Promotion Ceremony for Brigadier General Lawrence Thoms, December 14, 2020.
Transcript
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Pentagon Hall of Heroes. Today we pay special tribute to Brigadier General Tones on the occasion of his promotion to Major General. The host for today’s ceremony is General retired Robert B. Brown. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the official party and remain standing for the playing of the national anthem. And the indication given by Chaplin. Brigadier General Bill Green Junior Deputy Chief of Chapel. Yeah, yeah, Please bear with me. Oh mighty God, We come into your presence today with joyful hearts and to give thanks to you for the abundance of your blessings and generosity which grows with each passing day. We rejoice as we gather together to celebrate this days. Special blessing of promotion for Brigadier General Tones to Major general, as you have done in days pass keep him pure in heart, Clear in mind strong and purpose as an engaged and committed leader. As he assumes increased responsibility bless him to continue to embrace and demonstrate the qualities that have set him apart as a leader. Heavenly Father, we equally express ah heartfelt gratitude for his spouse Karen, his son Jack and his family fully acknowledging the depth of sacrifices military family members made to support their soldiers commitment to serve our great nation in defense of freedom as they share in this accomplishment on this occasion of his promotion. Bless this family is he assumes greater levels of responsibility, and we humbly ask that you continue to guide his steps as he honors you and lead those entrusted to his care and compassion. People first, winning matters. But, ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. We would like to take this opportunity to extend its sincere welcome to our distinguished guests. Please hold your applause. After all the names have been read. Joining us today are Lieutenant General Morrison. John Morrison, deputy chief of staff G six colonel, retired Bruce Becca’s former commander of the U. S. Army Command and Control Support Agency. Colonel retired John Wright, former commander of First Signal Brigade colonel, Retired Timothy D, former commander off first Brigade, Great Lakes Division 75th Training Command, Lieutenant Colonel, Retired Karen Rigs, Joint Staff J. Five, assistant deputy director for Western Hemisphere lieutenant colonel. Retired Cathy Brown, West Point Class of 1984 Lieutenant colonel Retired Robert Keating, also West Point class of 1984. We’re extremely pleased to welcome brick there tones Family joining us today. His wife, Karen. His son Jack. His sisters Julia Albrecht and Jennifer Harper, his nephews Philip and Thomas Harper. And joining us virtually is his mother, Dorothy Tones. We also want to welcome all of the general officers, senior enlisted noncommissioned officers, senior executives, active and retired friends, colleagues and special guests who were able to join us for today’s very special occasion, both here in the Pentagon and those joining us Virtually welcome e cigarettes. Ladies and gentlemen, our host general, retired Robert Brown. That’s a good thing to be able to speak. You get to take your mask off. Welcome, everybody. I want to start, uh, welcome our distinguished guests and just so terrific to have so many former commanders, Larry’s and obviously family members talk a lot about you and then classmates from West Point. That’s that’s pretty awesome as well. But I want to thank 10 General Morris and John. Thanks for letting me do this really something that he should be able to do. What I’m so honored to be up here and be ableto preside over this and promote Larry s. Oh, well, deserving a great Army family, a great team. And I had the honor serving with him closely in the Indo Pacific. There really just enjoyed every second. So I’m really, truly honored. Thanks. Whatever you so much let me start with family. I think that’s always most important because without family, there’s no way you could ever accomplish what you want is a soldier and that support from the family, No doubt about it. So Karen knows a thing or two about supporting soldiers on, uh, they told me the story of how they met, and it it goes to prove that not all Pentagon tours or bad Uh huh, 2000 three. The, uh, Larry was coming back to the Pentagon his first day, he decided he’s walking inside to stop and get coffee at D o D I G Cafeteria, where he would he would meet Karen. And so he’s proclaimed that the best cup of coffee ever had in the most important, no doubt. But they struck up a friendship there a couple of years later, would get married 15 years now. Karen retired as a lieutenant colonel or last, the sun was up at West Point teaching in English teaching philosophy, which is quite a challenge for the kid out. So I’m sure just, you know, tough. But she had some other tremendous assignments as well. She was a really a testament to her service. She was signal officer and she was the first female Brigade s six and first Infantry Division. Then Colonel Tom Mets. Later Lieutenant General Tom Mets, great American great leader pointed her to that. We’re really proud of that. She was the first, their first Infantry Division, also in that d o d I g job. When she met Larry, she was doing a big investigation of human traffic and then ended up leading Thio substantial changes and congressional involvement so forth, You know, some of the impact she had in her career, and then, quite honestly, no question could have gone on and continued. But with the family and being separated, I think at one point where you learn how to drive up the West Point from here when she was teaching up there faster than a human being ever safely of course not speeding. But, you know, the separation is pretty pretty tough. So Karen sacrificed her career a great career, but she could have gone on but to support the family. And we’re all glad you did, because I saw that when I look at how much you did out in the US Army Pacific One of the things there’s a tremendous organization has been there for over 50 years. The Spouses club that runs a thrift shop at four chapter and it raises money for scholarships for military kids and then to help families in need. And they were really hurting. Quite honestly. I remember my wife, Patty Boy, we need somebody who can