pinned his Army Aviation Wings on his chest. He and his wife, Nereida, have two children and plan to reside in Enterprise.
Capt. Joie J. Bier
Bier, assistant deputy U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence G4, entered military service in 1993 and served 22 years. She served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. She said the highlight of her career was being selected to command a company in an attack battalion during an OEF deployment. She and her husband, Ervin, have two children and plan to reside in Laredo, Texas.
Capt. Keith A. Stampley Jr.
Stampley, chief of the Combined Arms Division of the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, entered service in 1994 and served 21 years. He served a combat tour in support of OEF. He said there were many highlights in his career, but the most memorable was serving as an air traffic control facility chief and commanding C Battery, 4th Bn., 3rd Artillery Regt. He and his wife, Cetoria, have four children and plan to reside in Dothan.
CW4 Tammy R. Rose
Rose, the chief of the Supply Surveillance Branch of the Aviation Center Logistics Command, entered military service in 1986 as a materiel storage handling specialist and served 28 years. She served multiple combat tours in support of Operations Desert Shield and Storm, and OIF. She said the highlights of her career were becoming the first female member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and swearing in her children as they enlisted into service. She and her husband, Jake Branch, have two children and six grandchildren and to plan to reside in Enterprise, unless they win the lottery and move to an undisclosed island location.
CW4 Wayne Grimes
Grimes, Aviation combat forensics officer, entered military service in 1994 as a cavalry scout and served 21 years. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF. He said the highlight of his career was flying as a front-line scout pilot supporting troops on the ground in combat. He and his wife, Shane, have two children and plan to reside in Huntsville.
CW3 Brandon S. Gillette
Gillette, subject matter expert for the AH-64D and joint operations for the Directorate of Training and Doctrine Gunnery Branch, entered military service in 1994 as a heavy-wheeled vehicle mechanic and served 21 years. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was serving as company standardization pilot while deployed in support of OEF in 2012-13. He and his wife, Misty, have two children and plan to reside in Niceville, Florida.
CW3 Michael W. Fusilier
Fusilier, UH-60 instructor pilot course section leader, 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1995 as an Aviation operations specialist and served 20 years. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was surviving his last deployment in Afghanistan supporting the war on terror in Regional Command-East. He and his wife, Stacy, have one child and plan to reside in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
First Sgt. Guy W. Skipper
Skipper, first sergeant for the 1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1992 and served 22 years. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was serving as a company first sergeant. He and his wife, Nicole, have three children and plan to reside in Fork Shoals, South Carolina.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Fox II
Fox, brigade S2 NCO in charge for the 1st Avn. Bde., entered military service in 1993 as a flight operations specialist in the Marines and served 22 years. He served multiple combat tours in support of OEF, OIF and Operation Joint Guardian. He said the highlight of his career was receiving a Bronze Star as the operations NCOIC while in a combat Aviation Brigade in Afghanistan. He plans to reside in Houston, Texas.
Sgt. 1st Class James A. Wofford Jr.
Wofford, senior human resources sergeant for 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1994 as a combat engineer and served 21 years. He supported operations in Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat engineer. He said the highlight of his career was serving successfully as a drill sergeant for 24 months in a basic combat training company. He and his wife, Torlina, have one child and plan to reside in the local area.
Sgt. 1st Class Rose L. McGhee
McGhee, capability developer the Concepts and Requirements Directorate, entered military service in 1995 as an automated logistics specialist and served 20 years. She deployed in support of OIF and OEF. She said the highlight of her career was gaining a whole new military family, as well as getting to see the world, just as her recruiter had promised. She has two children and plans to reside in the local area.
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