WEBVTT 00:02.470 --> 00:04.900 Ladies and gentlemen , good afternoon 00:05.110 --> 00:07.420 and welcome to United States European 00:07.420 --> 00:09.899 Command . I am Master Sergeant Chrissie 00:09.899 --> 00:12.100 Clark , your master of ceremonies . 00:12.590 --> 00:15.069 Throughout the event , cues to stand or 00:15.069 --> 00:17.829 be seated will be given . Today's 00:17.829 --> 00:19.950 ceremony is being conducted as an 00:19.950 --> 00:22.549 outdoor event . Therefore , during the 00:22.549 --> 00:24.670 playing of ruffles and flourishes in 00:24.670 --> 00:27.069 the German and United States national 00:27.069 --> 00:29.629 anthems , military members should stand 00:29.629 --> 00:33.560 at attention and salute . Today we 00:33.560 --> 00:35.349 gather to honor the unwavering 00:35.349 --> 00:37.189 commitment and extraordinary 00:37.189 --> 00:39.709 contributions of Major General Peter 00:39.709 --> 00:41.909 Andriesiak on the occasion of his 00:41.909 --> 00:44.990 retirement after 36 years of honorable 00:44.990 --> 00:47.470 service to the United States Army and 00:47.470 --> 00:51.349 our nation . The presiding officer 00:51.349 --> 00:53.709 and host for today's ceremony is 00:53.709 --> 00:55.779 General Christopher T . Donahue , 00:56.069 --> 00:58.540 Commanding General , US Army Europe , 00:58.549 --> 01:01.150 Africa , and the Commander Allied Land 01:01.150 --> 01:04.940 Command . We would now like to 01:04.940 --> 01:07.459 extend a sincere welcome to the special 01:07.459 --> 01:09.515 guests in attendance with us today , 01:10.220 --> 01:13.180 Mrs . Casey Andriesak , spouse of Major 01:13.180 --> 01:15.180 General Andriesiak , their daughter 01:15.180 --> 01:18.779 McKenzie and son Max . All general 01:18.779 --> 01:21.239 officers , both active and retired 01:21.569 --> 01:23.902 members of the senior executive service , 01:23.930 --> 01:26.449 commanders , directors , community 01:26.449 --> 01:29.010 partners , members of the United States 01:29.010 --> 01:32.010 European Command , friends , colleagues , 01:32.059 --> 01:34.540 and especially the extended family and 01:34.540 --> 01:37.239 special guests of our honoree , thank 01:37.239 --> 01:39.610 you for being here to share the special 01:39.610 --> 01:42.120 occasion with Major General Andriesiak 01:42.120 --> 01:43.199 and his family . 01:57.940 --> 02:00.220 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 02:00.220 --> 02:02.540 the arrival of the official party and 02:02.540 --> 02:04.484 remain standing for the playing of 02:04.484 --> 02:06.610 ruffles and flourishes , presentation 02:06.610 --> 02:09.020 of the colors , the German and United 02:09.020 --> 02:10.909 States national anthems , and the 02:10.909 --> 02:11.660 invocation . 02:38.619 --> 02:39.675 Present the colors 06:33.549 --> 06:35.750 At this time , Chaplain Nevin will 06:35.750 --> 06:37.139 deliver the invocation . 06:40.570 --> 06:42.514 Would you pray with me , with me , 06:42.514 --> 06:46.000 please ? Father 06:47.279 --> 06:49.320 As we celebrate our nation's 06:49.320 --> 06:51.950 independence this week . We're so 06:51.970 --> 06:54.303 grateful for the freedoms that we enjoy . 06:55.029 --> 06:57.230 Because of the sacrifice of so many 06:57.230 --> 06:59.452 people , our men and women in uniform . 06:59.950 --> 07:02.619 But most of all , Father . We're so 07:02.619 --> 07:04.841 grateful for the spiritual freedom that 07:04.841 --> 07:07.100 we can have because of the sacrifice of 07:07.100 --> 07:11.049 your Son Jesus Christ . Lord , we're so 07:11.049 --> 07:13.160 grateful for this special day that we 07:13.160 --> 07:16.519 could honor Major General Andries and 07:16.519 --> 07:18.839 his family for their lifetime of 07:18.839 --> 07:21.600 service to our nation . Lord , we're 07:21.600 --> 07:24.230 thankful for the gifts and abilities 07:24.559 --> 07:26.670 that you gave General Andriesiak that 07:26.670 --> 07:29.000 you bestowed upon him as a child and 07:29.000 --> 07:31.160 continue to develop into him as a 07:31.160 --> 07:34.149 leader . And thank you that over his 07:34.149 --> 07:36.589 course of the career , Lord , that you 07:36.589 --> 07:39.309 allow him to invest in others , develop 07:39.309 --> 07:41.950 leaders for our nation , Lord , and 07:41.950 --> 07:44.172 Lord , this isn't the end of the road , 07:44.172 --> 07:46.320 it's a new chapter in this family's 07:46.829 --> 07:48.940 life , and I pray Lord that you would 07:48.940 --> 07:51.739 give him a new vision for the future , 07:51.750 --> 07:54.040 Lord . Allow him to use his gifts and 07:54.040 --> 07:56.739 abilities for your kingdom's purpose . 