Fourteen Soldiers, Civilians honored during retirement ceremony

By U.S. ArmyJuly 27, 2016

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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the audience congratulate the retirees after the Fort Huachuca Quarterly Installation Retirement Ceremony July 22 on Brown Parade Field. Several retirees will remain in Sierra Vista while others will relocate to other Arizona cities or out... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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Fort Huachuca, Arizona--Twelve Soldiers and two Civilian employees with a collective 326 years of service formally bid farewell to the military and the installation July 22 on Brown Parade Field during the installation's quarterly retirement ceremony.

Guest speaker Lt. Col. Mark A. Denton, commander, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion, spoke on behalf of the Fort Huachuca community as he bid farewell to the retirees and wished them the best as they moved into a new chapter of their lives.

"Before you are Civilians and Soldiers who have successfully led through conflict and uncertainty in demanding positions," Denton said. "We are witnessing the transition of these great warrior leaders into new chapters of their lives.

"Today we say thank you for being servant leaders. I believe that there is no greater responsibility than to lead our nation's finest in any capacity, to account for their well-being, and that of their Families, and to develop them as they become leaders of the next generation.

"Maya Angelou once stated, 'People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.' Honorees, your days were focused on being servant leaders and making everyone feel like valued members of the team."

In addition to awards for military service, each retiring Soldier received a certificate of appreciation signed by the president of the United States, a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag. Each retiring Civilian was presented with a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag.

This quarter's retirees include:

Command Sgt. Maj. Edward E. Russell has over 30 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as an operations sergeant major for the Eighth Army Fire Support Element, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Operations Company, G3, Eighth Army, Yongsan, Korea. For his service, Russell received the Legion of Merit. He will live in Oro Valley, Arizona.

Joe A. Griego has 32 years of Civilian service to the U.S. Army. He retired on June 12 as a management analyst while working for the Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM), G37 Force Management Division. He received the Superior Service Medal and commanding general note for excellence. Griego and his wife, Cheryl, will reside in Sierra Vista.

Capt. Scott E. Ellis has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a writer/ instructor for the Imagery, MASINT, and All-Source Branch of the Training, Development and Integration Division, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). He received the Meritorious Service Medal. He will make his home in Sierra Vista.

1st Sgt. Rodney L. Hampton has 24 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, NETCOM. He received the Meritorious Service Medal. He has three children: Ashley, Khristopher and Kameron. He plans to reside in Mount Vernon, Alabama.

Sgt. 1st Class Roy D. Cantu has 22 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a network operation chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, NETCOM. Cantu received the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Tracey, plan to reside in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Sgt. 1st Class Floyd T. Hargrove Jr. has 21 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a DoDIN Fusion Center NCO for NETCOM. Hargrove received the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Tamisha, have five children: Leondra, Ramona, Danisha, Dajuan and Destine. He and his Family will live in Augusta, Georgia.

Sgt. 1st Class David G. Talamantes Jr. has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as senior human resources operations readiness manager for G-1, NETCOM. Talamantes received the Meritorious Service Medal. He has two children, Ariel and David. He and his Family will live in Sierra Vista.

Staff Sergeant William J. Condon has 23 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the administration and training NCOIC for the Second Regional Cyber Center-Western Hemisphere, Fort Huachuca. Condon received the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Amy, have six children: Arik, William, Matthew, Rachel, David and Rebecca. He and his Family will remain in Sierra Vista.

Staff Sergeant Earon L. Howard has 22 years of service to the U.S. Army. She was assigned as the senior human resources sergeant for Delta Company, 2-13th Aviation Regiment. She received the Meritorious Service Medal. She and her Family plan to reside in Sierra Vista.

Staff Sgt. Curtis K. Ritchie is currently assigned as the team leader for the Military Intelligence Corps Rock Band. He is retiring after 23 years of service to the U.S. Army and received the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Dorothy, have four children: Justin, Kayla, Jeremy and Jordan. He and his Family plan to reside in Sierra Vista.

Angelika C. Babcock has 16 years of service to the U.S. Army. She is presently working as the director of Parent and Outreach Services, Child, Youth and School Services, Directorate of Family and Welfare, Morale and Recreation. She received the Commander Award for Civilian Service Medal, retirement plaque and retirement pin. She will reside in Gatesville, Texas.

Martha F. Cook has 32 years of Civil Service to the U.S. government. She is presently assigned as a clinical social worker in the U.S. Army Medical Command, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Clinic. She is retiring after 32 years of service to the U.S. Army and received the Commander Award for Civilian Service Medal. She was also presented with a certificate of retirement, retirement plaque and retirement pin. She will remain in Sierra Vista.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 James H. Simmons has 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as the service manager for the Penetration Testing and Evaluation Team, 2nd Regional Cyber Center Western Hemisphere, 7th Signal Command Theater, Fort Huachuca. He was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. Simmons and his wife, Melissa, have three children: Chloe, Mason and Layla. He and his Family will remain in Sierra Vista.

Sgt. 1st Class Larry D. Phillips, Jr has 21 years of service to the U.S. Army. He is presently assigned as a center leader in Tucson Recruiting Company, Phoenix Recruiting Battalion. Phillips received the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Angela, have four children: Keith, Larry, Victor and Anthony. He and his Family will make their home in Tucson, Arizona.

"Because of our honorees' dedicated service to our nation, they have missed countless Family events -ranging from funerals, births, weddings, birthdays and every holiday on the calendar," Denton added. "All our retirees are here today because of the unwavering support and love of their Families.

"Family members, thank you for allowing our honorees to serve our nation and answer the call for a noble cause. Now it's time for us to return them to your homes.

"Ronald Regan once stated, "Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have made a difference in the world. Today, I assure you that our honorees have made a difference."

To conclude the ceremony, spouses of each retiree received a certificate of appreciation and flowers or other tokens of gratitude for their support.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, in time-honored tradition, the audience sang Old Soldiers Never Die and the Army Song. B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), made their customary charge on horseback across Brown Parade field as a final goodbye to the departing retirees.