THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED BY EXCUTIVE ORDER, 16 JANUARY 1969 HAS AWARDED THE MEITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL TO MASTER SERGEANT T. JR. FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE 2 MARCH 2001 TO 31 AUGUST 2004. MASTER SERGEANT T. JR., DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES AS NONCOMMISSIONED OFFER IN CHARGE, FUTURE REQUIREMENTS OFFICE, 1 ST AIRBORNE COMMAND CONTROL SQUADRON, 55 TH OPERATIONS GROUP, 55 TH WING, OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA. DURING THE PERIOD, HIS LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-4B NATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS CENTER. SERGEANT WAS A KEY PLAYER IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF A 400-MILLION-DOLLAR, 6 YEAR COMMUNICAITONS UPGRADE, THE LARGEST IN OVER 20 YEARS. HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL DURING THE ACCEPTANCE TESTING OF A NEW SINGLE INTEGRATION LAB, PROVING THE INTEROPERABILITY OF THE COMMUNICATIONS MODIFICATION. HE WAS A PIVOTAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM FOR OVER NINE FIELD LEVEL MODIFICAITONS TO THE E-4B, MAXIMIZING COMMUNICATIONS CABABILITY WHILE JUGGLING SCHEDULES TO MEET ALL TIMELINES. SERGEANT FOCUSED TESTING AND FIELDING OF A NEW MILSTAR CONFERENCING SYSTEM, EASING OPERATOR WORKLOAD AND QUADRUPLING ACCESS TO SURVIVABLE COMMAND AND CONTROL NETWORKS. SERGEANT WAS HAND-PICKED AS THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR AN EIGHT-PERSON COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ON THE FIRST SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MISSION IN THREE YEARS. HIS TEAM’S EFFORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT WERE LAUDED BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS. AS SUPERINTENDENT OF A 30-MAN COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, SERGEANT PROVIDED ROCK-SOLID SUPPORT OF MULTIPLE PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT MISSIONS. THE SINGULARLY DISTINCTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SERGEANT RELFECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSILF AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. SIGNED , BRIGADIER GENERAL, USAF, COMMANDER, 55 TH WING.
PRESENT AWARD CERTIFICATE, PAUSE FOR PHOTOS, THEN RETURN CERTIFICATE TO PROFFER
PROFFER PRESENT MEDAL TO ON LAST LINE OF CITATION
CDR MC “PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.”
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE DEFENSE
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL TO MSGT T. JR. MASTER SERGEANT T. JR., UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS AIRBORNE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE, UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND, OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA FROM SEPTEMBER 2004 TO SEPTEMBER 2005. HE DEMONSTRATED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE BY REINVIGORATING A VERY LOW FREQUECNY WORKING GROUP FOR THE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PROVIDING A FORUM TO DISCUSS SYSTEM EFFICIENCIES AND FIX DISCREPANCIES IDENTIFIED DURING MAJOR EXERCISES. SERGEANT IDENTIFIED AN OPERATIONAL SHORTFALL AND FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH A POSITIVE FIX FOR THE KG-33MI CRYPTOLOGICAL DEGRADATION. AS THE UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NORTHSTAR GROUND ENTRY POINT WORKING GROUP, HE LED THE EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY NETWORKS USED BY AIR FORE ONE, NATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS CENTER AND THE AIRBORNE COMMAND POST, ASSURING COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THE STRATEGIC FORCES BY THE COMMANDER AND THE PRESIDENT. THROUGH HIS DISTINGUISHED ACCOMPLISHEMENTS, SERGEANT CULMINATED A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY AND REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
PRESENT AWARD, CERTIFICATE, PAUSE FOR PHOTOS, THEN RETURN CERTIFICATE TO PROFFER
PROFFER HAND CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT
CDR MC “GUESTS PLEASE BE SEATED.”
“TO FURTHER RECOGNIZE MSGT ’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AIR FORCE AND OUR COUNTRY, WILL NOW PRESENT MSGT WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT FROM ALL THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETINGS: THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT MASTER SERGEANT T. JR. HAVING SERVED FAITHFULLY AND HONORABLY WAS RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON THE 1 ST DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND FIVE
. SIGNED BRIGIDIER GENERAL V2 JR., DIRECTOR, COMBAT AND INFORMATION, .