07:57.230 --> 07:59.989 And Lord , we're so grateful for Casey . 08:00.600 --> 08:02.839 How she served with her husband so 08:02.839 --> 08:05.029 faithfully served this community , 08:05.519 --> 08:09.309 spouses , dodeus students , even my own , 08:09.880 --> 08:11.936 and we're so grateful for that . And 08:11.936 --> 08:14.158 Lord , we're grateful for the fact that 08:14.158 --> 08:16.380 you allow them to have stability so Max 08:16.380 --> 08:18.269 could stay here and graduate from 08:18.269 --> 08:20.491 Stuttgart High . And Lord , we pray for 08:20.491 --> 08:22.713 Max and McKenzie as they continue their 08:22.713 --> 08:24.880 education . I pray they would excel in 08:24.880 --> 08:27.200 the classroom , outside the classroom 08:27.200 --> 08:29.256 direct and guide their steps for the 08:29.256 --> 08:31.144 future , Lord . And I ask this in 08:31.144 --> 08:32.729 Jesus' name . Amen . 08:37.489 --> 08:39.640 Thank you Chaplain Nevin . Ladies and 08:39.640 --> 08:41.362 gentlemen , please be seated . 08:46.609 --> 08:49.119 It is now my distinct honor to welcome 08:49.119 --> 08:51.008 the presiding officer for today's 08:51.008 --> 08:54.119 ceremony , Commanding General , US Army 08:54.119 --> 08:56.739 Europe , Africa , and Commander Allied 08:56.739 --> 08:59.489 Land Command , General Christopher T . 08:59.679 --> 09:00.349 Donahue . 09:08.409 --> 09:10.869 One welcome everyone to an incredible 09:10.869 --> 09:13.640 event and it's an incredible event 09:13.989 --> 09:16.859 because of this great family . Um , 09:17.349 --> 09:19.405 when Pete asked me to do this , uh , 09:19.405 --> 09:21.293 retirement , one , I was a little 09:21.293 --> 09:24.940 shocked , um , and two , I was humbled 09:25.669 --> 09:27.989 for many , many reasons , uh , that 09:27.989 --> 09:30.390 we'll cover , but first and foremost 09:30.390 --> 09:32.979 was because since I was 17 years old , 09:33.700 --> 09:37.219 um , I looked up to Pete . Um , in a 09:37.219 --> 09:39.820 way that everyone looks up to Pete . 09:40.880 --> 09:43.190 Um , and I don't mean that , and I knew 09:43.190 --> 09:45.412 you would all laugh . I did not mean it 09:45.412 --> 09:48.760 that way . Um , because Pete is one of 09:48.760 --> 09:51.039 those guys that doesn't matter where he 09:51.039 --> 09:54.239 was in the world , what age he was , he 09:54.239 --> 09:57.349 was a guy that everybody wanted to be , 09:57.679 --> 09:59.880 and that's Pete Andriesiak . And when 09:59.880 --> 10:02.200 you look at his family , it's the exact 10:02.200 --> 10:04.940 same way . So Pete , incredibly 10:04.940 --> 10:08.919 humbling to be up here today . First , 10:09.070 --> 10:11.530 to his wife Casey , married 23 years , 10:11.830 --> 10:13.950 works over at SACA right now , and 10:13.950 --> 10:15.894 we're gonna talk a little bit more 10:15.894 --> 10:18.830 about her , um , absolute rock of the 10:18.830 --> 10:21.630 family and , uh , what she has done 10:21.630 --> 10:23.789 over this really commitment to the 10:23.789 --> 10:26.429 nation as they both have wore the cloth 10:26.429 --> 10:28.540 of the nation is absolutely amazing . 10:28.950 --> 10:31.239 Two incredible kids , as was mentioned , 10:31.429 --> 10:33.809 uh , McKenzie who will more than likely 10:33.809 --> 10:36.309 end up at the Army Baylor physical 10:36.309 --> 10:39.030 doctor , uh , therapy program which I'm 10:39.030 --> 10:42.140 confident of , um , and then Max , you 10:42.140 --> 10:44.140 know , he's put in for two colleges 10:44.140 --> 10:46.140 that he really wants to go to . The 10:46.140 --> 10:48.196 first is his backup college . It's a 10:48.196 --> 10:50.307 trade school called the Naval Academy 10:50.307 --> 10:52.529 and then the real school he wants to go 10:52.529 --> 10:54.751 to the United States Military Academy , 10:54.751 --> 10:57.130 so . Uh , we're very excited to see all 10:57.130 --> 10:59.241 the great things that y'all are gonna 10:59.241 --> 11:01.640 do , uh , going forward . And of course , 11:01.849 --> 11:03.849 they're in that position because of 11:03.849 --> 11:06.130 their parents . And uh I know they 11:06.130 --> 11:08.830 would both say that . Uh , Father Pete , 11:08.840 --> 11:12.539 87 , is watching online and mom . 11:18.830 --> 11:20.497 She's up above looking down . 11:23.409 --> 11:27.130 So Pete 36 year 11:27.130 --> 11:30.150 career . He's the most operationally 11:30.150 --> 11:32.979 relevant . Engineer officer . 