ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- A retirement ceremony for seven Soldiers stationed at Rock Island Arsenal was held in Heritage Hall, here, Sept. 15.
Brig. Gen. Richard B. Dix, commanding general, Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command, presided over the ceremony.
"Today's retirement ceremony is a testament to their abilities and faithful execution of their duties to our Army and our nation," said Dix. "Our seven distinguished retirees have performed their duties for a combined total of 190 years."
Dix thanked the families of the retirees for supporting their Soldiers.
U.S. Army Sustainment Command hosted the event and provided the color guard.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert L. Worrell Jr., senior ordnance maintenance warrant officer, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, is a native of Chowchilla, California, and enlisted in the Army in 1985. His deployments include the port security mission of Operation Allied Harbor (Albania) in support of Allied Force/Task Force Hawk (Kosovo) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Worrell has a Bachelor's Degree of Individual Studies in Management and Logistics at Virginia State University and a two year certificate in Welding Technology at Central Texas College.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ryan E. Fitzpatrick, senior ordnance logistics officer, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, is a native of Burbank, Ohio, and enlisted in the Army Reserve on February 21, 1989. His deployments include Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Fitzpatrick has a Master of Science Degree (Logistics) from Florida Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Science Degree (Public Management) from Austin Peay State University and two Associates (Arts and Technology) from Pierce College. He earned numerous awards including the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Master Sgt. Michael Giesen, senior career counselor, First U.S. Army, is a native of Norway, Michigan, and enlisted in the Army in May 1996. He deployed in support of Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He earned numerous decorations including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He is also a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
Master Sgt. Previn G. Parker, operations sergeant, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, is a native of Bessemer, Alabama. He entered the Army Reserve in March 1989. Parker has completed combat tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Master Sgt. Willie Watson Jr., operations sergeant, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, a native of Printer, Kentucky, enlisted in the Army on January 6, 1989. His deployments include Operation Southern Watch (Kuwait), Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Inherent Resolve (Jordan). Watson's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He is a recipient of the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps' "Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe Award."
Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone E. Stuart Sr., operations sergeant, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, enlisted in the Army February 18, 1997. His deployments include Operation Joint Endeavor/Task Force Eagle (Bosnia), Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Stuart's awards and decorations include the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Meal and the Army Achievement Medal.
Staff Sgt. George S. Yokas, supply noncommissioned officer, Distribution Management Center, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, is a native of Peabody, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the Army January 14, 1994. Yokas' deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Meal and the Army Achievement Medal.
Link to flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/army_sustainment_command/albums/72157670653103683
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