FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 3, 2012) -- More than 200 members of the Fort Rucker community turned out to honor the 14 Soldiers and four civilians retiring during the quarterly retirement ceremony April 27 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. James R. Macklin Jr., commander of Air Traffic Services Command and the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, officiated the event as the 18 ended their careers in front of Family, friends, coworkers and well wishers.
At the start of the ceremony, Macklin marveled at the experience, sacrifice and achievements representative of the group.
"We have some vintage Soldiers here," he said. "It's really amazing when I read through their bios -- the incredible amount of things these Soldiers and civilians have done. Our Army's come a long way."
Macklin spoke about the transitions and challenges the Army experienced under the watch of the Soldiers and civilians ending their careers of service to their country, such as the transition to an all-volunteer force, the travails of the Cold War, improvements in quality of life, changes in the world order, confronting terrorism and applying technology to increase the service's advantages over the country's adversaries.
"So now, here we are -- we've opened and closed the door on Operation Iraqi Freedom and we're slowly taking down operations in Operation Enduring Freedom after more than 10 years. The Army's made huge strides in how to apply technology, lessons learned and quality of life," he said.
"Through it all, these men and women who we recognize today, they have made us a faster, better, stronger force all around," Macklin added. "It's been a monumental effort, drawing from all Army components and the civilian force as well. It's also been a monumental success story -- we owe it to you dedicated professionals and to your Families who have committed your lives to serving our nation, both in times of peace and in times of war.
"As you begin this next chapter in your lives, know that your work over these past decades, your contributions, have made this the best Army in the world -- the fastest, the best equipped, the most technologically advanced and the most forward thinking," he said. "We will carry on your legacy as you carried the legacy of those who went before you. Congratulations on your accomplishments and on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you."
The retirees:
MILLER
Lt. Col. Christopher L. Miller, chief of the Theater Aviation Maintenance Program in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, entered military service March 1, 1982. During his 30 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including tours in Kuwait, Panama, Japan, Korea, Germany; Ukraine, and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a senior Army Aviator qualified in the OH-58, UH-1, HH-60, UH-60 and the CH-47. He and his wife, Lorrie Lynn, have two children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
BAIRD
Lt. Col. James J. Baird III, chief of Science and Technologies for the U.S .Army Aviation Center of Excellence Concepts, Experiments and Analysis Division, entered military service July 2, 1987. During his 25 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Korea, Germany and two combat tours in Iraq. He and his wife, Rosalin, have three children, and plan to reside in Orlando.
ELDREDGE
Maj. Charles B. Eldredge, 110th Aviation Brigade security manager, entered military service Aug. 26, 1986. During his 25 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including four tours in Korea. He and his wife, Regina, have three children, and plan to reside in the Wiregrass area.
RIGNEY
CW5 Thomas W. Rigney, 164th TAOG Aviation safety officer, entered military service Dec. 28, 1977. During his 34 years of military service he served in numerous locations, including Germany, Kuwait, and combat tours with operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He and his wife, Capt. Sharon Rigney, have seven children, and plan to reside in the local area until she finishes her tour of duty at Fort Rucker.
BUTLER
CW4 Michael L. Butler, Training and Doctrine Command Capability Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, unmanned aerial systems maintenance subject matter expert, entered military service Nov. 18, 1987. During his 25 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Egypt, Germany, Kosovo and combat tours in Iraq. He and his wife, Diane, have two children.
CARLETON
CW4 Larry T. Carleton, U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center Aviation accident investigator, entered military service June 9, 1989. During his 23 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Korea, Panama, Honduras, and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He and his wife, Mary Anne, have three children and one grandchild, and plan to reside in Huntsville.
SMITH
CW3 Randy L. Smith, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment standardization pilot, entered military service May 12, 1992. During his 20 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Germany and combat tours in Iraq. He and his wife, Teresa, have two children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
MONTANARO
CW3 Gene J. Montanaro, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Flight School 21 section leader, entered military service May 19, 1992. During his 20 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, Korea and a combat tour in Iraq. He and his wife, Jane, have two children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
DEL AMO
Sgt. Maj. Juan F. Del Amo, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment battalion sergeant major, entered military service July 19, 1988. During his almost 24 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Korea, Egypt and Puerto Rico. He and his wife, Triana, have three children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
COLLINS
First Sgt. John S. Collins, U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center operations noncommissioned officer in charge, entered military service Oct. 1, 1992. During his 20 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Korea and multiple combat tours in Iraq. He and his wife, Roxanne, have four children, and plan to reside in Austin, Texas.
RALSTON
First Sgt. Gregory P. Ralston, Fort Rucker Equal Opportunity adviser, entered military service April 23, 1992. During his 20 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq. He and his wife, Christy, have five children, and plan to reside in Daleville.
HERRING
Sgt. 1st Class Clark K. Herring, 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment CH-47 D and F helicopter maintenance test pilot course master instructor, writer and flight instructor, entered military service Sept. 10, 1986. During his 26 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Panama, Korea and multiple combat tours in Iraq. He and his wife, Ianka, have two children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
DAVIS
Staff Sgt. Harold L. Davis, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment aviation life support equipment instructor, entered military service Sept. 22, 1992. During his 20 years of military service, he served in numerous locations, including Korea, Venezuela, Egypt and a combat tour in Iraq. He and his wife, Audrey, have six children, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
HICKS
Sgt. Julie B. Hicks, NCOIC of the Maxwell Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility, entered military service Aug. 7, 1992. During her 20 years of military service, she served in numerous locations, including Honduras and Korea. She has two children and plans to reside in Macon, Ga.
JACKSON
Kenneth J. Jackson, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation community recreation officer, entered civil service in January 1975. During his 36 years of civil service, he served in various positions and for the past 23 years with Fort Rucker DFMWR. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two children and two grandchildren, and plan to reside in Dothan.
SMITH
Willie S. Smith, USAACE Resident Training Maintenance Division Classroom Support Section, served five years as active-duty Army, 23 years with the Army Reserve and entered civil service Sept. 17, 1980. During his 37 years of military and civil service he served in Germany, Fort Monmouth, N.J., Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Rucker. He and his wife, Deborah, have two children, and plan to reside in Troy.
ANDERSON
Elbron Anderson, TRADOC Program Office, Aviation Brigades, spent 28 years in the Air Force and Army and entered civil service April 4, 1984. During his military career, he was stationed in France, Germany and served in combat in Vietnam. He is also a former Fort Rucker Civilian Instructor of the Year. He and his wife, Norma, have six children, 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild, and plan to reside in Enterprise.
MARTIN
Gloria Martin, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment legal assistant, entered civil service Jan. 30, 1980. During her 32 years of civil service Martin served in several positions on Fort Rucker and was the Army's Outstanding Employee of the Year with a Disability in 2004. She plans to reside in Kinston.
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