11:34.219 --> 11:37.900 In the United States Army . He has done 11:37.900 --> 11:40.669 more things than anybody . And it 11:40.669 --> 11:44.659 started right here in Germany . When he 11:44.659 --> 11:46.770 first really started serving whenever 11:46.770 --> 11:48.881 he was in high school in Heidelberg , 11:48.881 --> 11:50.881 and anyone who knows anything about 11:50.881 --> 11:53.103 Heidelberg , Stuttgart , and Ramstein , 11:53.103 --> 11:55.270 they were the rival high schools . I'm 11:55.270 --> 11:57.492 from Pennsylvania . I didn't understand 11:57.492 --> 11:59.715 all this stuff , but there's this weird 11:59.715 --> 12:01.770 eco culture that exists out here now 12:01.770 --> 12:01.750 that my kids are in it , I get it a 12:01.750 --> 12:03.750 little bit more , but I was at West 12:03.750 --> 12:05.917 Point . They used to always talk about 12:05.917 --> 12:07.750 Pete and Heidelberg and how they 12:07.750 --> 12:09.861 dominated everybody and there's a guy 12:09.861 --> 12:12.789 who works up at Ura named Jim . Uh , 12:12.869 --> 12:15.036 Intel Gym , we'll just call him that , 12:15.150 --> 12:19.140 and , uh , Jim was a rival of him . And 12:19.140 --> 12:21.084 there's several other folks that I 12:21.084 --> 12:23.196 talked to , but they all went back to 12:23.196 --> 12:26.299 how great Pete was . At football and 12:26.299 --> 12:28.460 other sports , but more importantly , 12:28.539 --> 12:30.706 what they talked about is what a great 12:30.706 --> 12:32.595 teammate he was and how he helped 12:32.595 --> 12:34.650 everybody . Went off to West Point , 12:34.650 --> 12:36.928 played football , did incredible there , 12:36.928 --> 12:40.299 was commissioned . And then ultimately 12:40.299 --> 12:42.132 came back out here to Europe and 12:42.132 --> 12:44.188 whenever you look at Pete's career , 12:44.188 --> 12:46.410 right , and , and you guys aren't gonna 12:46.410 --> 12:49.080 remember much of what I say . But I 12:49.080 --> 12:51.549 want you to remember what all this guy 12:51.549 --> 12:53.880 has done and where he has done it . He 12:53.880 --> 12:56.900 came to Europe . First armored division , 12:56.909 --> 12:59.020 then he went down to Italy as we were 12:59.020 --> 13:01.429 restructuring the army . Then he went 13:01.429 --> 13:03.262 back and was in the 3rd infantry 13:03.262 --> 13:06.590 division . 9/11 happened . He went and 13:06.590 --> 13:09.309 did some cops of engineer jobs , so 13:09.309 --> 13:12.020 tactical tactical corp of engineers job . 13:12.849 --> 13:15.109 And then he goes and he's the S3 of the 13:15.109 --> 13:18.859 20th Engineer Battalion . Deploys his 13:18.859 --> 13:21.989 first time , does remarkable . And then 13:21.989 --> 13:24.156 he goes back and he commands that same 13:24.156 --> 13:26.322 battalion . If you don't know anything 13:26.322 --> 13:28.489 about the 20th Engineer battalion . An 13:28.489 --> 13:30.711 engineer battalion that went first wave 13:30.711 --> 13:33.570 Omaha Beach . It's one of our most 13:33.570 --> 13:36.330 famous , it's probably the most famous 13:36.330 --> 13:38.552 engineer battalion in the United States 13:38.552 --> 13:42.530 Army . Pete commanded that . But 13:42.530 --> 13:44.969 prior to commanding that , you all will 13:44.969 --> 13:47.191 remember uh the shooting at Fort Hood . 13:48.169 --> 13:50.280 Pete lost 4 soldiers and had a number 13:50.280 --> 13:54.080 wounded . Prior to the deployment . And 13:54.080 --> 13:56.440 it's these two right here and those 13:56.440 --> 13:59.409 kids . That helped that battalion heal . 14:00.320 --> 14:03.070 And get them ready . And that's what 14:03.070 --> 14:05.237 they do all the time . And then during 14:05.237 --> 14:07.403 that deployment during a very , it was 14:07.403 --> 14:09.237 during the presidential surge to 14:09.237 --> 14:11.549 Afghanistan , he lost a number of more 14:11.549 --> 14:14.150 soldiers all doing route clearance . 14:14.950 --> 14:17.172 And anybody who was in that part of the 14:17.172 --> 14:19.539 country down in southwest Afghanistan , 14:19.739 --> 14:22.869 Marines and others were down there . I 14:22.869 --> 14:25.070 distinctly remember going out the 14:25.070 --> 14:27.292 organization I was in and I went out to 14:27.292 --> 14:31.200 a British unit , UK unit . And we had 14:31.200 --> 14:33.256 to go out and do some reconnaissance 14:33.256 --> 14:35.719 with them . And before we got into the 14:35.719 --> 14:39.539 vehicles . These guys had they've been 14:39.539 --> 14:43.380 so tough that they literally had 14:43.380 --> 14:47.150 to just get themselves together unlike 14:47.150 --> 14:49.261 any way that I've ever seen to go out 14:49.261 --> 14:51.372 onto these routes , and those are the 14:51.372 --> 14:53.594 routes that Pete and his battalion were 14:53.594 --> 14:55.650 making sure were clean for everybody 14:55.650 --> 14:59.299 else , absolutely amazing . Then he 14:59.299 --> 15:01.521 went on commanded an engineer brigade . 