Moving on: Sustainers retire from the Army after more than 20 years of service

By 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public AffairsNovember 29, 2010

Sergeant 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), his wife Teresa, and Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Horn, an operations NCO with the 3d ESC, wait for the start of the United States Army H...
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sergeant 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), his wife Teresa, and Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Horn, an operations NCO with the 3d ESC, wait for the start of the United States Army H... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), during his retirement ...
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), during his retirement ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, Sgt 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), his wife Teresa, and Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Archer, the Fort ...
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, Sgt 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), his wife Teresa, and Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Archer, the Fort ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Horn, an operation noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Archer, the Fort Knox Medical Dep...
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Colonel Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander, Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Horn, an operation noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Archer, the Fort Knox Medical Dep... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. (Nov. 23, 2010) - Two Soldiers from the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were honored during the United States Army Human Resources Center of Excellence and Fort Knox Retirement Ceremony at the post's Leader's Club Nov. 23.

The ceremony recognized the service of 27 Soldiers, each of whom served at least 20 years of active military service.

"This is a special day to give thanksgiving for their service," said Col. Ronald Place, the Fort Knox Medical Department Activity commander and host of the ceremony.

Place thanked the 27 Soldiers and their Families for the sacrifices they have made over the years - especially those their Families endured, such as missed birthdays and anniversaries.

"Now's your chance to start making up for those missed events," Place said.

For Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hibbs, a paralegal noncommissioned officer with the 3d ESC, retirement is an opportunity to continue his education and service.

Hibbs, who has more than 22 years of service as a paralegal, plans to pursue a degree in psychology or sociology.

The Madisonville, Ky., native explained that he already had an associate's degree in general studies and was only a few classes shy of a bachelor's degree in legal studies. Since then, however, he has become more interested in psychology and sociology.

"I'm going to finally focus on getting a degree," Hibbs said.

Hibbs said his most memorable experience was taking brand-new Soldiers to combat and getting the opportunity to lead and mentor them through the experience.

"It's unbelievably rewarding - watching them grow," Hibbs said.

Hibbs' service has been filled with a lot of memories - both good and bad, but the decision to join the Army was the best decision he ever made, he said.

"I'm going to miss the Soldiers more than anything," Hibbs said.

Sergeant 1st Class Stanely Horn, an operations NCO with the 3d ESC and Waco, Texas, native, said he will miss the camaraderie more than anything.

"There is nothing quite like the closeness," Horn said, comparing the civilian workplace to the military service. "You really learn a lot about each other."

Horn, who is actually a member of the Army Reserves, has more than 26 years of service.

"I have more time on active duty than not," Horn said.

Horn explained that he started his service with 15 years of active duty, then went to the Reserves while going to college. After Sept. 11, 2001, he was mobilized 3 times and later given the option to retire from active duty, he said.

Horn said the highlight of his career has been seeing his Soldiers progress through the ranks, some of whom have even surpassed him and are already retired.

Horn put his civilian job in Texas on hold in order to serve on active duty, but he plans to return to that job after retirement.

Place said all of these Soldiers are tremendously skilled leaders who have left a legacy for others to follow.

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference, Soldiers don't have that problem," Place said.

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Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Rob Strain, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs.

For queries, contact 3d Sustainment Command Public Affairs at: (502) 624-8601.

For high-resolution photos and stories by the 3d Sustainment Command, please contact the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System by calling (678) 421-6612 or access them online at http://www.dvidshub.net/units/3sce.

Related Links:

3d ESC Website

Fort Knox Website