help him who can bring this organization back. And it’s not gonna be easy. Karen volunteered for it, and I know we’re forever grateful because she turned it around and a lot of kids are benefiting today. A lot of families benefiting today, caring from your work. So thanks so much. It’s been like that every single job when I go through 36 years, I’m not gonna go through every job. Don’t worry. But 36 years of Larry’s career, the diverse jobs he’s had across Thea Army and reserve commands active, deployed back But Karen, your support has always been a problem. You’ve always been one of those individuals that lets the families and the soldiers know how great the army is. The Army is one big family. So thanks for all you’ve done over the last 15 years. And all you did in your 20 years of service is well, we’re just grateful. Thanks so much about around applause. E no way would be the first to admit he wouldn’t be getting this well deserved promotion. One for Karen. Any credible support, and then Jack can’t believe Jack, You’re going like a foot since I saw you last. And every time I saw him, when we were neighbors up out in Hawaii, on Palm Circle, the historic site. But Jack would be writing some different, like hover device or, I don’t know, skateboard than different on, uh, I saw him today. I couldn’t believe he’s grown about a foot in the still enjoying 14 years old eighth grade, and I would think pretty cool to be in virtual eighth grade. I would have enjoyed as an eighth grader would have put a picture of myself up and going to play basketball day or something. Uh, but But Jackson, doing great and still has, I guess, has an electric skateboard now, which is pretty neat. Get meets up with a group. They go all the way down by the Washington Monument everything. Apparently, Jack has seen much more D. C than Karen or Larry with that group enjoying it. And then he’s got remote control cars, hobby, unmanned aerial systems. But the coolest is this new simulator used with a computer, and I think it’s an actual joystick and some of the controls for the Air Force jets. And the best part is his favorite jet to fly 8 10. And for those who don’t know what the A 10 supports the Army more than any other aircraft, it’s right there. There’s times I thought was gonna hit the antennas on my striker. They were so low and help you so much. So, Jack, that’s awesome. And I know your dad promised your private pilot’s license is what he told me that way, I think maybe 16 to be a good age a couple years from now. Come on, Dad. You could do that. No doubt about it. Hey, Dorothy, Watching on the on the feet. Well, you’ve gotta be proud. We know you want to be here. I wish you could be here. We’re just talking about a few minutes ago on the incredible influence on Larry. Thanks for watching. Thanks for all you’ve done for Larry and continue to do for the family. Larry’s father, Phil, sadly passed away. But I know he’s here in spirit. And he was amazing examples of corporal in the 25th Temperature Division in the Korean War on, uh, he would have been proud. Army Navy, Saturdays. They wore the Tropic Lightning, 25th idea uniforms going back, the wolfhounds from the Korean War, And Phil would have been very proud of that. I’m certain on then ended up command, start, Major, and also served in the reserves on eso. Thanks for Phil service on. No, he’s He’s very probably looking down right now. No doubt, Larry, Larry is the oldest of three Children. You heard his sisters here here, and that’s awesome. Uh, Jennifer and Julie, uh, for you guys to be here and thanks very much, especially with Jennifer sons and Larry’s nephews. Phillip, Thomas. I didn’t get to meet you guys. I know which ones. Philip, Here we go, which was a baseball player? Both superstar baseball player. Great. Thanks for coming. Really Appreciate. It means a lot. Really. Doesn’t mean a ton. We really appreciate it. Jennifer Giving another gym wise. Thanks for being here is well, I know it’s not easy to travel today. It’s never easy to travel, but certainly not now with Cove, it and Julie again. We thanks so much for being here all your support, your big brother. Over the years, no doubt about it. Really appreciate it. Also watching Karen’s mom, Larry’s mother in law, Gloria in Wisconsin as well. Gloria, thanks for watching and your support over the years. Family support, No doubt about it. And then it’s also worth noting. Karen’s father, Charles Krista, again passed away. Sadly, cannot be with us, but he was a Marine in the Korean War. Very proud. You see this service in this family unbelievable service and just just makes you proud of great Army families, I said in the beginning, it’s because of the support of family and friends and then those incredible traditions. Thanks for following those, So a huge thank you to the entire family for your amazing support toe Larry throughout this journey, and I know he would not want me to shortchange that. So let’s talk now about Larry. He’s one of the few people 38 years I served retired last year. Larry’s one of the only ones I remember. I looked up to literally stand up, Stand up. I’m pretty tall and look up the wear on uh, it’s pretty tough because he called me short. Quite a yeah, but respectfully, of course. But now, Riel honor again for me to be here, and I really enjoyed you know, it’s someone asked me today in the last year have missed the military. Have not missed the bureaucracy one bit. I do miss the people and folks like team tomes that, folks, that you miss a ton. It’s amazing leaders. So Larry grew up in West Allis, Wisconsin, suburb of Milwaukee on DNO. Surprise! He was on a lot of sports teams, but then he was also a Boy Scout and again, no surprise. Eagle Scout. One of the greatest predictors of success in life, and here we go. And he had a tremendous scout leader who was a World war two Marine that taught him. He gave him tough missions. He empowered the scouts, and he really got a sense of this wanting to form a team, selfless service, the things that they did pretty neat, that that really started to spark his interest. But then his dad, as I mentioned, was in Korean War. But there was also in the reserves and his dad’s example. Larry’s dad would, uh, you know, I was talking about Take care of your soldiers and they’ll take care of you. And I can assure you he kept that every single day at the top of his list. He