(PRESENT CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT, PHOTO OP, RETURN TO
PROFFER HAND PRESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE
CDR MC “ WILL NOW PRESENT MASTER SERGEANT WITH A PRESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. MASTER SERGEANT , I EXTEND TO YOU MY PERSONAL THANKS AND THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL NATION FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION OF HONORABLE SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. YOU HAVE HELPED MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF THE NATION DURING A CRITICAL TIME IN ITS HISTORY WITH A DEVOTION TO DUTY AND A SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE IN KEEPING WITH THE PROUD TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE. YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS, AND FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO JOIN ME TODAY IN SALUTING YOU, FOR A JOB EXTREMELY WELL DONE. MY BEST WISHES TO YOU FOR HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. SIGNED GEORGE W. BUSH, COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
(PRESENT PRESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE, PHOTO OP, RETURN CERTIFICATE TO PROFFER)
PROFFER HAND THE GENERAL V2 LETTER OF APPRECIATION
CDR MC MASTER SERGEANT ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM BRIGIDIER GENERAL FREDERICK D. VAN VALKENBURG JR., DIRECTOR, COMBAT AND INFORMATION, UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND .
(PRESENT LETTER OF APPRECIATION, PHOTO OP, RETURN CERTIFICATE TO PROFFER)
CDR MC “CATHY, PLEASE JOIN AT THE PODIUM.”
(PRESENT CATHY CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, PHOTO OP, RETURN CERTIFICATE)
CDR MC “ WILL NOW PRESENT MASTER SERGEANT WITH A SHADOW BOX ON BEHALF OF THE STRATEGIC SYSTEMS
(PRESENT MSGT WITH SHADOW BOX)
CDR MC "LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, MASTER SERGEANT ."
MSGT (REMARKS)
(UPON COMPLETION OF REMARKS)
HONOR GUARD PERFORM FLAG FOLDING CEREMONY
CDR MC “ My Name is Old Glory
I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.
I fly majestically over great institutes of learning.
I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.
Look up! And see me!
I stand for peace - honor - truth and justice.
I stand for freedom
I am confident - I am arrogant
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners
My head is a little higher
My colors a little truer.
I bow to no one.
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted - I am respected
I am revered - I am loved, and I am feared.
I have fought every battle of every war for more than 200 years:
Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomatox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy,
the deserts of Africa, the cane fields of the Philippines, the rice paddies and jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Guadalcanal
New Britain, Peleliu, and many more islands.
And a score of places long forgotten by all but those who were with me.
I was there.
I led my soldiers - I followed them. I watched over them. They loved me.
I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima. I was dirty, battle-worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me, and I was proud.
I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country, and when it is by those with whom I have served in battle - it hurts. But I shall overcome - for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stand watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have been a silent witness to all of America’s finest hours. But my finest hour comes when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle, When I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers, And when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen son.
I am proud.
My name is Old Glory.
Dear God - Long may I wave.”
CDR MC “WILL GUESTS PLEASE RISE.”
(MILITARY GUESTS AT ATTENTION)
RETURN TO THE FRONT
MSGT HARTMAN RETURN TO THE FRONT
CDR MC " WILL NOW RETIRE MASTER SERGEANT FROM
ACTIVE DUTY: “ATTENTION TO ORDERS! FROM DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, WASHINGTON, D.C. TO MASTER SERGEANT T JR., OFFUTT AFB, NEBRASKA. SUBJECT, SPECIAL ORDERS NO. AC – 010483, DATED 20 JUNE 2005. EFFECTIVE 30 SEPTEMBER 2005, YOU ARE RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE DUTY, UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND, OFFUTT AFB NE, AND RETIRED EFFECTIVE 1 OCTOBER 2005 PER AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-3203 IN THE GRADE OF MASTER SERGEANT. YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND YOUR COUNTRY IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED. MAY YOU ENJOY EVERY SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE. BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, SIGNED PHILIP M ODOM, COLONEL, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, CHIEF, RETIREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS DIVISION.”
PROFFER HAND PIN TO
PIN LAPEL PIN TO (PHOTO OP)
PROFFER HAND RETIREMENT ORDERS TO
PRESENT COPY OF RETIREMENT ORDERS- PHOTO OPORTUNITY – RETURN ORDERS RO PROFFER
CDR MC LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MASTER SERGEANT T. JR.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, RETIRED!
CDR MC “LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY, YOU’RE INVITED
TO CONGRATULATE AND CATHY ON THE BEGINNING OF THEIR NEW ADVENTURE AT THE RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THEIR DEPARTURE.
CDR MC “WILL THE GUESTS PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS THE OFFICAL PARTY DEPARTS .”
FRANK: PLAY AIR FORCE SONG
(END OF SCRIPT)