OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.-- Friends, family and fellow Soldiers gathered for the combined retirement ceremony for Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kristen D. Guffy, supply systems technician with the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Logistics Management Branch and Master Sgt. Donald T. Seymour, budget analyst, Joint Force Headquarters, Oklahoma Army National Guard at Joint Force Headquarters, Feb. 5, 2022. Guffy and Seymour reminisced on their time in the military during the retirement ceremony as they received commemorative memorabilia and awards for their service.
Guffy began her military career in 1991 in the active Army as a material storage and handling specialist and joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 1998 as a automated logistics specialist. Guffy’s 31 years of service and sacrifice earned her more than 20 awards and decorations, to include two Meritorious Service Medals.
“I come from a very large military family and watching my dad, who was an aviator, come home from flights impacted me,” said Guffy. “I knew that I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps in the Army and I am forever blessed and grateful that I did.”
Guffy’s fellow retiree, Master Sgt. Donald T. Seymour, began his service in the military in 1997 as an active-duty Soldier and joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard five years later. Seymour finishes his time with 25 years of military service and earned more than 15 awards and decorations to include the Army Commendation Medal, which he received 4 times.
“I joined the military when I was 21 years old and thought I would only do it until something better came along and I have been here ever since,” said Seymour. “If I could go back and talk to that 21-year-old I would tell [him] to do what I did because it has been worth it.”
While most retirement ceremonies in the Army take place as an individual event, Guffy and Seymour decided to have a joint ceremony.
“I had a feeling Seymour was going to ask to have our retirements together, '' said Guffy. “He has been my friend for 20 years and it just felt like the right way to go out.”
Throughout their careers, Guffy and Seymour have always displayed a positive attitude and a dedication to duty, which made them into strong leaders.
“It doesn't matter what job it is or whose job it is, [Guffy and Seymour] are willing to step in and get their hands dirty regardless of what rank they had attained,” said Maj. Tanya Stevens, service maintenance manager and retirement speaker, Joint Force Headquarters.
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Date Taken: | 02.06.2022 |
Date Posted: | 02.15.2022 15:18 |
Story ID: | 414134 |
Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY , OKLAHOMA, US |
Web Views: | 304 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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