also from his dad. He learned soldiers first mission always, which, if you look today, we talked people first, winning matters. And you know these themes. The Army is all about people. Andi Larry is amazing with soldiers. They wanna follow him. They follow him anywhere. And he got that from his dad, which is pretty neat from scouts, etcetera that would lead him to choose West Point and Class of 84 again mentioned a few of the members of Class 84 here. I think Rich Clark’s classmate, Special Operations Command commander and h. R McMaster I just talked to the other day and, uh, they would say Interventions, new book, H R. McMaster proud class made and then a bunch of other proud classmates here, Thanks for being here. That’s pretty neat. Class of 84. He also, by the way, later got a MBA and then a Masters and strategic studies at the War College. So didn’t stop this learning after West Point. Well, I mentioned 36 years and I’m not gonna go through each assignment, but it is amazing. I was really struck with when you look, total Army active, guard and Reserve is we’re a team. But I see a huge advantage reserve here in the breadth and depth of assignments that when you look at Larry’s time that he’s had serving at the tactical level, which we consider division to start commanding below operational level with a generating force. Army service component commands theater, enabling commands those type commands, operational level, and then the strategic level or he was on the joint staff is up here and currently on the Army staff on the Army staff before in the Army Operation Center, uh, working all those levels It’s pretty impressive he his first three tours over eight years, he was over in Germany with first Armored Division, you participate Desert Shield, Desert Storm and also with Seventh Corps. So a great background there back in the Cold War era. And it’s only a few of us in the room. Remember those times they’re old enough to remember, but pretty pretty amazing times. He also served in different variety of assignments from the US Army Reserve training division being the G six x o of a basic training battalion institutional side learning that side of the Army Really terrific Operation Center Army Operation Center network officers like the top for the entire Army Network Operations Army was a very high pressure job. I’m certain learned a ton because I mentioned joint staff that he was enterprise systems officer in the Joint Staff. He was a battalion commander of a signal training battalion, again kind of back and forth and different levels and just incredible. And then chief of staff deployed signal command in Southwest Asia over in Kuwait, supporting Iraq, Afghanistan and really the whole Middle East. There hey, was also brigade commander of the Mission Command C P X Brigade, kind of like our first Army does. Training other units and then another chief of staff job with Signal Command and two critical regional signal commands. One over in our sent G six, the three 35th Signal Command and then where I got very proud to get to serve very 3 11 signal command. And I could tell you I saw firsthand, hilarious, incredible accomplishments. Way really run a time you command 3 11 signals. Those of you don’t know they have half of the Earth’s surface they’re responsible for. This is not a tiny organization. They’re spread out everywhere, and they’re absolutely key. It’s not just Army communications, something I have no idea for. I got out to the Pacific years ago, but really, the Navy ships can’t even talk to each other. If 3 11 signal isn’t doing their job, there’s 24 soldiers on Okinawa that enable the Navy to talk. The Marines can’t talk Air Force, and certainly obviously the Army. This is This is a key command all over spreading from Alaska really some some to do with the first corps in Washington state, but mostly in Okinawa. Other parts of Japan, Korea, Guam, Uh, some involvement even in, uh, in, uh, SaiPan, etcetera for all those key events that occur out there and a few years ago. If you remember, it seems like forever now. But we had tensions were I would consider an all time high with North Korea. It looked like in my 30 plus years in the Pacific, it looked like closest. We were potentially possibly. Thank God we did not. But we were close. And so our job was to prepare all these units in Korea, Japan and units coming over and make sure they were prepared. And I relied on Larry. Hey, had the toughest assignments. Everything’s we knew the units needed. Why didn’t they have? Well, you put your priority where folks are in combat. Iraq, Afghanistan, if sometimes in Korea, will will build up correct it. Sure enough, we’ll work on it. And that’s what Larry did. Dozens of critical things that we needed across the theater on he insured. It’s just unbelievable support and ability for folks to do their mission is very confident. Uh, you know, when I looked at all the things we needed that were in Larry’s area of responsibility. I was able to tell the chief of staff of the Army Secretary of Defense in the camp Commander, All those folks, we are ready. We could do the mission because of what Larry and his team did. And I tell you, he put I never attracted him. Maybe you did later. But I know we put at least a million miles in the air traveling around the Pacific there. I know he was gone a ton. Karen and Jack, although time he was gone on the road because he was all over the place, he had to be. But we just can’t thank him enough all that he did to prepare units and getting ready. So when you look, you know, those Larry’s leadership really shined in the toughest situations possible where it mattered the most. Uh, and he really did internalize that ability. I talked about earlier, soldier first and accomplished the mission. I saw it over and over again now. And while he’s doing all this, those of you, all of you here No, not just an amazing leader, but a great person. Larry is a guy who wanna be friends with Larry E. He’s just a great person, a great father, a great husband. Great leader s. Oh, you know what a what a great choice by the Army to promote him to, to start. And that’s based a little bit on what he did in the past. It’s based more on his potential of what he’ll do is doing great work is Deputy G six for General Morrison Over There and Army. That’s really based on what he’s going to do in the future. Is