RELEASE NUMBER: 080306-02
DATE POSTED: MARCH 06, 2008

MG Harrell says goodbye to Army during retirement ceremony

By Sgt. 1st Class Jason B. Baker
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

FORT BRAGG, N.C.  (USASOC News Service, March 6, 2008) – Several hundred members of the joint and special operations communities gathered to witness the retirement ceremony of the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command March 6, 2008.

Maj. Gen. Gary L. Harrell stepped on to Meadows Parade Field to celebrate and formally end his 34-year Army career, of which, most was spent within Special Operations.

“Now lets be honest, Gary is no ordinary Soldier,” said Lt. Gen. Robert W. Wagner, commanding general, USASOC.  “He is an extraordinary professional. Gary has spent his career always at the extreme margin of difficulty, complexity and critical importance to our nation. Not easy jobs. In each assignment he has been at the tip of the spear. If it was complex, difficult or critical to our nation, Gary was there. Fortunately most Americans, and even most Soldiers, will never know or experience life in that arena. They won’t have to know or worry, because Gary did that for us. That is his legacy. That was his service to our nation.”

During the ceremony, Harrell was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, a Certificate of Retirement and a Certificate of Appreciation signed by President George W. Bush.

His wife Jennifer Harrell received an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal and a Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation for her service as an Army spouse.

To end the ceremony Harrell took time to thank the many Soldiers and other service members who served with him. He placed a special emphasis on thanking his ‘high-school sweetheart’ and wife of 36 years.

“She was always there, I could not have asked for a better teammate,” said Harrell of his wife. “On more than one occasion she would go out to meet the MEDEVAC bird when it came in. Sometimes she had the kids with her and sometimes she didn’t. But she shouldered that burden very well. And when it was really bad, she went with me to homes when we told spouses their husbands weren’t coming home. And I could not have done that with out her. Her quiet strength carried me through situations nobody should have to do, but we all do.”

Harrell was commissioned a second lieutenant December 1973 after graduating from East Tennessee State University and his first assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment. He successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1977 and went on to serve in both the 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups. From 1986 to 2000 he served at both the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne) and the Joint Special Operations Command, working his way up to taking command of 1st SFOD-D from 1998 to 2000.

Later he served as the assistant division commander for the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda in 2001. At the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom he commanded Special Operations Command, Central during this time he led 20, 000 special operations troops, the largest special operations force since World War II.

His career culminated with his assignment as the deputy commanding general for the USASOC.

During his career he participated in several major operations to include, Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Just Cause, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Continue Hope, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Scuba Diver Badge, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab.

--usasoc--

	The honor guard, lead by the commander of troops, Lt. Col. Brian Hankinson, stands at attention for the playing of the National Anthem before the retirement ceremony for Major Gen. Gary L. Harrell, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The ceremony, held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 6, honors MG Harrell, who is retiring after over 34 years of service. (U.S. Army photo Gillian M. Albro, USASOC PAO)
	Lt. Gen Robert W. Wagner, commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, presents the Certificate of Retirement to Major Gen. Gary L. Harrell, deputy commanding general. MG Harrell's retirement ceremony, held at Fort Bragg, N.C. March 6, honors his 34 years of service. (U.S. Army photo Gillian M. Albro, USASOC PAO)
	Major Gen. Gary L. Harrell, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, speaks to the Soldiers, friends and family that came to honor him at his retirement ceremony held on Fort Bragg, N.C. March 6. (U.S. Army photo Gillian M. Albro, USASOC PAO)
	Major Gen. Gary L. Harrell, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and his wife, Jennifer, step off the field at Meadows Plaza, USASOC Headquarters, Fort Bragg, N.C., for a final time as he retires March 6 after over 34 years of service. (U.S. Army photo Cherish Washington, USASOC PAO)