Cloutier recalls four Soldiers who guided him by their service

Post commander Roger Cloutier credited four Soldiers with helping him become the leader standing before a packed room Friday evening during his promotion to the rank of major general. Two, he said emotionally, gave their lives in service to others.

But all four left permanent impressions, Cloutier said, instilling in him values and ethics during his years as a junior officer -- values he abides by today. He shared stories of the four with friends, family and other well-wishers gathered at the NCO Club.

"In the Army, you learn very quickly that no one can make it alone," Cloutier said. "This promotion is truly not mine -- it belongs to all those people who poured into my life over the past 28 years."

The first Soldier he credited was Pfc. Douglas J. Duff Jr. of 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, who served in Cloutier's platoon during Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama. Duff's death in combat shaped Cloutier's perspective on what it means to serve in the Army and what caring for Soldiers truly means, he said.

"He taught me that our Soldiers will sacrifice and do anything we ask of them as long as they believe that their leaders care about them and they're doing everything to train them and keep them safe," Cloutier said.

Cloutier's former battalion and brigade commander, retired Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, taught Cloutier how to best balance leadership with other demands on his time.

"He taught me you can have high standards, you can demand excellence, and you can still be approachable and have a good time doing it," Cloutier said.

The next Soldier Cloutier recognized was his first platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Eckert, affectionately known in the platoon as "Eck the Neck" because of the three big rolls on the back of his head and his muscular physique.

"He taught me that every single Soldier -- regardless of their rank - has a sergeant, and that sergeant takes care of that Soldier," Cloutier said. "He taught me to trust and empower the non-commissioned officers so that they can get the job done."

Cpl. Jacob C. Palmatier of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment taught Cloutier the value of true sacrifice. Cloutier, Palmatier's battalion commander in Iraq in 2005, talked passionately about Palmatier as he remembered the Soldier's virtues.

"Jacob spoke seven languages, he worked in my S1 (personnel) shop… and he would take notes in Chinese - he was just a great kid," Cloutier said.

Cloutier said Palmatier would watch his fellow Soldiers go on convoys daily and remarked to his leadership about the unfairness of his predicament -- Palmatier was stuck on the Forward Operating Base as his battle buddies risked their lives outside the wire.

Cloutier recounted how Palmatier volunteered to go on the next convoy and wound up manning the grenade launcher in the turret of a truck.

"Palmatier was killed on his first combat patrol outside the wire," Cloutier recalled, taking a moment to collect himself.

The four Soldiers and their stories have guided Cloutier for almost three decades as he has risen through the ranks, he said. He honors their lessons and memories daily by leading Soldiers, using the values imparted.

At the end of the ceremony, Cloutier declared that he remained grounded by one simple belief:

"I'm Cloutier," he said -- "and I'm an American Soldier."