FORT SILL, Okla. (July 27, 2017) -- The deputy commanding general, Army National Guard for Field Artillery, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, retired after more than 30 years of service during a ceremony July 25.
Brig. Gen. Keith A. Klemmer was honored by the presence of countless military and civilian leaders, service members, community members, family and friends.
To help beat the heat, Maj. Gen. Brian McKiernan, FCoE and Fort Sill commanding general, officiated the 8:30 a.m. ceremony at Old Post Quadrangle.
McKiernan noted that just a few weeks earlier, Klemmer had also retired from his role as the assistant adjutant general, Arkansas Joint Forces Headquarters in North Little Rock. And now was back at Fort Sill.
"This is the right place to retire a red leg (field artilleryman) of your stature," McKiernan said.
McKiernan said he has known the general for more than a decade, and that they attended the Army War College together.
"Sharon (McKiernan, Fort Sill first lady) and I consider ourselves fortunate to have served alongside you and Sandra (Mrs. Klemmer)," he said.
McKiernan said Klemmer was destined to rise to the top of his field.
"There is no greater honor for an Army National Guardsman than to be the deputy commanding general of the Fires Center of Excellence," McKiernan said.
McKiernan said he considered Klemmer to be a peer, an equal, but most importantly, a friend.
"He knows my mind, he executes my intent without fail, and he represents the interests of the Army National Guard and the total Army with a passion and zeal that is unequaled," McKiernan said. "Keith, all I can say is thank you, and a job well done," he said.
Klemmer first recognized Sandra.
"She really is the source of all my strength, and the one who has put me on the straight and narrow," he said.
He continued thanking numerous mentors, leaders, fellow Soldiers, and friends by name.
Klemmer reflected on many facility changes he has seen at Fort Sill, since he first came here in 1987; but there was a constant.
"There is one thing that has not changed," Klemmer said. "It's the officers, the NCOs, the civilian teammates who continue to be the best in the Army developing the next generation."
During the ceremony, McKiernan deferred honors and B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery "Salute Battery" fired 11 howitzer rounds in honor of Klemmer.
The major general presented Klemmer with the Legion of Merit award. Sandra was presented with an Army chief of staff certificate of appreciation, and The Alice Grierson Award for Excellence for her volunteer work in the Lawton-Fort Sill community.
And, 1st Sgt. Leighton Campbell, B/2-2nd FA, handed Klemmer a ceremonial artillery canister symbolically representing the last round fired in his honor as the deputy commanding general, Army National Guard for Field Artillery.
Brig. Gen. Timothy Sheriff, DCG, ARNG for Air Defense Artillery, FCoE and Fort Sill, was one of the many National Guard Soldiers in attendance. He said he worked with Klemmer the past two years here as they pushed several key initiatives for the Guard in the Fires arena.
"He was diligent, strived to perfection, and he looked out for his Soldiers -- always," Sheriff said of Klemmer.
Klemmer said he plans to continue to work in his civilian job as an executive with BAE Systems in Arlington, Va.
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