potential the most. And I certain he’s going to amazing things to keep helping our army, our soldiers, our families helping us in the future to ensure we don’t have toe go to war. But if we do, God forbid, if we do, we’re ready. And folks be ready because leaders like Larry no doubt so they’re very well deserved promotion. And, uh, again, Larry, thanks for allowing me to do it really proud. Really proud of you. So we’ll get up here and published the orders and get on with making sure now one thing I will tell you. He looks very young, very young, handsome Brigadier General. He’s gonna look very old shortly. A two star instantly He’s an old major general. But that’s okay, all right. If you publish it with members of the Tom’s family who are participating in the promotion ceremony, please come forward there. You could see there’s there’s no height, Gina. All right, please remain seated while the promotion order is ready. Attention to orders. The president of the United States has repose special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valid fidelity and abilities of Lawrence F. Tones in view of these qualities and demonstrated potential for increased responsibility. He is therefore authorized and directed toe where the two star insignia of major general by the authority of the secretary of defense at this time triggered a chunk. Tom’s wife, Karen, son Jack and nephews Philip and Thomas Harper will attach Major general tones Is new rank insignia. Okay, General Brown will now present major general tones with his certificate of promotion. Importantly, Okay, the citation reads to all who shall see these presents, greetings know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Lawrence of Tones. I do appoint him major general in the United States Army Reserve to rank as such from the 26th day of October, 2000 and 20. Thank you. Family members, please. Sure. Okay, that’s true. Major General Tones will now recite the oath of office, although it is not required by law, it is a tradition that officers recite the oath of office upon promotion. He has requested that General Brown administered that Please raise your right hand. You have the I states your name off Lawrence, after having been appointed an officer in the army of the United States having been appointed an officer in the army of the United States in the great of major general in the great of Major General, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies against all enemies, foreign and domestic, foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and allegiance to the same that I take this obligation freely that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion or purpose of evasion that I will well and faithfully that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties. Discharge the duties of the office upon which I’m about to end up the office upon which I’m about to enter. So help me, so help me God. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, thank you, General Brown. Ladies and gentlemen, Major General Tomes will now be presented his two star general officer flag at this time, Sergeant Major Tracy Barlow, Geo and Sergeant Major Jack Nichols were present Major General tones. His two star general officer flag. The General stars are the oldest rank insignia still in use by our armed forces. When our army was founded in 17 75 the Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as the general and commander in chief. He, along with his major and brigadier generals, were distinctive colored sashes to show their ranks. It was worn across the breast between his coat and waste. A few years later, the stars replaced the sash as General Officer insignia. On 18 June 17 80 a directive prescribed that major generals would wear two stars and brigadiers would wear one star on each happily. George Washington might have chosen the stars because the French generals and admirals will stars in the war. Another story is that the stars of our new flag inspired him. The original flags authorized for general officers were both flags scarlet in color. They were first authorized by the War Department in 1903 and expanded in 1923 general officers are issued two flags, one flag with fringe for indoor use and one without fringe for outdoor use. Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor of presenting the newest major general in the United States Army Major General Lawrence F. Tones. We was I’m sorry. Okay, alright. Well, thanks, everybody for coming today. What a great day General Brown mentioned. I hope everybody was able to see the Army Navy game on Saturday. She Oh, lots of celebrating. Going on in the army side of the building today. Not so much a Navy General Brown. Thanks so much for taking time to preside over this promotion ceremony. It was really a tremendous honor to serve alongside you in the US Army Pacific. It was great to serve their, uh, totally unexpected, a great assignment. But the challenges that popped up while we were there, I think, really, really highlighted the National and international focus that we have over there way put in a lot of long hours, but the team work really, really was amazing, really able to make a really lasting improvements. Improvements still going on today. We’re still getting briefings on the continued progress towards towards better operations in communications and cybersecurity. Other areas. Um, but I have to say so even with all the operational focus that we had in that time over there, e don’t think I’ve ever competed as hard in any operation or for any in any sport, as we did in while we played multi domain dodgeball on archery tag and all the other team building sports events that you put together to get the staff out of the office and working together running around on Palm Circle. And honestly, I’m absolutely certain that reports of our multi domain dodgeball competition is That’s what walked Kim Jong un’s e don’t need to deal with. Those guys are ready to roll, Uh, and you’ll have to lay off a Google. There’s actually flicker pictures out there Sure of us playing multi. Don’t, uh, think the indoor session? Uh, General Morrison, Thank you for joining us. today on. Really? Thanks for the opportunity to continue to contribute to this, uh, wonderful army and great nation. Uh, I am absolutely proud to serve with you again. It was wonderful serving under you when you