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Sgt. Maj. Whitford
Retires from National Guard
Story by Master Sgt. Jodie Stafford
Indiana
National Guard Public Affairs
August 24, 2007
The day raised his tally of awards from 19 to
20, and his hopes for the future, as his civil-service career ended.
Sgt. Maj. Mark S. Whitford was honored recently for a 20-year career
in the Indiana Army National Guard with an awards ceremony and
luncheon at the recruiting command headquarters in
Lawrence.
Whitford officially retires in September, but
is using the last of his military leave to prepare his family for a
move to Texas, and to prepare
himself for a new career as a pilot with Bayou Aviation, Inc. “It’s
a bittersweet feeling,” Whitford said, “I have nothing but great
things to say about the Guard. It’s been a great ride. I’m sad to
leave but excited to get into my next career.”
Whitford enlisted in the Army immediately
following graduation from
Turkey
Run
High
School in 1982. He continued his active
duty time with an immediate enlistment in the Indiana Army National
Guard, where he got an Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) position in
Remington. He has served in jobs ranging from training and
administration to intelligence and recruiting during his AGR
service.
His wife, Tia, and children, Tyler, Dylan, and
Bailey, joined in the retirement celebration.
It was obvious by the tears and smiles that all shared the
bittersweet emotions. Tia will be pursuing her career as an RN in
Texas, while the three boys will start
school there this fall.
All look forward to having their dad home more often, and no longer
worrying about potential for deployment.
For Whitford, the deployment potential is what
bothers him the most as he prepares to take off the uniform for
good. “The only thing I missed is not deploying to
Iraq
or the War on Terror,” he said. “Because serving your country for 25
years, you join to defend, and in a time of war that is the
ultimate. To be called to fight.
I was never called.”
Whitford may have missed the current
opportunities to serve overseas but he did his duty in full by
deploying to Honduras in 1984 and serving
overseas during his active Army enlistment. As a sergeant major he
reached the top rank of his field and is proud to say he is active
in his community and church as well. “The Army, my family, God and
parents,” Whitford says, “gave me the discipline to succeed. I have
them to thank for the opportunities in front of me now.”
Parting words from Whitford were typical of a
man who has spent his life in uniform. We all want to share with
others what we have gained through service. “From
Smalltown,
U.S.A. to
sergeant major—you can only limit yourself; the Army is wide open.”
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