FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 404 years of service, 13 Soldiers and two civilians retired July 29 at the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony in the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. Mark A. Moser, Training and Doctrine Command Capabilities Manager -- Aviation Brigades director, hosted the ceremony, while Sgt. Maj. James E. Johnson, TRADOC Capabilities Manager -- Aviation Brigades sergeant major, assisted with presenting the awards.
This quarter's retirees are listed below.
Lt. Col. William H. Taylor
Taylor, mobilization readiness officer for the Alabama Army National Guard in Montgomery, entered military service in 1986 as an infantry officer. He served in a variety of staff and command assignment on active duty and in the Guard. He said the highlight of his career was his selection as an embedded training team leader during Operation Enduring Freedom where he led a team of combat advisers mentoring Afghanistan national army and police units in various combat operations across southern and eastern Afghanistan. He and his wife, Michelle, have three children and plan to reside in Prattville.
Maj. Edward D. Miller
Miller, Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations chief, entered military service in 1992 as a combat medic. He served multiple combat tours in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was serving with, among and for Soldiers and civilians of every rank, and starting his officer career at Fort Rucker and ending it here at Mother Rucker. He and his wife, Angela, have three children and plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW5 Paul Druse
Druse, senior warrant officer adviser, Office of Program Management, Saudi Arabia National Guard, Army Materiel Command, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, entered military service in 1987 as an air traffic controller. He was selected for Army warrant officer flight training in 1989. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being the chief of standards for the directorate of evaluations and standardization at Fort Rucker. He and his wife, Angel, have two children and plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW4 Kevin D. Huggins
Huggins, standardization instructor pilot with the directorate of evaluation and standardization, entered military service in 1990 with the Navy. In 1997, he was selected for Army warrant officer flight training. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being a standardization officer and instructor pilot teaching and conducting combat operations with the country's Afghanistan partners. He and his wife, Monica, have one child and plan to reside in Jacksonville, Florida.
CW4 John Weyrauch
Weyrauch, instructor pilot with F Company, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment, entered military service in 1992 as a UH-60 Black Hawk mechanic. He was selected for Army warrant officer flight training in 2000. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was supporting the Australian Special Air Service Regiment while deployed to Afghanistan. He and his wife, Crystal, have four children and three grandchildren. They plan to reside in Montgomery.
CW3 Daris A. Orr
Orr, Graduate Branch academics instructor with the 110th Aviation Brigade, entered military service in 1994 as a combat medic. He was selected for Army warrant officer flight training in 2006. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was being an instructor pilot teaching the next generation of Army Aviators at Fort Rucker. He and his wife, Silofa, have three children and plan to reside in Enterprise.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas V. Snura
Snura, training center liaison sergeant major, Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, entered military service in 1983 as a motor transport operator. He served multiple combat tours in support of Operation Desert Storm, OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was attending both airborne and air assault schools after the age of 40 -- and surviving. He and his wife, Michelle, plan to reside in Washington County, Florida.
Sgt. Maj. David Morris
Morris, sergeant major for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence Directorate of Training and Doctrine, entered military service in 1987 as an air traffic controller. He and his wife, Patricia, plan to reside at whatever lake their recreational vehicle is parked by.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher A. McFarland
McFarland, trainer with the 2-384th Combat Service Support Regiment, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, entered military service in 1989 as a water treatment specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Yong Sue, and having two wonderful children. They plan to reside in Crestview, Florida.
Sgt. 1st Class Vicki L. Wood
Wood, brigade surgeon cell NCO in charge, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, entered military service in 1997 as a healthcare specialist. She served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. She said the highlight of her career was knowing Soldiers were able to return home to their families due to her crew's actions in combat. She has two grown children, and she and her husband, Daryl, plan to reside in Mililani, Hawaii.
Sgt. 1st Class Keith E. Brittin
Brittin, Aviation enlisted career management NCO, organization and personnel force development directorate, entered military service in 1995 as a military policeman. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF, OEF and Operation New Dawn. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Mhayrene, and having three wonderful children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
Staff Sgt. Matrell J. Powell
Powell, brigade fuel NCO in charge and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention victim advocate at Fort Drum, New York, entered military service in 1996 as a petroleum supply specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Travasie, and having four wonderful children. They plan to reside in Huntsville.
Staff Sgt. Mike L. Gomez
Gomez, Aviation Center Logistics Command technical inspector and quality assurance evaluator, entered military service in 1996 as an infantryman. He served multiple combat tours in support of OIF and OEF. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Leticia, and having five wonderful children. They plan to reside in Ozark.
Elbert Williams
Williams, an engineering technician, is retiring after 50 years of service to the nation. He served on active duty, including a tour in Vietnam, from 1963 to 1988 and entered civil service immediately afterwards. He said the highlight of his career was working with so many wonderful people throughout the years. He and his wife, Adeline, have five children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
Carol Ann Boylston-Lee
Boylston-Lee, information management officer and acting chief information officer for the Fort Rucker garrison, is retiring after 34 years of service to the nation. She served on active duty as an Air Force security policeman from 1976 to 1980. She said the highlights of her career were working with so many dedicated Soldiers and civilians whose greatest desire was to serve their country, and earning the Fort Rucker Woman of the Year Award three times. Boylston-Lee has two children and two grandchildren. She and her husband, Mickey, plan to reside in Enterprise.
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