Fort Huachuca, Arizona -- Fifteen Soldiers and one Department of the Army Civilian celebrated the end of 361 years of collective military service along with Family, friends and other service members during the Quarterly Installation Retirement Ceremony April 15 on Brown Parade Field.
The host, presiding officer and guest speaker was Col. Wendy L. Rivers, U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (ISEC), Fort Huachuca. Command Sgt. Maj. Ulysees D. Rayford, ISEC command sergeant major, assisted Rivers with the awards presentation and Master Sgt. Rafael C. Deguzman Jr., ISEC, served as commander of troops.
Following opening remarks, the national anthem played by the Military Intelligence Corps Band and the invocation by Deputy Installation Chaplain Lt. Col. Steven A. Maglio, the narrator shared the history of Brown Parade Field before individually introducing each retiree. Each retiree received a certificate of appreciation signed by President Barack Obama, a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag. After the retirees were introduced and honored, each spouse received a certificate of appreciation and a bouquet of flowers or other token of appreciation.
"On the field in front of you spans a generation that began in 1985 with over 350 years of dedicated service to this nation," Rivers stated. "In 1985, the Army active duty strength was approximately 800 thousand Soldiers. We stood tall as the greatest Army in the world.
"Since then, there have been nine major military operations from Panama in 1989 to the Global War on Terrorism. Since 1985, the Army has defended nearly 50 countries all over the world, ushered in the end of the Cold War, fought with an unknown kind of enemy with unknown locations and now fights unconventionally, with a new doctrine, in environments of uncertainty and danger.
"Today, the Army active strength is nearing 450 thousand, and we face an even a newer type of enemy that knows no borders and uses cyberspace as its battlefield," she continued. "To win in a complex world, these 16 retirees have said that the Army will continue to rise to the challenge and defeat our unknown enemy on the virtual superhighway.
"But looking back, today is a much different Army than it was 31 years ago when our first retiree, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jensen, took the oath of office. I can tell you this. We are still the greatest Army in the world; and that's attributed to the fine Soldiers and Civilian who stand in front of you today."
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Daniel T. Jensen retired after 31 years of Army service. His last position was as the senior warrant officer aviation advisor to the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). He received a Legion of Merit for his service. Jensen and his wife, Laura Jane, have eight children: Amber, Dustin, Rhea, Nicole, Ian, John, Nicholas and Brianna. They plan to reside in Sierra Vista.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Deborah J. Hoover will end 26 years of service as a U.S. Army Soldier. Her final assignment was as the course manager and senior instructor for the Signals Intelligence Technician Warrant Officer Basic Course, Warrant Officer Training Branch, 304th MI Battalion, 111th MI Bde., USAICoE. She was presented with a Legion of Merit during the ceremony. Hoover has two children, Eliza and Ricardo. The Family plans to relocate to Florida.
Command Sgt. Maj. Eric J. Fowler will leave the Army after 29 years of service. He is presently assigned as the G3 sergeant major, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USAICoE. He was presented with the Legion of Merit for his service. He, his wife, Shay, and daughter Maeghan will live in Sierra Vista.
Maj. James A. Mitchell left the Army after 20 years of service. His final role was as a physician's assistant for the Medical Command (MEDDAC) at Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center (RWBAHC). During the ceremony, he received a Meritorious Service Medal. He, his wife, Angela, and their two children, Noah and Kaylah, plan to make their home in Sierra Vista.
Maj. Thomas J. Whipple will end his Amy career with a combined 22 years of enlisted and commissioned service. He is presently assigned as the garrison executive officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), U.S. Army Garrison (USAG), Fort Huachuca. He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Terra, have three sons, Sean, Alex and Jason. The Family will live in Sierra Vista.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin D. McCroskey will leave the Army after 20 years of service. He is presently assigned as an instructor for the Military Intelligence Captain Career Course, Headquarters Company, USAICoE. For his service, he was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Ida, have four children, Alexis, Amber, Ashley and Kevin. The Family will continue to call Sierra Vista their home.
Master Sgt. Stephen J. Cardona will end his Army career with 20 years of service. He is currently assigned as the RWBAHC senior clinical NCO and company first sergeant, MEDDAC. He was received a Meritorious Service Medal during the retirement ceremony. He, his wife, Sgt. 1st Class Kim Cardona, and children Steven and Evan will reside in Sierra Vista.
Sgt. 1st Class Merlyn J. Estes has 20 years of service to the United States Army. She is presently assigned as the senior communication security account manager for HHC, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB). For her time in service, she received a Meritorious Service Medal. Estes, her husband, Andrew, and son, Devin, will be moving to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Sgt. 1st Class Brian A. Reels will leave the Army after serving for 20 years. He is presently assigned as an information management officer for the Electronic Proving Ground, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. He received the Meritorious Service Medal during the ceremony. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three children, Brian, Brandon and Brianna. They plan to remain in Sierra Vista.
Sgt. 1st Class Sonny J. Rollins has served in the Army for more than 22 years. He is presently assigned as an S3-Operations NCO with HHC, 40th ESB. He was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. Rollins has one son, Army Sgt. Eric Rollins. He and his mother, Betty, will live in Hereford.
Sgt 1st Class Derahn S. Thornton will leave the Army after 21 years of service. He is presently assigned as a counterintelligence training developer for the Training Development & Support Directorate, HHC, USAICoE. He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He has five children, Linda, Dajana, De'Shawn, Demetreis and Dezikiah. The Family plans to reside in Atlanta.
Sgt. 1st Class Everett L. Worman has 23 years of service to the U.S. Army and seven years of service in the Army Reserve. He is presently assigned as a chief instructor for the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, USAICoE. He received a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three children, Elizabeth, Justin and Samantha. They will make their home in Hereford.
Staff Sgt. Chad A. Shannon will leave the Army after 20 years of service. He is presently assigned as the Fort Huachuca BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) president, HHC, USAG. He was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Willa, have three children, Adrianna, Kylee and Kail. The Family plans to make their home in Tampa, Florida.
Staff Sgt. Paxton D. Wefenstette will retire from the Army with 20 years of service. He is presently assigned as an academic training specialist for the G3/7, HHC, USAICoE. He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, Ian, Malia and Miles. The Family will live in Rochester, Minnesota.
Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Ziegler will have 20 years of Army service when he retires. He is presently assigned as a human resources clerk for the 304 MI Bn., 111th MI Bde. Officials presented him with a Meritorious Service Medal during the retirement ceremony. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Kealian and Dakota. The Family will reside in Sierra Vista.
Katherine M. Thomson served as Employment Readiness Program manager during her final civil service assignment with Fort Huachuca's Army Community Service, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, USAG. She retired after 27 years of service to the federal government and received a retirement pin. She has two grown children, Jade and Johnny Clayton. Thomson will continue to make her home in Sierra Vista.
The ceremony concluded with the MI Corps Band playing "Old Soldiers Never Die" and "Auld Lang Syne" and the audience sang "The Army Song." Finally, members of B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), honored the retirees with a traditional cavalry charge across Brown Parade Field and formally ended the ceremony. Retreat followed, at which time both retirees and audience rendered military honors before the retirees and spouses formed a receiving line and accepted congratulatory wishes from the audience.
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