Photo By Staff Sgt. Patricia McMurphy | Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Harley Davis, a lifelong mentor of Col. Lowe and highly respected...... read more read more
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FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska --Friends, family, co-workers and members of Fort Wainwright’s neighboring communities honored outgoing U.S. Army Alaska Deputy Commander, Col. Mark S. Lowe for his 30 years of Army service at a retirement ceremony here March 1.
Lowe began his career here more than 29 years ago, as a rifle platoon leader and mortar platoon leader in the 6th Battalion, 327th Infantry, 172nd Light Infantry Brigade in 1983. Most of Lowe’s subsequent assignments were in special operations.
Retired Maj. Gen. Harley C. Davis, a long time mentor and friend to Lowe, flew in to attend Lowe’s retirement ceremony and share a few stories about serving with him. Lowe’s son, Air Force 2nd Lt. Matthew Lowe also attended.
Davis made a special point to refer to one of Lowe’s early Special Forces assignments, serving in Cambodia as a United Nations military observer.
“In the [ceremony] program it talks about Cambodia and it just says Cambodia. I think I probably volunteered him for that job,” Davis said with a grin. Davis said he needed someone who could be trusted to do the right thing, even when no one was watching. I knew that Mark would represent the Army and his country very well."
“You can trust that when Mark Lowe tells you something, it is fact,” Davis said. “When he started making reports about weapons he had come across, some people started to question them. He was reporting tanks and a warehouse full of ammunition. Those of you that may know a little bit about Col. Lowe know, he’s kind of into weapons and ammunition.”
“Eventually, [the United Nations] did verify that [Lowe] could count mortars, claymores and all kind of foreign mines and demolitions,” he said.
“And, he did not bring them all back with him,” Davis joked.
U.S. Army Alaska Commander Maj. Gen Raymond Palumbo shared a few words and said it was only fitting that Lowe finish his military career where he began it.
Palumbo presented Lowe with the Legion of Merit Medal, certificate of retirement, an Alaska state flag, a sabre and the Bronze Order of Saint Philip Neri Award, recognizing a lifetime of service to the U.S. Army Special Forces.
His awards, specialty tabs, and badges include the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab and foreign jump wings from Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Great Britain, Australia and India.
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2012 20:17 |
| Story ID: | 84902 |
| Location: | FORT WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 271 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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