were the Netcom commander. And, uh, I’m proud to continue to be your teammate as we work together to continue to provide the tools to commanders and soldiers to be able to do the jobs they need to do. Chaplain Bill Green. Thank you so much again for joining us today. This is like old home week here. Bill is a deputy chief of chaplains for the Army, and I’m proud to have also served with him when he was the chaplain for the U. S. Army Pacific, where we worked for General Brown. Bill is a He’s a terrific team, mate. He’s everything you want in a chaplain and really helped our signal soldiers and families through some challenging personal times on. I thank you for your friendship. Sort of Major. Tracy Barlow, Geo and Sergeant Major Jack Nichols. Thanks for being here today, and I’m so pleased to be able to serve alongside with you. Tracy was my command Sergeant Major for about three years in Hawaii and we traveled a ton together. Is General Brown. I never did get an accurate count of the miles, you know, the polar route, all the other stuff. But I’ve tallied up the days, and I think in three years I had 350 day our nights spent away from home. So that’s basically a year deployment in a three year tour, which is pretty rough on family. And Tracy was there. He was my family when we weren’t on Palm Circle. Um, and Jack Nichols is our Army G six Sergeant Major. A terrific, terrific leader, Um, taking care of families and soldiers. And I think we’ll hear more good news from him at at some point later around here. I don’t know if it’s official yet, so I want to say anything. Uh, but Tracy and Jack, uh, they represent the best of our non commissioned officer corps, and they focus on junior leaders guiding senior leaders like me, uh, and taking care of our families. That’s what we need are N. C. O. S to help with Andi. I specifically asked these two amazing sergeants major to be part of the ceremony today, Aziz General Brown said to represent the spirit of my father filled homes who was drafted into the Korean War in 1951. Made corporal, uh, two or three times a story, uh, but got out. Decided. You really like the camaraderie and the sense of mission with the army. Stayed in the Army Reserve and rose to the rank of command. Sergeant Major. So we have different conversations around the dinner table than many of my West Point classmates grew up. A sons of officers, sons and daughters of Officers Way had very different conversations than probably a very focused on different aspects of the army and what the officers did. Uh, but in any case, uh, Sergeant Major Barlow Ziyuan, Sergeant Major Nichols Air, also here representing my father, but also kind of sharing some of the camaraderie, the spirit with a friend of my father’s from the from the Korean War who is online, Mr. Louis, over. Miller served with my dad and Korea. Andi, uh, went to many reunions together with them was, and he was able thio participate in my one star ceremony and with travel restrictions joining us virtually But, Louis, thanks for joining us today. And I’m so glad that you could be part of the ceremony. Thank you to the G 16. All the folks that made this make anybody knows that has had to run in the event. Making an event like this seems simple and smooth. It takes a lot of hard work and preparation, and the G 16 really out did themselves thio to put this one together for me and my family and a special thank you to the West Point class of 1984 I know emailed me and said they would be online watching the ceremony. Uh, normally, we have a big shindig if a member of the class gets gets a big promotion or a change of command or whatever, It is a little different world these days, but I do know that there are a bunch watching. And here today I have my roommate and best man from our wedding, Bob Keating joining us, Bob. So thanks for coming here today. And Cathy Brown in the back. Fellow signal officers from the basic course on a swell A at that time and service in Germany and many other places. So thank you both for representing the best of the core. Uh huh. Promotions and milestones are wonderful times to reflect on where we’ve been as we think about where we want, where we want to go. I find myself in that position. And I found myself in that position a few times in my career. Um, and, um, I always fall back to some of the leaders that I had the honor to serve under, uh and I So I’d like to share with you all today some of the thoughts and experiences that I had that I have gained through the selfless service and pure leadership of folks that I’ve worked with in the past. Because the reason that I am, uh, standing in front of you today as a major general isn’t because, like like I figured out how to work harder and faster and stronger and smarter than anybody else. But it’s because I had the terrific fortune of working for a lot of great leaders who showed me how to be better, uh, and push me out of my comfort zone and gave me the tools and the a leeway to do what I thought needed to be done. There are a lot certainly along the way that it helped me. But in particular I’m gonna talk about three folks here today who was thinking about it before the ceremony. And I don’t think that I have seen in person any of them since the last time that I worked for them. And the first one is John Wright, who was Captain John right at the time. I showed up in Germany fresh out of the officer basic course thinking I knew everything there was to know about Signal Communications and, uh, what John taught me, if I could kind of distillate, he taught me a lot of things. I learned more from John in the five months that I worked for him that I did for any other company commander. And I think I had about eight company commanders or 10 in my time as a lieutenant. But leaders and four standards and leaders go where the battle is. Eso I reported in to the company on a Thursday afternoon before a long weekend showed up in the battalion, the agita, and said, Oh, hey, Larry, your unit is out actually, here in Heilbronn. Your unit is about 50 miles away in a little town called Cry Alzheimer said. Well, how do I get there? And she said, Well, we’ll figure that out over the weekend because it’s a long weekend and there’s nothing going to be going on anyway. So we’ll just call out to the company commander and asked me if it’s OK if you just stay here and then you can in process