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Warm winds blew as Soldiers, civilians and families gathered to honor and farewell several Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command at a retreat and retirement ceremony May 26 on Panzer Parade Field in Kaiserslautern.
With the ceremony occurring right before Memorial Day, another layer of significance was added to the event. Memories of the 21st TSC’s fallen warriors weighed heavily on the minds of those in attendance. For this reason, a special segment was added to the monthly retreat and retirement ceremony to remind everyone of those Soldiers from the 21st TSC who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, the commanding general for the 21st TSC, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Spencer, the command sergeant major of the 21st TSC, laid a wreath of flowers at the 21st TSC’s Fallen Soldier Monument during the ceremony as the name plates of the three most recently fallen 21st TSC heroes were unveiled. The three fallen warriors are:
• Staff Sgt. Eric Trueblood, 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, who died March 10 in Argandab, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Joshua Gire, 541st Engineer Company, who died March 22 in Bondola, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Michael Mahr, 541st Engineer Company, who died March 22 in Bondola, Afghanistan.
The retirement portion of the ceremony highlighted the service of Lt. Col. Roy C. Manauis, the operations, plans and strategic initiatives director for the 409th Contracting Support Brigade, and 1st Sgt. Eric Ford, the first sergeant for the 15th Engineer Battalion, who is stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany.
“I was incredibly honored and privileged to be here today at this memorial. Standing among these Soldiers here was just an incredible feeling,” Colonel Manauis said.
Colonel Manauis and First Sergeant Ford received Meritorious Service Medals from General McQuistion as she thanked them for a job well done. The ceremony concluded with everyone in attendance singing the 21st TSC march and the Army song.
“I am thankful to the 21st TSC. This is a great way to be retired,” First Sergeant Ford said.
