National Guard bids farewell to 17 retirees in ceremonies

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 8:27 a.m.

The Nevada Army National Guard bid a final farewell to 17 soldiers during recent retirement and appreciation ceremonies held at the Office of the adjutant general in Carson City.

Combined, the 17 soldiers logged more than 260 years of service during their military careers.

Honored at the ceremony were Sgt. 1st Class Doreen Owens, Sgt. 1st Class John Dwyer, Master Sgt. David Alfred, Sgt. Deverne Ash, Sgt. Franklin Dickens, Spec. Mark Eckroth, 1st Sgt. Gwendolyn Hadd, Staff Sgt. Roger Holcomb, Spec. Iris Jessup, Sgt. 1st Class David Karch, Sgt. Reginald Macklin, Staff Sgt. Cheryl Palko, Staff Sgt. Richard Pope, Sgt. Douglas Taylor, Master Sgt. Kenneth Trankle, Staff Sgt. Kevin Tuttle and Staff Sgt. Theodore Wilson.

The retirement ceremony is held annually to recognize the outgoing soldiers' contribution to the nation. Brig. Gen. Robert Hayes, commander of the Army National Guard, along with Col. Felix Castagnola and Lt. Col. Steve Ranson officiated at the event.

New officer

Sean Passmore, a 1990 graduate of Las Vegas High School, has graduated and been named a distinguished military graduate of Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Passmore has now been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

During the 14 weeks of training, Passmore, the son of Sharon Passmore of Las Vegas, received instruction in leadership, professional ethics, soldier team development, combined arms tactics, weapons defense, squad drill, field training exercises, land navigation, maintenance, communications and physical training and conditioning.

He was tested on leadership skills and teamwork abilities required of a commissioned officer and ability to function as a leader and follower in stressful and demanding field environments.

In brief

Spacher, the son of Virginia and Barry Spacher of Las Vegas, learned a wide range of medical procedures used to provide first aid and assist Navy doctors and nurses. He also received an introductory instruction for service in a variety of medical environments, from fleet hospitals and shipboard medical departments to fleet Marine forces and medical administration offices.

During the six weeks of training, the four new airmen studied the Air Force mission, organization, and customs; performed drill and ceremony marches, received physical training and earned credits toward an associate's degree through the Community College of the Air Force.