Photo By Master Sgt. Mark Boyer | Gen. Vincent K. Brooks (center) Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, and many of the...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — One by one, 13 U.S. Army Pacific service members stood before a gathering of their family, friends and coworkers, in their last official act during the fifth quarterly Celebration of Service ceremony held at historic Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, June 5.
“It never gets old gathering on Palm Circle,” said Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific, who officiated the ceremony. “This is a beautiful and historic place … this first permanent post for our Army in the Pacific; our home since 1907. What an honor it is to share this place with our honorees in a place that, in the same way, for over a century, Soldiers have been brought forward to position front and center, before the national colors, to be honored for their achievements and accomplishments.”
The USARPAC Celebration of Service ceremony joined the family, coworkers and friends of the honorees as they came together for a ceremonial expression of appreciation and gratitude for all the honorees have done for U.S. Army Pacific, for the U.S. Army, and for the nation.
“Today we gather to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of 13 selfless men and women, as we pause and we focus on their contributions, their service, and their sacrifices,” he said. “Today we join together with great admiration to say thank-you on behalf of a grateful nation while they’re still with us.”
The 13 retirees honored were Col. Lynn Jackson, Baltimore, Md.; Col. Geoffrey Stevens, Phoenix; Lt. Col. Richard Yada, Honolulu; Lt. Col. Michael Brophy, Fayetteville, N.C.; Lt. Col. Christopher Bridges, Honolulu; Lt. Col. Christopher Crawford, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Maj. Rodolfo Capetillo Jr., San Antonio; Chief Warrant Officer Four James Jefferson Jr., Camden, South Carolina; Chief Warrant Officer Sadie Lasell, Honolulu; Chief Warrant Officer Two Drake Utley, Kapolei, Hawaii; Clifford Chee, Honolulu; Sgt. 1st Class Deno Bell, Meridian, Miss.; Sgt. 1st Class William Annussek, Fort Worth, Texas.
Brooks went on to express to those in attendance how these Soldiers’ careers impacted USARPAC, and how the Army was better off because of what they’ve done, the impacts they’ve had on the lives of soldiers, civilians, and family members alike, and the sacrifices they’ve made.
“The retirees we honor today hail from all across our country. They’ve served in assignments spanning the globe, from Korea to Kuwait, Afghanistan to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Bragg to Bagram, Hungary to Hawaii, Iraq to Indonesia, Jackson to Japan, Seoul to Saudi Arabia, Fort Sam to Fort Shafter and other scenic spots. Collectively this group of retirees has earned Combat Action Badges, Bronze Star Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals. They’ve fought and served honorably to protect our freedom and the freedom of all Americans. They are commissioned officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers that served and led across a wide range of specialties within our profession of arms, including armor, aviation, cavalry, human resources management, intelligence, infantry, ordnance, signal, space operations, logistics, and transportation. This group has served at just about every Army command, every Corps, every Division you can name. They had experiences like teaching leadership to future Army officers at West Point, recruiting Soldiers for an all-volunteer Army, controlling ports in foreign country, doing the Army’s and the nations work in space, driving heavy transport trucks over great distances, serving in the National Guard and the active Army, representing the Army and developing policies on women in the services, conducting counter-drug operations. What a set of experiences.”
Before the ceremony drew to a close, Brooks made sure to thank the retiree’s families for their own sacrifices and dedication by way of standing by their Soldier.
“Let’s not forget about the supporting cast who also sacrificed in a very special way,” he said. “We won’t forget you for all that you’ve done as well. We appreciate you sharing these warriors, with us, and with our nation, and say thank you for all you’ve done for making these soldiers the successes that they are.”
Brooks concluded his address to the honorees by reminding that that even after they take off the uniform, they’ll always have a home here in US Army Pacific.
“So no matter where your final station ends up being, your home will always be with us because you’ll always be here in our hearts, and you’ll always have a place in our presence,” he said. “I know that everyone who’s here today joins me in wishing you all the very best, all the happiness, all the health, all the success, all the enjoyment that you so richly deserve and have earned through these years of service.”
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2015 05:13 |
| Story ID: | 165709 |
| Location: | FORT SHAFTER, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | KAPOLEI, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USARPAC CG to retiring Soldiers: “The final word is ‘thanks’”, by SSG Christopher McCullough, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