15:02.250 --> 15:05.979 Uh , up in Alaska . Deployed again . 15:06.739 --> 15:08.850 Then he went to be the chief of staff 15:08.850 --> 15:11.072 at the 3rd Infantry division , deployed 15:11.072 --> 15:14.989 again . One year assignment . Alaska 15:15.299 --> 15:17.650 to Fort Stewart , Georgia one year , 15:17.739 --> 15:19.979 he's deployed , then the family goes to 15:19.979 --> 15:23.539 Hawaii after that . And just a number , 15:23.549 --> 15:25.549 and then he's there for 3 years and 15:25.549 --> 15:27.771 does incredible while he's there . Then 15:27.771 --> 15:30.729 he goes up and he commands Alaska . And 15:30.729 --> 15:33.729 Pete's command tour during Alaska was a 15:33.729 --> 15:35.951 time frame for all of our services that 15:35.951 --> 15:39.289 was very difficult . And Pete turned an 15:39.289 --> 15:41.650 organization around unlike any that 15:41.650 --> 15:44.289 we've seen . In fact , on the way down 15:44.289 --> 15:47.250 here , we were talking to Ryan McCarthy , 15:47.289 --> 15:49.869 the former secretary of the Army . And 15:49.869 --> 15:52.280 we were talking about Pete . And he 15:52.280 --> 15:54.979 said , I remember I remember how he 15:54.979 --> 15:57.669 turned that command around . And then 15:57.669 --> 15:59.780 after that command , he came out here 15:59.780 --> 16:01.725 to the United States Army Europe , 16:01.725 --> 16:03.891 Africa , and then he came down here to 16:03.891 --> 16:06.002 be the chief , I'm sorry , the J3 and 16:06.002 --> 16:08.002 then the chief , and if you look at 16:08.002 --> 16:10.520 that time period . It's arguably the 16:10.520 --> 16:12.409 most consequential time period in 16:12.409 --> 16:15.539 Europe . And Pete is the guy that 16:15.539 --> 16:19.150 helped establish SAGU . Really TF 16:19.150 --> 16:22.229 Dragon , SAGU , and everything that has 16:22.229 --> 16:24.710 come after that . He's the guy that 16:24.710 --> 16:26.932 fought for all the resources . He's the 16:26.932 --> 16:29.950 guy that made sure that Ukraine could 16:29.950 --> 16:32.061 remain the country that it is today . 16:32.780 --> 16:35.039 And then of course as he transitioned 16:35.039 --> 16:37.809 this command . Uh , from a focus of 16:37.809 --> 16:40.729 what it was to Ukraine , he also knew 16:40.729 --> 16:43.000 that it was our generation's job to 16:43.000 --> 16:46.059 transition from the GWAT . To really 16:46.609 --> 16:48.619 deterrence , large scale combat 16:48.619 --> 16:51.390 operations and its peak . That is the 16:51.390 --> 16:53.446 guy that drove this command , and if 16:53.446 --> 16:55.446 you look at where this command sits 16:55.446 --> 16:57.950 today with digital and where we have to 16:57.950 --> 17:01.469 go , that's Pete Andriesiak . And if 17:01.469 --> 17:03.580 you look at that whole body of work , 17:03.599 --> 17:06.949 it's absolutely amazing . I cannot 17:06.949 --> 17:09.199 think of a more operationally relevant 17:09.689 --> 17:11.550 engineer in our entire army . 17:14.010 --> 17:15.954 And you know , there's , there's , 17:15.954 --> 17:17.899 there's there's kind of no beating 17:17.899 --> 17:20.066 around the bush for the , for the army 17:20.066 --> 17:22.177 right now . Our general officer ranks 17:22.177 --> 17:25.569 are getting smaller . By 20% . 17:27.500 --> 17:29.611 And that's what's driving some of the 17:29.611 --> 17:31.556 changes that we have in the United 17:31.556 --> 17:35.229 States Army today . And Pete is a 17:35.229 --> 17:37.010 guy That 17:40.079 --> 17:43.000 is amazing , and Pete is the type of 17:43.000 --> 17:45.056 person that we all have to strive to 17:45.056 --> 17:47.369 become . Pete , there's nobody 17:49.040 --> 17:51.369 Nobody that I think is more deserving . 17:52.229 --> 17:54.459 Of that rank and any other general 17:54.459 --> 17:57.849 officer rank than you . Again , it's 17:57.849 --> 17:59.571 humbling to be up here today . 