FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 501 years of service to the nation, 13 Soldiers and 5 civilians retired from service during the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony July 26 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. John M. Ferrell, Directorate of Simulation director, hosted the ceremony with assistance from Command Sgt. Maj. James W. Coquat, former 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment command sergeant major.
Short write-ups on each retiree follow.
COL. GLORIA L. BONDS
Bonds, deputy commander for nursing at Fort Benning, Georgia, entered military service in 1989 as a Nurse Corps officer. She served a combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She said the highlight of her career was being deployed to Iraq and, upon her return, being assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where she continued for the next three years to care for the same type of patients -- the nation's wounded warriors. She and her husband, retired CW5 Kelley Bonds, have two children. They plan to reside in Huntsville.
COL. JAMES R. NOLIN
Nolin, assistant deputy commander for nursing at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, entered military service in 1989 as a Navy hospital corpsman. He was commissioned in 1997 as a Navy Nurse Corps officer and completed a transfer to the Army in 2002. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was serving as the medical provider on Union Base III in Iraq. He and his wife, Tiffany, have a son. They plan to reside in Dothan.
LT. COL. KEVIN T. REEVES
Reeves, director of current operations and Fort Huachuca, Arizona, entered military service in 1995 as a supply specialist. He was commissioned in 1999. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was having the opportunity to command, lead, teach, train, coach and mentor the men and women of the future U.S. Army. He and his wife, Trina, have a son. They plan to reside in Riverview, Florida.
CAPT. BRIDGETTE M. PETERSON
Peterson, executive officer and assistant operations officer of the New Orleans Military Entrance Processing Station, entered military service in 1993 as a personnel administration specialist. She was commissioned through Officer Candidate School into the Adjutant General Officer Corps in 2008. She served multiple combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She said the highlights of her career were living abroad, meeting people from all walks of life, crossing over from enlisted Soldier to officer, and especially meeting her soulmate, her best friend, her Boaz, "Pete," who lovingly refers to her as "his short rib." She and her husband, Reginald, have three children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW5 SCOTT JACKSON
Jackson, AH-64 D/E standardization officer at Training and Doctrine Command Capabilities Manager-Reconnaissance/Attack, entered military service in 1986. He said he is most proud of his three Bronze Star medals, one Air Medal with Valor, four Air Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with five campaign stars, the Combat Action Badge and the Master Aviator Badge. He said the highlight of his career was marrying a loyal, loving and beautiful wife, and having two magnificent daughters. He and his wife, Sheryl, plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW5 VANCE L. PAUL
Paul, 1st Aviation Brigade command chief warrant officer, entered military service in 1984 as a multichannel equipment operator. He was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training in 1989. He served multiple overseas tours in support of Operation Restore Hope, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Spartan Shield. He said the highlights of his career were being selected for promotion to chief warrant officer 5, and being the commander of U.S. Army Europe Safety and Standards Detachment. He and his wife, Jacquelyn, have two children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW4 JOHN H. GRINER
Griner, Air Traffic Services Command director of logistics, entered military service in 1993 as a special electronics devices repairer. He was selected for Army Warrant Officer Training as an electronic systems maintenance technician in 2004. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was being a warrant officer basic course instructor at the Army Logistics University. He and his wife, Permelia, have one child. They plan to reside in Ozark.
CW4 RONALD D. WOLFARTH
Wolfarth, B Company, 1-145th Avn. Regt. senior warrant officer, entered military service in the Air Force in 1996 as a munitions specialist. In 2002 he entered the Army and completed Army Warrant Officer Flight Training in 2003. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Desert Fox and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was having the opportunity to fly high-ranking VIP, air assault, MedEvac and firefighting missions. He plans to further his aviation career in the airline industry.
CW3 BRENDAN G. MADDEN
Madden, A Co., 1-212th Avn. Regt. instructor pilot, entered military service in 1999 as a combat engineer. He was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training in in 2005. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was being a pilot and instructor in support of U.S. Southern Command's mission in Central and South America. He has three children. He plans to reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.
SGT. 1ST CLASS CLINTON P. BRUCE
Bruce, Directorate of Training and Doctrine Aviation Gunnery Branch master door gunner, entered military service in 1995 as a UH-60 helicopter repairer. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was his assignment to Fort Rucker and being able to share his experience with the rest of the force. He and his wife, Miranda, plan to reside in Enterprise.
SGT. 1ST CLASS MATTHEW M. CASTILLO
Castillo, 110th Aviation Brigade equal opportunity adviser, entered military service in 1998 as a motor transportation operator with the New Mexico National Guard. He entered active-duty service in 1999 as a flight operations specialist. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Lynette, and having five amazing children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
STAFF SGT. KARI L. BRENNER
Brenner, A Co., 1-13th Avn. Regt. operations NCO, entered military service in 1999. She served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. She said the highlight of her career was meeting and working with many great Americans. She said she plans to reside in Enterprise with her two beautiful sons.
STAFF SGT. DANA W. EHLERT
Ehlert, special repair activity team chief, sexual harassment/assault response and prevention victim advocate, and senior instructor/writer, entered military service in 2002 as an air traffic control equipment repairer. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Flintlock 2009. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Tara, and becoming a husband, father and grandfather in the same day. They plan to reside in Daleville.
DR. LARRY W. KEY
Key, Directorate of Training and Doctrine senior training specialist, is retiring after 44 years of distinguished serve and dedication to Soldiers and the nation. He served on active duty from 1968 to 1995, including in Vietnam as an UH-1 pilot and C-47 pilot, instructor pilot and safety officer. He said the highlight of his career was working with many wonderful people throughout the years. He has two children and five grandchildren all within the Wiregrass area. He plans to reside in Elba.
DOUGLAS E. HAMRICK
Hamrick, Directorate of Human Resources lead human resources assistant, is retiring after 44 years of distinguished service and dedication to Soldiers and the nation. He served on active duty from 1974 to 1980 as a personnel records specialist. He then immediately entered civil service in civilian personnel, accident prevention and the DHR personnel transition services center. He said the highlight of his career was servicing and taking care of Soldiers transitioning to the civilian sector. He and his wife, Kerry, have one child. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
JEAN I. HANSEN
Hansen, ATSCOM air traffic control specialist, is retiring after more than 40 years of distinguished service to Soldiers and the nation. She served on active duty from 1975 to 1994 and in the Air Force Reserve from 1994 to 2004. She entered civil service in 1998. She said the highlight of her career was being able to deploy as a civilian in support of Soldiers and the nation. She has five grandchildren. She plans to reside in Arlington, Texas.
SANDRA A. GRAVES-WHITNEY
Graves-Whitney, 1st Avn. Bde. Office of the Staff Judge Advocate legal assistant, is retiring after more than 37 years of distinguished service to Soldiers and the nation. She entered civil service as a student aide during her 11th grade year while attending Daleville High School and then junior college. She said the highlights of her career were receiving the 1996 Fort Rucker Employee of the Year Award in the service category, earning the Civilian Achievement Medal, and being blessed to have met so many wonderful people and making lifelong friends while working at Fort Rucker. She has two grandchildren.
RICHARD J. REHM
Rehm, Cairns Army Radar Approach Control division chief, is retiring after 28 years of distinguished service and dedication to Soldiers and the nation. He served on active duty from 1990 to 1994 as an air traffic control specialist. He entered civil service shortly after separating from the Army, serving his entire 24 years at Cairns Army Radar Approach Control. He said the highlight of his career was being appointed to the Army's CP-64 Aviation Career Planning Board. He and his wife, Eden, plan to travel extensively, but to reside in Alabama and Florida.
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