Tuesday morning. Okay, That sounds like a good plan to me, Right? So if she called him up and she had me on the phone, he said, I’ll be up there in 45 minutes to pick you up and bring it back to the unit. Have your gear ready to go. Yes, sir. On. Here we go. And that was the start of really a terrific learning experience at the height of the Cold War in Germany. Um, where it really a Z? A signal unit. All of our stuff was mounted on trucks. If you couldn’t get your truck out of the motor pool, you didn’t bring anything to the fight. And he would one of the things that the other lieutenants told me he would do is I thought I was gonna get ahead of him on this. He walked down to the motor pool at night after everybody else had gone home, unlock the gate, take his flashlight out and walk along the line of the vehicles and generators. They’re all parked in a nice row, and he’d be looking for unlocked steering wheels. Oil drips underneath the trucks, gas tanks that weren’t full. This was the deuce and half area where you could just unscrew the cap, look down inside and unlocked doors, tires with low air pressure, right? All the little things that keep a vehicle from being ready to roll. Um, and then he would call us in way. Find out about three o’clock in the morning, we get a phone call that said, Meet me in the motor pool in an hour, and then he would conduct a little officer professional development session at four o’clock in the morning, walking up and down the truck, saying this needs to be fixed. You didn’t take care of that. You miss that and you’re not ready to roll out the gate. But it was It was a formative lesson. Because what it taught me and the other lieutenants Waas, you gotta enforce standards and not just in the military aspect, not just in marksmanship or tactics. Uh, it’s all the pieces that fit together to enable you to do your mission. Um, he also told me on the first exercise we went on against the leaders. Go where the battle is, and I’m thinking battles where the fighting is. He said, No, there’s fights going on all around you. Maintenance is a fight. That’s why we walk through the motor pool. Because if you’re not winning the motor pool fight, you can’t win the other fight. If you’re not winning the fight to have equipment that keeps soldiers warm out in the woods and this was a winter re forger in February, you’re gonna lose your force, so you gotta take care of them. So the battle is Get up there, figure out what the problem is and help fix. The problem will get the right people engaged in it. That was, that was eye opening experience tremendously formative. And I still think back to those days many times I’m trying to figure out what’s the right thing to do. Leader goes where the battle is. I know where to go. So thank you, sir. I really appreciate it. And it was just amazing experience working for you. Um, Tim DD colonel retired. He was a battalion commander of Basic Training Battalion in Milwaukee. And I was a new field grade officers. So big shift and responsibilities from being a lieutenant and captain. Suddenly you’re working at battalion and brigade level, or maybe on a division staff. And I was assigned his executive officer way were both new to the battalion. I actually showed up a little bit before he did. And we have the change of command ceremony. And the brigade commander was there and alot hoopla died down. Brigade Commander said okay. You to come on inside. I need I need to share a few things with you. And I hadn’t even met the brigade commander before. So it was my first time meeting him, and he had a pretty reputation, a reputation, being pretty pretty standards driven guy. And he said, Okay, guy named Pete Pacovski. So if any of my 84th division alumni are online Colonel Pete Bukowski, an amazing leader. He said the good news is that your both new and energized. And we selected you for this job. The bad news is that the reason we selected you is that I have five battalions in my brigade, and your battalion is the worst of the five s. So I suggest you get the work right. And I think I think Tim and I kind of looked at each other. I thought, What did we get ourselves into on Ben? We got toe work. But the good news for me is as again as a young field. Great officer, I’m focused that company and platoon trying to get up at a higher level. Um, he had the right personality and training to do what was essentially a turnaround of a unit. Uh, got an MBA from the University of Chicago. Thinks outside the box different kinds of tools, different ways to view problems brought some really terrific insights into Why don’t we build our own systems or modify the systems we have? You can do that. That was a big old eye opener for me, K. We can we can take control of our own destiny. But more importantly, the reason we could do that we wanted to do that was to give our subordinate leaders the tools they needed because that was a large part of what we were trying to work through was the other leaders hadn’t been empowered to do what they needed to do. So we built tools, and then we built a strategy based on people in leadership talent management. Much of what we’re trying to do in the Army these days. How do we get the right people into the right jobs doing the right missions for the Army, but with a lot of hard work and focusing on that plan. A lot of people level engagement We did. By the time we departed the unit after about three years, way had the top battalion in the brigade. And I’m proud to say that I tell people that, and I still I still occasionally hear word back from soldiers from that battalion and talk about those days. The next step. I spent most of my career up until had about 18 years in, and I thought, you know, uh oh, f was on the horizon and I thought, You know what? I know how this goes. A lot of people thought we know how this goes because I was in Desert Storm, and I think I’m gonna volunteer for a tour. A zone i t. Guy, Because we never have enough of those. And, you know, they’ll take all the active duty folks and send them overseas. Somebody needs to back. Fill them. I’ll do that is my last hurrah before I hit 20 years and retire, Right? Um, you know, sort of give one last shot. Um, so I asked around and heard had had a coworker that was in the Pentagon, and he said, some of your resume. Okay. And a day later, he called back and said, Hey, my boss wants