18:02.310 --> 18:05.589 You know , so Pete's parents met right 18:05.589 --> 18:09.069 across town . And uh his 18:09.069 --> 18:12.109 parents are from Czechoslovakia , 18:12.479 --> 18:15.410 Germany . If you look about what an 18:15.410 --> 18:18.050 American story is , it's this guy right 18:18.050 --> 18:20.780 here . Um , 18:21.150 --> 18:24.310 multi-generational commitment to this 18:24.310 --> 18:27.949 nation . What your parents did , what 18:27.949 --> 18:30.150 your family has done , if there's 18:30.150 --> 18:32.317 anybody who understands the importance 18:32.317 --> 18:36.270 of this continent . And the US European 18:36.270 --> 18:38.603 relationship , it's this guy right here . 18:39.300 --> 18:42.510 Um , so Pete Thank you for the honor to 18:42.510 --> 18:44.454 stand up here today and talk about 18:44.454 --> 18:46.454 everything that you've accomplished 18:46.454 --> 18:48.819 during your incredible career . And to 18:48.819 --> 18:50.930 his family , thank you for everything 18:50.930 --> 18:52.810 that you have done . Um , 18:54.300 --> 18:56.699 Amazing , simply amazing , and we can 18:56.699 --> 18:58.939 never pay you back enough . So again , 18:59.060 --> 19:01.116 Pete , thank you for this incredible 19:01.116 --> 19:02.116 honor . 19:08.310 --> 19:10.949 Thank you , General Donahue . Major 19:10.949 --> 19:12.782 General Andriesiak , please join 19:12.782 --> 19:16.530 General Donahue center stage . Ladies 19:16.530 --> 19:18.586 and gentlemen , please stand for the 19:18.586 --> 19:20.808 presentation of the award , followed by 19:20.808 --> 19:22.697 the publication of the retirement 19:22.697 --> 19:22.609 orders . 19:27.000 --> 19:29.420 Attention to orders . Major General 19:29.420 --> 19:32.000 Peter B . Andriesiak Junior , United 19:32.000 --> 19:34.069 States Army , provided exceptionally 19:34.069 --> 19:36.180 meritorious service to the government 19:36.310 --> 19:38.619 and duties of great responsibility over 19:38.619 --> 19:41.469 a 36 year career culminating as the 19:41.469 --> 19:43.630 Chief of staff headquarters United 19:43.630 --> 19:46.089 States European Command . During his 19:46.089 --> 19:48.689 tenure , Major General Andre's 19:48.689 --> 19:51.410 leadership , innovation , vigilance , 19:51.489 --> 19:53.849 and vision consistently provided 19:53.849 --> 19:55.810 critical counsel and operational 19:55.810 --> 19:57.810 perspective to senior leaders 19:57.810 --> 19:59.890 throughout United States European 19:59.890 --> 20:02.530 Command . His personal leadership in 20:02.530 --> 20:05.599 all aspects of operations and exercises 20:06.050 --> 20:08.217 directly contributed to the attainment 20:08.217 --> 20:10.106 of the United States security and 20:10.106 --> 20:12.979 defense objectives in the UCO , AFRICO , 20:13.329 --> 20:16.040 and CEO areas of responsibility . 20:17.050 --> 20:18.494 Major General Andriesia's 20:18.494 --> 20:20.439 accomplishments contributed to the 20:20.439 --> 20:23.000 implementation of critical theater-wide 20:23.000 --> 20:26.010 operations , exercises and programs 20:26.050 --> 20:28.050 throughout the 51 countries that 20:28.050 --> 20:30.050 comprise the United States European 20:30.050 --> 20:31.939 Command . The distinctive 20:31.939 --> 20:33.772 accomplishments of Major General 20:33.772 --> 20:35.930 Andriesiak reflect great credit upon 20:35.930 --> 20:37.986 himself , the United States European 20:37.986 --> 20:40.209 Command , and the United States Army . 20:44.930 --> 20:47.479 Attention to orders . Department of the 20:47.479 --> 20:50.540 Army Washington District of Columbia 20:50.540 --> 20:54.510 Special Order number 077-01 dated 20:54.510 --> 20:57.949 the 18th day of March 2025 . 20:58.319 --> 21:00.560 Major General Peter B . Andriesiak 21:00.560 --> 21:03.489 Junior , Chief of Staff headquarters 21:03.489 --> 21:05.719 United States European Command , is 21:05.719 --> 21:08.199 retired from active duty on the first 21:08.199 --> 21:11.680 day of October 2025 after more than 21:11.680 --> 21:14.560 36 years of faithful and honorable duty . 21:15.000 --> 21:17.222 By order of the Secretary of the Army , 21:17.390 --> 21:19.390 proceed to your home of selection . 21:19.479 --> 21:21.420 Sign Daniel P . Driscoll . 21:30.469 --> 21:32.802 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 21:34.349 --> 21:36.460 We will now begin the presentation of 21:36.460 --> 21:38.405 service effects . Please hold your 21:38.405 --> 21:41.790 applause until the end . General 21:41.790 --> 21:43.957 Donahue will now present Major General 21:43.957 --> 21:45.790 Andriesiak with a certificate of 21:45.790 --> 21:48.349 retirement which reads , Certificate of 21:48.349 --> 21:50.571 retirement from the Armed Forces of the 21:50.571 --> 21:53.030 United States of America to all who 21:53.030 --> 21:55.229 shall see these presents greetings . 