FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 328 years of service, 13 Soldiers retired during the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum Oct. 27.
Col. Brian E. Walsh, Fort Rucker garrison commander, hosted the ceremony as garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Spivey assisted.
CHAPLAIN (COL.) DEAN BONURA
Bonura, the garrison chaplain, entered military service in 1980 as a chapel activities specialist. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve in 1986 and, in 1988, he entered active duty and completed chaplain officers basic course. He said the highlight of his career was his service as brigade chaplain with the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his wife, Denise, have five sons and three grandchildren. They plan to reside in Memphis, Tennessee.
COL. BRIAN BENNETT
Bennett, deputy J3 of U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, entered military service in 1982 as a cannoneer crewman. He was commissioned in 1985 through the ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He said the highlight of his career was watching the remarkable resiliency of his family during the many moves and deployments of his career. He and his wife, Amy, have two sons. They plan to reside in Hawaii and, eventually, Florida.
MAJ. TROY ECK
Eck, 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (Airfield Operations) air traffic services officer, entered military service in 1986 as a single-channel radio and teletype operator. He was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from the North Dakota Army National Guard Military Academy Officer Candidate School. He said the highlight of his career was serving his country during war and peace time with the greatest Soldiers, NCOs, warrant officers and commissioned officers. He and his wife, Elisabeth, have one child. They plan to reside in Dothan.
MAJ. TYRONE BALLARD
Ballard, 901st Contract Battalion contract officer, Fort Hood, Texas, entered military service in 1993 as an ordnance Solider. He said the highlight of his career was graduating from OCS. He and his wife, Judy, have five children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CHAPLAIN (MAJ.) COLLIE FOSTER
Foster, 1st Aviation Brigade brigade chaplain, entered military service in 1998 through direct commission. He said the highlight of his career was working with the patients, family members and staff of the Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado. He and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters. They plan to reside wherever the Lord leads.
CW4 LINFORD MAITLAND
Maitland, Warrant Officer Career College course director of warrant officer intermediate level education, entered military service in 1990 as a field artillery meteorologist. He was selected for warrant officer candidate training in 2003. He said the highlight of his career was serving in the academic operations division as course director for warrant officer intermediate level education. He and his wife, Louise, have two children. They plan to reside in Columbia, South Carolina.
CW4 KEVIN MITCHELL
Mitchell, chief of the Aviation Safety Training Division for the Combat Readiness Center, entered military service in 1991 as a microwave systems operator and maintainer. He was selected for warrant officer flight training in 1997. He said the highlight of his career was being an instructor in support of training and mentoring the Army's newest Aviation safety officers. He and his wife, Deanna, have four children. They plan to reside in the Dallas, Texas, area.
CW4 PATE BUTLER
Butler, Director of Training and Doctrine Flight Training Branch trainer and developer, entered military service in 1995 as a CH-47 Chinook mechanic. He was selected for warrant officer flight training in 1999. He said the highlight of his career was serving in the 101st Airborne Division as the general support Aviation battalion and combat Aviation brigade standardization instructor pilot. He and his wife, Angela, have two children. They plan to reside wherever the airlines take them.
CW4 CHRISTOPHER REESE
Reese, F Company, 1-212th Avn. Regt. UH-60M maintenance test pilot course track chief, entered military service in 1995 as a UH-60 Black Hawk repairer and crew chief. He was selected for warrant officer flight training in 2000. He said the highlights of his career were being a company maintenance officer at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the track chief for the UH-60M maintenance test pilot course. He and his wife, Jasmine, have six children.
CW3 ERIC CURTIS
Curtis, 1-212th Avn. Regt. Headquarters and Headquarters Co., officer in charge of UH-60 academics, entered military service in 1997 as a transportation officer. He was selected for warrant officer flight training in 2008. He said the highlight of his career was being an air assault instructor. He and his wife, Shonta, have two children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
MASTER SGT. RONALD HELMS
Helms, senior equal opportunity adviser to the commanding general of Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, entered military service in 1997 as an automated logistics specialist. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his wife, Kimberly. They have two children and plan to reside in Wicksburg.
SGT. 1ST CLASS JON SCHNEIDER
Schneider, DOTD operations project NCO, operations sergeant and security manager, entered military service in 1992 as an infantryman and later reclassified as an Aviation operations specialist. He said the highlight of his career was serving as a drill sergeant and teaching new Soldiers. He and his wife, Christiane, plan to reside in Enterprise or Texas.
SGT 1ST CLASS PERRY KING
King, instructor, writer and NCO in charge of the UH-60 A/L/M initial entry rotary wing pilot course, entered military service in 1998 as a UH-60 Black Hawk mechanic. He said the highlights of his career were his faith in God and marrying his wife, Lynn. They have two children and plan to reside in Enterprise.
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