you to come up here and I said, Well, who’s he says his name is Bruce backers. He runs the Commander Control Support Agency, and we provide comes to the Army Operation Center. And so there I waas kind of senior major, never been exposed to anything outside of division or below Italian brigade. And, uh, I came to the Pentagon’s augment the science staff because, as you imagine, we had a lot of a lot of missions going on there, and I started out working as the night shift network operations officer for the whole Army Operations Center, which was a ton of phone. I learned a lot, and it had a great schedule of working three days on and four days off. I mean, the days on I mean, we’re working 16 hour days and you go home and crash for a few hours and get back up and do it all over again. And after about four months of that, Bruce come into work one night. Bruce it. Larry, we got to get you off this night. Shift E need you on a day. Should find somebody to replace you, and you need to come to work. And so I did, I found found somebody to replace me. And, uh, hey said I got some hard work for you and it turned out, really was hard work. We were at the time invested in trying to come up with a way to automate, um, just just toe summarize it. All of the orders flows to get people and equipment oversees all of the messages that had the coordinate you think about email at a corporate level defense messaging system. I’m sure you remember that one, Bruce. And so he said, You know, we got to get this thing in. We’ve been told it’s gotta happen. We’re way behind schedule. And, uh, unfortunately, as we kind of quickly found, the system was flawed. It wasn’t the right fit for the Army. It looks great on paper, and some other organizations could use it, But it was just terrible for the Army. And so my job and again I’ve never been outside of division was convincing. Helping him convinced senior army leaders that we needed to dump this thing. Right. And it was like, Really, I can say that to generals. Um, but much of the convincing that Bruce had to do was based on work that I did. So it became pretty common for him to pull me in his office and say, All right, come on. I got I got your report. We got your slide. We’re gonna go upstairs to the G three of the Army and show him this. And so he consigned this memo that says we need to not do this. And when when you’re a major, that’s kind of daunting. Your work is we’re gonna walk it upstairs to the G three of the army. He’s going to sign it. But what carried the day is he was so confident in the work that I did on dso energized about it. I mean, this is a guy who, when there was a problem, immediately was moving to the battle. And I knew my head is complete support, and that was a significant confidence builder. And, uh, it really did make all the difference in the world as we advocated for what was right for the army. And so thanks. Uh, John, Tim and Bruce, all three of you I have not seen interview. I don’t think since I last worked for you, which in John’s case, was 1985. Um, but I will tell you that you are such terrific examples of leadership and of learning fundamental lessons of how to lead soldiers and how to take care of the mission that I still think back many times to those days. And I use those examples and many others aside do my only your development sessions. Um, and I truly do all my success in the army to these folks and more. Uh, but their debts I can’t repay and I know I can’t. But instead I could pay them forward. And that’s what I try to do. Use their guidance everyday. Mentor soldiers pulling the CEOs onto the team here in the Pentagon, a lot of civilians pull them out of the team because they’re key and amazingly talented folks that in many cases guide the military through what we need to do. And they showed me how to look at the world through different lenses, and they pulled me out of my comfort zone and taught me to be comfortable not being comfortable. If that makes any sense at all, Bennett that really, if anything, what Aiken point my finger to is knowing and seeing great work, great leaders at work in action and modeling them and trying to uphold the standards that they have instilled. My sister is Julie and Jennifer are here today and along with my nephews, Philip Thomas and Julie and Jennifer, like Thio present you with flowers. If we could do that. And so the flowers, of course, they represent all the love and commitment you’ve shared with us over the years. Uh, just, uh, just cannot think of all the e started trying to make a list and they ran out of paper. But of all the things that you all have done for us, just thio keep the family bonds strong. Let us know that we are welcome doing all kinds of crazy little tasks that need to be done for us. Andi Just being part of the family. Thank you so much for being here today. I love you both dearly, and I’m so glad that you are my sisters. General Brown mentioned my mom Dorothy. Hi, Mom. Out in West Allis, Wisconsin, in the same house that I grew up in. Mom, thanks for all you do and for always being there for me and now my own family. Thanks for being there for Karen and Jack as well. You are absolutely one of the most principled and disciplined people I know. Not that kind of discipline that we maybe think of in the military but the discipline of stick to it use perseverance and get through the challenging times and definitely the brains of the outfit. Definitely the brains of the offered my dad. It was a smart guy, but a Z was smart enough to know it always kind of deferred my mom. So a smart guy. Um, but anyway, Mom, you were wonderful influence on me. Uh, and really have been a lifelong role model s, or you couldn’t be here in person today. Um, but I’m glad that you were able to be here in the Pentagon when we did my promotion of Lieutenant Colonel and Dad got to be here, and it was a special occasion. So thank you so much. Mom. I love you. And I keep trying to do my best toe let you know that I’ve learned the lessons that you taught. It’s my son, Jack. If I had a spotlight I China on right now, just because it would be embarrassing. But thanks for all the great ideas that you have. I don’t know where you come up with a Well, actually, I do. It’s from YouTube videos and ticktock on for all the interesting projects we do together and all the funny jokes and videos that you send me and share