Six Soldiers honored during quarterly retirement ceremony

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- Six Soldiers with a collective 140 years of service formally bid farewell to the military Oct. 20 on Brown Parade Field during the installation's quarterly retirement ceremony.

Guest speaker Col. Christina Bloss, assistant chief of staff, G-2, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, spoke on behalf of the Fort Huachuca community as she bid farewell to the retirees and wished them the best as they move into a new chapter of their lives.

"Just to give you an idea of the length and breadth of time in service here today, when our most senior honoree entered military service, 'The Sign' by Ace of Base was at the top of the music charts and 'Forrest Gump' was the top movie on the silver screen," Bloss said. "The year that our youngest Soldier swore his oath of enlistment, Celine Dion filled the airwaves with her top single 'My Heart Will Go On' and people rushed to the box office to see 'The Wedding Singer'."

Bloss continued on a more serious note.

"Three and a half years following Celine Dion's number one hit, 9/11 occurred and our nation went to war," she said. "These Soldiers chose to continue their service and fight for our nation and our freedom."

Addressing the retireess, Bloss said their day was finally here.

"The day you thought would never come," she said. "Today is the day to stand in your last formation and the final day at the office.

"This indeed is an important day. We honor you, our Soldiers, who have committed yourselves to the service of our nation and the protection of the values and ideas we hold so dear. This service was often done despite great adversity and sometimes peril.

"Today you are joining a growing line of patriots who have faithfully served our nation. You did not shrink from the service of your country and you deserve the love and the thanks of men and women across the free world.

"On behalf of your country, and all those that enjoy freedom, purchased by your sacrifices, let me be the first one to say 'thank you for your service'."

Bloss said the retirees' contributions will live on through those they served and worked with and now it was "time to pass the responsibility to others."

Bloss thanked the friends and family members of the retirees for their sacrifice.

"Without your love, your support, your friendship, these men standing here today couldn't have come so far, nor accomplished so much in the service of our Army.

"Your journey does not end today, it begins anew," Bloss said. "So we stand with you, one last time, during your final formation. We offer you our best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement. You are, and always will be, Army Strong."

In addition to the awards for military service, each retiring Solider received a certificate of appreciation signed by the president of the United States, a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag.

This quarter's retirees include:

Lt. Col. David Ruiz has 24 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the senior Army advisor, Arizona Army National Guard, Phoenix. For his service, Ruiz received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joseph Aldous has 25 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the senior technical advisor, G-3-5 Future Operations Division, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM). For his service, Aldous received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeremy King has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a Special Electronics Mission Aircraft instructor pilot for Delta Company, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). For his service, King received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Holaday has seven years of service to the U.S. Marine Corps and 13 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a Special Electronics Mission Aircraft instructor pilot for Delta Company, 304th MI Bn., USAICoE. For his service, Holaday received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Sgt. 1st Class Dan Hester has 24 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Soldiers Centered Clinic, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Medical Command. For his service, Hester received the Meritorious Service Medal.

Sgt. 1st Class Adam Smith has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as an instructor for the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course, Alpha Company, 304th MI Bn., USAICoE. For his service, Smith received the Meritorious Service Medal.

To conclude the ceremony, spouses of each retiree received a certificate of appreciation and flowers or other tokens of a gratitude for their support.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the audience sang Old Soldiers Never Die, Auld Lang Syne and the Army Song, accompanied by the Military Intelligence Corps Band. B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), made their customary charge on horseback across Brown Parade Field as a final goodbye to the departing retirees.