21:55.839 --> 21:58.030 This is to certify that Major General 21:58.030 --> 22:00.599 Peter B . Andriesiak Junior , having 22:00.599 --> 22:02.655 served faithfully and honorably , is 22:02.655 --> 22:05.000 retired from the United States Army on 22:05.000 --> 22:08.109 the first day of October 2025 , 22:08.439 --> 22:11.400 signed General Randy A . George , Army 22:11.400 --> 22:12.359 Chief of Staff . 22:15.479 --> 22:17.646 General Donahue will now present Major 22:17.646 --> 22:19.201 General Andriesiak with his 22:19.201 --> 22:21.319 presidential certificate . The 22:21.319 --> 22:22.875 presidential certificate of 22:22.875 --> 22:25.040 appreciation is presented for service 22:25.040 --> 22:26.929 in the armed forces of the United 22:26.929 --> 22:28.873 States of America to Major General 22:28.873 --> 22:32.780 Peter B . Andriesiak Jr . I send my 22:32.780 --> 22:35.339 personal congratulations and offer the 22:35.339 --> 22:37.540 country's sincere gratitude as you 22:37.540 --> 22:39.780 retire from the United States Army 22:39.780 --> 22:43.010 after 36 years of service . I am proud 22:43.010 --> 22:45.010 to have served as your commander in 22:45.010 --> 22:47.619 chief . Your dedication and leadership 22:47.619 --> 22:49.859 in uniform have been critical to 22:49.859 --> 22:51.979 defending our freedom at an important 22:51.979 --> 22:54.599 time in our history . The commitment to 22:54.599 --> 22:57.119 duty and professionalism with which you 22:57.119 --> 22:59.319 have served is part of the outstanding 22:59.319 --> 23:01.520 legacy of the United States Armed 23:01.520 --> 23:04.260 Forces , which continues to inspire 23:04.260 --> 23:07.160 generations of Americans . Thank you 23:07.160 --> 23:09.439 for your contributions to the safety of 23:09.439 --> 23:11.661 the American people and the security of 23:11.661 --> 23:14.280 America . As you open this next chapter 23:14.280 --> 23:16.329 in your life , I hope that you feel 23:16.329 --> 23:18.880 tremendous pride in your service to our 23:18.880 --> 23:21.770 nation . And that you continue to find 23:21.770 --> 23:24.089 ways to invest in your community and 23:24.089 --> 23:27.239 our country . Melania and I send our 23:27.239 --> 23:29.599 best wishes for success in all your 23:29.599 --> 23:32.630 future endeavors . May God bless you 23:32.630 --> 23:34.869 and may God continue to bless our great 23:34.869 --> 23:38.270 nation . Signed Donald J . Trump , 23:38.520 --> 23:39.687 Commander in Chief . 23:48.180 --> 23:50.347 General Donahue will now present Major 23:50.347 --> 23:52.180 General Andriesiak with his army 23:52.180 --> 23:53.180 retiree pen . 24:14.859 --> 24:17.500 Thank you , General Donahue . General 24:17.500 --> 24:19.667 Donahue will now present Major General 24:19.667 --> 24:21.944 Andriesiac with the United States flag . 24:22.670 --> 24:25.810 This flag is presented as a lasting 24:25.810 --> 24:28.430 symbol of our nation's gratitude for 24:28.430 --> 24:31.510 Major General Andre 36 years of 24:31.510 --> 24:33.750 honorable service to the United States 24:33.750 --> 24:37.420 Army . It represents the freedoms you 24:37.420 --> 24:40.020 have defended , the sacrifices you have 24:40.020 --> 24:42.619 made , and the unwavering dedication 24:42.619 --> 24:44.730 you have demonstrated throughout your 24:44.730 --> 24:44.699 career . 24:48.939 --> 24:51.050 Ladies and gentlemen , please join me 24:51.050 --> 24:52.439 in a round of applause . 25:06.349 --> 25:08.349 hard for me to do this just because 25:08.349 --> 25:10.290 there's incredible . 25:13.599 --> 25:17.229 Remind he in particular . So 25:17.229 --> 25:18.150 17 year old . 25:24.089 --> 25:27.310 So you go through . We go in lay a 25:27.310 --> 25:30.619 certain amount of weight by rail I 25:30.619 --> 25:31.619 probably . 25:35.560 --> 25:36.560 Behind the guy . 25:43.420 --> 25:44.920 I mean I'm trying to get . 25:52.199 --> 25:53.609 He says 285 I . 25:57.180 --> 25:59.060 So you 26:02.829 --> 26:05.329 What Yeah 26:10.890 --> 26:13.719 I'm So he's not get . 26:17.400 --> 26:17.849 I 26:24.540 --> 26:28.520 So then the purchase . You need to go 26:28.520 --> 26:29.739 up the stadium . 26:36.339 --> 26:40.339 Jo basically 26:42.000 --> 26:43.889 You don't hurry up and catch up . 26:48.040 --> 26:49.596 I do a little bit quicker . 26:52.849 --> 26:55.589 Conversation because the first time I . 27:06.109 --> 27:07.109 All these 27:40.530 --> 27:42.729 Ladies and gentlemen , it is my 27:42.729 --> 27:45.250 privilege and distinct honor to 27:45.250 --> 27:47.170 introduce Major General Peter B . 