with me. And I really am proud of you. And I’m happy that I get to grow and learn alongside of you. Everybody. That’s a parent knows that is it’s kind of like your second childhood as you get Thio. Go on, do all kinds of things with kids as they grow up. But But, you know, really seeing you try new things and master new skills. It inspires me every day to try something new. I figure if Jack could try something new, I can try to. I haven’t tried skateboarding, and I’m not getting on the electric skateboard, but I do try a lot of things that he does. And thanks for all the great experiences we’ve shared together and just wanted to let you know that I love you. And I think I have a little special gift for you as well. We won’t. Well, he’ll let you think about it. But is he gonna open it? It’s something you can only get in the Pentagon as far as I know. Yeah, it’s a chocolate hand grenade on, they told me. Make sure he’s not taking it on an airplane. I said No, we’re just driving home, uh, and last because it’s the position of the greatest honor. Alright, my wife, Karen. So I’d like to start by presenting you with a beautiful bouquet of roses. Yeah, that represents my love for you. Okay. Um, you really do amaze me every day. I don’t know how you do it. Marrying you was clearly the clearly married up, sir. Uh, just just to let you know. But marrying you was the best decision that I ever made, and I’ve never doubted it, even for a second. Um, you’re a great mom and just a wonderful, caring person. Has anybody knows who has met you, And I’m really proud of who you are and that you chose me as your husband. So just want to tell you that I love you. And would you mind joining me up here before I have a gift for you as well? But you have to present it to you up here. Yeah. All right. So it is. General Brown said Karen retired from the army. She did 20 years and retired. Lieutenant colonel. And everybody in the military knows that Spouses the number one in the house right there. The one that keeps everything running smoothly. When you’re at work, you’re in charge. But when you come home, um, you’re the supporting cast. Okay. Um but Now that I’m a two star general, uh, I she’s Lieutenant colonel. I want to make it very clear that she still outranks me. Right, So she’s still the boss. But how do you How do you show somebody that they’re the boss over two star general? Well, the army has this program called brevity Promotions. Breve it promotions aren’t used very often, and they actually go back quite a ways fairly common in the Civil War. But it means that an officer has been selected for temporary promotion at a higher level in a critical position. And so what I’m gonna do right now is make Karen of brevity, Lieutenant General, because lieutenant generals were three stars, right? And so I mean, there’s not too many folks in uniform that outranked two stars, three stars, four stars. Right, Um, but to make you a three star, uh, Lieutenant General, you need a set of three stars. So that’s what I’m going to present you with. But the big difference with your three stars is that, as opposed to the army, these ones came from Tiffany. Oh, no. I will let you unwrap that, and it costs a lot more to, but they’re worth. She’s worked, she’s worth. And there are a lot more stylish because they’re actually starfish. But which I thought was wonderful with the Hawaii. Oh, my goodness. You don’t get in trouble. So, um, if I had my hat on Absolutely. But, uh, so of I’m just gonna share one more thought One last thought. I know it’s warm in here, and I did wanna make sure that I acknowledge that terrific support and leadership that I have experienced, But this is a wonderful anecdote in It’s funny how you learn things from people who view the world differently than you in Hawaii shortly after I took command, probably about four years ago. Now, about a year time and great as a brigadier general. And I was talking to a major about his career progression and, uh, happen to make a comment that I was nearing the end of my own career. We talked about career management and and he, you know, stopped me cold. He said they sure, uh, you need to rethink that. He said, Your career is not ending, he said, Now that you’re a general, you have opportunities every day to engage with senior leaders of the Army and advocate for things that we all need that are not at General Officer headquarters to do our jobs better. And it took me back and I thought about it. I said, You know, you are exactly right I’m looking at this from the wrong side of the lens and I took it to heart and I think about that. Majors comment Every day, a zip drive into the building. I think you know it’s time to time to go work for the soldiers that are out there in the field. And I challenge myself to use the responsibility that I have been given, uh, to work every day to make a difference to our soldiers. And I saw that firsthand working for Major General Peter Chiarelli, who worked 18 hour days in the basement of the Pentagon when Bruce and I were down there and many other leaders along the way. So I just wanted to share. That is sort of a reaffirmation that, hey, when when with additional rank comes additional responsibility and I take that seriously. So thank you all for joining us here today, and every one of you mean something to me, and I’m glad you’re here. Thank you so much. Yeah. General Brown. John Dickinson. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the benediction by Chaplin Green and remain standing for the playing of the Army song. The words are printed on the back of your programs for reference. Uh huh. He’s about with me, Lord, thank you for Major General Tones promotion and the opportunities afforded him and his family to continue serving our great nation. We give thanks for what Our eyes have seen, what our hearts have felt and without ears have heard. Now go with him and his family and bless him with traveling mercies. And now may each of you go in peace. A men. No way. Mhm first to fight for the right and to build the nation’s matter on the army patrolling e for you, You will always PRC eat airport. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s ceremony as a reminder due to cover it restrictions that will not be a receiving line on behalf of General Brown and Major General Tones. Thank you for attending. Well, you know what you’re thinking