Steel retirees forge ahead Published April 27, 2010 By Capt. Antonia Greene 72nd Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Soldiers turned to their mothers, wives, significant others and children sitting directly behind them. Each man awarded a bouquet of flowers to his guest. The bouquets signified appreciation for years of support. Seven steel battalion Soldiers retired from the ranks. Family support and encouragement is apparently significant to Soldiers since they named 2010 the Year of the Military Family. Lt. Col. Troy Ramirez, 2-315th Field Artillery Regiment commander, addressed those in attendance. Brimming with pride for his Soldiers, Ramirez commented on each of the retirees' distinguished careers. Each retiree was then awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, retirement certificate, presidential certificate of appreciation, folded American flag and U.S. Army retirement pin. The men also received individual recognition awards from various Soldiers of the "Steel" battalion for special achievements within the organization. Fellow Soldiers, family members and friends gathered to celebrate the retirees' accomplishments that tallied a combined 150 years of military service. As the men embarked on the next stages of their lives, each stepped up to the podium for the last time in uniform to share a few words. Master Sgt. William Yenser led off, thanking everyone for coming and extending his gratitude to all the professionals who wear the uniform and serve God and country. He credited his mentors for his success. He made it a point to give back to the organizations that supported him at each duty station. He left the audience with a bit of advice. He said, "Train to lead and lead by example." Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Buchanon spoke next. "Twenty years is a long time. Looking back, I was born for this - defending my country - there is no bigger and better job out there," he said. The Steel Battalion response was a loud and thunderous, "Hooah!" He ended by recalling a letter his mother wrote to him in basic training. She reported that three of Buchanon's close friends had just died. She asked him one favor, to stay in the Army, do his twenty years and get his education. Buchanon looked at his mother across the room and said, "Mission accomplished, mom." Sgt. 1st Class Terry DeCamp made his way up to the podium. He had words of encouragement for those Soldiers still "middle of the road" in their careers. "The only thing I ever wanted to do was be an NCO," he said. "We don't just train Soldiers, we influence the way they think - there's nothing more important." Sgt. 1st Class Larry Haught, "the man of few words," as Ramirez referred to him, was recognized next. When speaking of his style of leadership, Ramirez called him a "give-me-your-intent-Sir-and-let-me-execute kind of guy." Haught lived up to the reputation, saying his comrades "said it best, thank you for coming." He sat back down. Sgt. 1st Class Claudio Pena, resident comic, was up next. He explained that it had been a long wait and he felt like river dancing. As the audience smiled, Pena mentioned "closing the loop." His first assignment was with 3rd Battalion 35th Regiment, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade in Wertheim, Germany, where he served as a fire-direction specialist. Now his last assignment was with 2-315th, which falls under the 72nd FA Bde. here. He thanked God, his family and fellow Soldiers before returning to his seat. Sergeant 1st Class L.C. Thames, like his fellow retiree Haught, kept his statements short. He thanked God and country before returning to his seat. Staff Sgt. Roderick Brown, who made it a point to mention saving the best for last, shared a few words. "You better take a good look, because this may be the last time many of you see me - I'm ready to go," he said with a smile. He thanked God, credited his wife as his rock and thanked the command team for honoring him and his fellow retirees. Brown, like Pena, came full circle. He first flew out of Dix to Germany for his first assignment. It was fitting to end his career here, he said. He concluded with a known field artillery phrase: "Rounds complete, end of mission," saluting the crowd as he left the podium. Retirement is but a closing of one chapter and a beginning of another book. As the ceremony came to an end, the retirees requested the field artillery song. Just as the caissons go rolling along, so do the new chapters in the lives of these seven Soldiers.