27:47.209 --> 27:49.969 Andriesiak Junior , United States Army 27:49.969 --> 27:50.760 retired . 27:58.060 --> 28:00.282 All right , thanks , Master and Clark . 28:00.282 --> 28:02.449 I appreciate it . And so so welcome to 28:02.449 --> 28:02.060 all the general officers , flag 28:02.060 --> 28:03.949 officers , distinguished guests , 28:03.949 --> 28:06.116 friends , colleagues , and I also want 28:06.116 --> 28:07.893 to acknowledge my family that's 28:07.893 --> 28:10.116 watching online . So I got the Andriess 28:10.116 --> 28:12.060 out there , the cannons , uh , the 28:12.060 --> 28:14.939 forces , the weights because the cannon 28:14.939 --> 28:17.219 and Was family is is pretty massive and 28:17.219 --> 28:20.430 big supporters and also the the Wiemans , 28:20.459 --> 28:22.237 and many thanks to , you know , 28:22.237 --> 28:24.292 Chaplain Nevin , thank you for doing 28:24.292 --> 28:26.070 that , the invocation , greatly 28:26.070 --> 28:28.189 appreciated . The band guys always 28:28.189 --> 28:30.078 dress these things up much , much 28:30.078 --> 28:32.411 appreciation . The honor guard protocol , 28:32.411 --> 28:34.522 of course , that's , you know , going 28:34.522 --> 28:37.150 full steam this week as well , but I 28:37.150 --> 28:39.372 also got , you know , I'm trying to not 28:39.372 --> 28:41.317 put too many names out there today 28:41.317 --> 28:43.206 because it's just too many to get 28:43.206 --> 28:45.372 through . I do want to highlight Pocho 28:45.372 --> 28:44.699 if you look at that great program right 28:44.699 --> 28:47.339 there . He worked hard on that to make 28:47.339 --> 28:49.630 sure it was perfect , and I thought it 28:49.630 --> 28:51.686 was interesting when it was finished 28:51.686 --> 28:53.686 that there's a US Army Europe patch 28:53.686 --> 28:55.908 that I'm wearing . He said that was the 28:55.908 --> 28:58.074 only photo . Uh , that they could find 28:58.074 --> 29:00.074 in me smiling . And I said I'm sure 29:00.074 --> 29:02.352 there are many more that are out there , 29:02.352 --> 29:04.686 but I think you know as I talked to the , 29:04.686 --> 29:06.908 you know , the significance of today in 29:06.908 --> 29:09.074 Europe , you know , US Army Europe has 29:09.074 --> 29:11.297 a very close uh place in my heart to my 29:11.297 --> 29:13.352 front office team past and present , 29:13.352 --> 29:15.519 they've been absolutely amazing um and 29:15.519 --> 29:17.686 thanks for everything that you've done 29:17.686 --> 29:19.352 in decon so I think that as a 29:19.352 --> 29:21.574 conditions check , I think we're OK . I 29:21.574 --> 29:23.574 think we may have gotten out of the 29:23.574 --> 29:23.050 vehicle a little too early and got 29:23.050 --> 29:25.161 heated up . We didn't follow orders . 29:25.300 --> 29:27.189 Uh , but I think the , you know , 29:27.189 --> 29:29.244 conditions check for tomorrow is the 29:29.244 --> 29:31.133 hottest part of the day . We , we 29:31.133 --> 29:33.244 should be in good shape . I just want 29:33.244 --> 29:32.859 to check the time , so I think I , they 29:32.859 --> 29:34.970 left me plenty of time because I tend 29:34.970 --> 29:36.970 to tend to go long , sir , so I , I 29:36.970 --> 29:39.081 appreciate that as well . And then to 29:39.081 --> 29:41.081 General Donahue , you know , you've 29:41.081 --> 29:43.026 already had a full schedule . He's 29:43.026 --> 29:45.192 already done changes of commands today 29:45.192 --> 29:47.415 and and made it up here and I know it's 29:47.415 --> 29:49.581 been tough and I appreciate that , but 29:49.581 --> 29:49.280 I do want to tie together a little bit 29:49.280 --> 29:51.447 as he described , you know , Germany , 29:51.447 --> 29:53.239 US Army Europe , um , and even 29:53.239 --> 29:57.030 Stuttgart . Um , you know , retiring in 29:57.030 --> 29:59.252 Germany is not something that I thought 29:59.252 --> 30:01.474 I would do . Um , typically when you're 30:01.474 --> 30:03.474 in the states you can bring in much 30:03.474 --> 30:05.419 more family , um , and so with the 30:05.419 --> 30:07.474 limited ability to , to bring people 30:07.474 --> 30:09.641 out here because we are staying . Uh , 30:09.641 --> 30:11.863 you know , I , I gave , I asked General 30:11.863 --> 30:13.974 Donahue and gave him a , you know , a 30:13.974 --> 30:13.900 tough , a tough job in trying to 30:13.900 --> 30:16.122 shoehorn this thing into his schedule . 