FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Two Soldiers and two civilians with a collective 144 years of service were honored at the quarterly Installation Retirement Ceremony held Friday, Jan. 24, at Fitch Auditorium inside Alvarado Hall.
Host of the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Richard Appelhans, commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence & Fort Huachuca, thanked everyone for being in attendance and acknowledged the “unique moment” in the Army’s history.
“This year marks the 250th birthday of the United States Army,” Appelhans said. “Two and a half centuries of service, sacrifice and excellence. From its founding in 1775 to today, the Army has embodied its timeless motto ‘This We’ll Defend.’”
The commanding general spoke of the retirees’ 144 years of combined service and how they are a part of this legacy.
“The Army’s 250th birthday reminds us that its legacy has been built by the people who serve,” he said. “…Today’s retirees have each carried forward that legacy, contributing to the Army’s strength and ensuring its promise, ‘This We’ll Defend,’ remains unwavering.”
The retirees honored at the ceremony included Chief Warrant Officer 5 Luis Lebron, senior technical advisor for the Network Enterprise Technology Command, with 36 years of service; Sgt. 1st Class Terrah Bell, senior human intelligence instructor for Bravo Company, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion, with 26 years of service; Alan Nelson, intelligence specialist supervisor for Intelligence - Capabilities Development & Integration Directorate, with 49 years of combined service as a U.S. Marine and as a Department of the Army civilian; Mark Beattie, deputy to the commander of the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command, with 35 years of service as a Department of the Army civilian.
During the ceremony, Appelhans spoke to the families of the retirees and referred to them as the “unsung heroes” by providing love and stability to their Soldiers or Army civilians.
“These families remind us that the strength of a Soldier [and Army civilian] often comes from those closest to them,” he said. “Their love and support make it possible for our Soldiers [and Army civilians] to serve, and today, we honor not only the retirees but also the families who have sacrificed alongside them.”
Appelhans concluded by speaking about the legacy left by the four retirees and the personal sacrifices they made.
“Their collective 144 years of service have shaped the Army, its people and its future,” he said. “Through their technical expertise, mentorship, leadership, or selfless service, each of them has upheld the Army’s promise, ‘This We’ll Defend.’”
Following Appelhans’ remarks, each retiree came to the stage with their family members to receive a handshake and final salute from the commanding general, and to provide gifts to their loved ones.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Army song and Old Soldiers Never Die. The retirees and their families were then thanked by friends, families, leaders, co-workers and fellow Soldiers.
(Editor’s note: The complete album is available at 2025-01-24 Installation Retirement Ceremony | Flickr.)
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, 2-13th Aviation Regiment, Electronic Proving Ground, Joint Interoperability Test Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
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