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'On Time, On Target' brigade bids farewell to retiring Soldiers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Dykstra
  • 72nd Operations Brigade Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The recognition of retiring service members from a career of dedicated, honorable service is one of the most sacred traditions in the Army.

The 72nd Operations Brigade honored three retiring soldiers in a ceremony Jan. 30, 2013, here.

The soldiers, Lt. Col. Todd Kickbusch, 2nd Battalion, 315th Field Artillery Regiment; Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jerome Rush, 2nd Battalion, 315th Field Artillery Regiment; and Sgt. 1st Class Milton Townsend, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, have more than 69 years of combined military service.

"This ceremony is an important right of passage in a warrior's life, one that should be revered and preserved," said Col. Michael Shrout, 72nd Operations Brigade commander. "By honoring these three Soldiers today, we are also honoring our profession of arms."

Kickbusch, Rush and Townsend each enlisted in the Army at the end of the 1980s, within three years of each other. Among them, they have had 10 deploymentsand have served in such places as Fort Drum, N.Y.; the Republic of Korea; Iraq; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Fort Hood, Texas.

Kickbusch, enlisted as an infantryman, but was later commissioned and selected to become an Apache pilot in 1996. He commanded a recruiting command company in New York and was entered the Active Guard/Reserve program, bringing him here in 2005.

Rush, served in the field artillery as a NCO, before being selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School. He fought in Operation Desert Storm and deployed three additional times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Townsend, enlisted in the Army as a Pershing Missile System Repairman in 1986, but was quickly re-classed as a radio repairman once the Army phased out the Pershing Missile System. He was awarded the Canadian Parachutist Badge after completing jumps with the Canadian Special Forces.

Each service member was presented with a folded U.S. flag and the retirement pin, signifying the last event of their military careers during the ceremony.

"Your country owes you a tremendous debt for your years of faithful service," said Shrout. "On behalf of a grateful nation, let us, your comrades, start that process by offering you an ovation of thanks!"