30:16.122 --> 30:18.500 McKenzie leaves in 2 days and given the 30:18.500 --> 30:20.667 fact that I can't have the , the large 30:20.667 --> 30:22.778 family gathering , I did want to make 30:22.778 --> 30:25.000 sure that , uh , that McKenzie was here 30:25.000 --> 30:27.222 uh for a part of it or or for this this 30:27.222 --> 30:29.278 ceremony today . So she goes back to 30:29.278 --> 30:31.389 University of Hawaii . That's tough , 30:31.389 --> 30:33.611 uh , to go back there obviously for her 30:33.611 --> 30:35.880 summer session . And then , sir , you 30:35.880 --> 30:38.213 know , you know , you're a great friend , 30:38.213 --> 30:40.436 we've been peers for many years , but I 30:40.436 --> 30:42.769 will tell you I'm , I'm so proud of you , 30:42.769 --> 30:44.769 uh , seeing you lead at the highest 30:44.769 --> 30:44.359 levels of our army . You're , you're 30:44.359 --> 30:46.470 the right guy , um , and it's awesome 30:46.470 --> 30:49.280 to see . Thank you . As you described 30:49.280 --> 30:51.280 40 years ago , I left , uh , I left 30:51.280 --> 30:53.224 Heidelberg and uh and started this 30:53.224 --> 30:55.410 journey at the time , Heidelberg was 30:55.410 --> 30:57.632 the home of United States Army Europe . 30:58.010 --> 31:00.910 Um , I spent 3 years of my life there . 31:01.400 --> 31:03.622 Uh , my dad was working at that time as 31:03.622 --> 31:05.900 a DA civilian working for the garrison . 31:05.900 --> 31:08.011 Um , and it's so it's a quite , quite 31:08.011 --> 31:10.011 an honor to have the US Army Europe 31:10.011 --> 31:12.122 commander , uh , do this ceremony for 31:12.122 --> 31:14.067 me , one , because he's a personal 31:14.067 --> 31:14.000 friend , and two , I don't know how 31:14.000 --> 31:16.167 many times I walked past I think every 31:16.167 --> 31:18.280 day , right , the palace at that time 31:18.280 --> 31:20.502 that was the US Army Europe commander's 31:20.502 --> 31:22.669 place . Now to think today , um , that 31:22.669 --> 31:25.000 good friend is , is retiring me . And 31:25.000 --> 31:27.167 so but I'm also concluding the service 31:27.167 --> 31:29.056 here in Stuttgart , right , as he 31:29.056 --> 31:31.439 described my family's background , um , 31:31.479 --> 31:33.423 I have deep family ties . My dad's 31:33.423 --> 31:35.312 first assignment was back here in 31:35.312 --> 31:37.479 Stuttgart as an enlisted MP working at 31:37.479 --> 31:39.368 the gate of Kelly Barracks . Um , 31:39.368 --> 31:41.590 that's where he had me meet my mom in a 31:41.590 --> 31:43.757 very short time later they got married 31:43.757 --> 31:45.812 and my two sisters were born here at 31:45.812 --> 31:47.479 Badonstadt and so while the . 31:47.479 --> 31:49.590 Circumstances of being in Europe with 31:49.590 --> 31:51.701 not all the family available for this 31:51.701 --> 31:53.819 thing . I think it is very symbolic 31:54.390 --> 31:57.650 given my history here . So we talked 31:57.650 --> 32:00.140 about the legacy that uh you know I'm 32:00.140 --> 32:02.619 certainly , you know , in my father's 32:02.619 --> 32:05.290 footprints . um , my parents are both , 32:05.339 --> 32:07.339 you know , they're my inspiration , 32:07.459 --> 32:09.939 both immigrants from Europe as as as 32:09.939 --> 32:12.219 described and had to go through the the 32:12.219 --> 32:14.540 horrors of World War II , and they 32:14.540 --> 32:16.651 experienced many of the hardships and 32:16.651 --> 32:18.762 uh that the Nazi regime and , and the 32:18.762 --> 32:20.979 Soviets brought . My father's dad died 32:20.979 --> 32:23.146 in a concentration camp , you know , I 32:23.146 --> 32:25.257 got to go see that thing for the 80th 32:25.257 --> 32:27.423 anniversary here recently . My mom was 32:27.423 --> 32:29.146 kicked out and her family lost 32:29.146 --> 32:28.880 everything kicked out of the 32:28.880 --> 32:30.920 Sudetenland , right ? And then they 32:30.920 --> 32:33.142 were forced , you know , fortunately to 32:33.142 --> 32:35.142 go west and into Europe and wind up 32:35.142 --> 32:39.140 here in Stuttgart , um . So you know 32:39.140 --> 32:41.251 it's uh it's it's a great honor to be 32:41.251 --> 32:43.029 here , but my dad , when he did 32:43.029 --> 32:45.307 immigrate to the United States in 1953 , 32:45.307 --> 32:47.420 16 years old , right ? Look at Max is 32:47.420 --> 32:49.660 17 , almost 18 years old . My dad made 32:49.660 --> 32:51.493 that journey with one bag and an 32:51.493 --> 32:53.819 accordion , got on a ship , hit Ellis 32:53.819 --> 32:56.041 Island . I have no idea how he wound up 32:56.041 --> 32:58.369 in Coos Bay , uh , but at 16 years old , 32:58.420 --> 33:01.170 he did that , um , and then , you know , 33:01.250 --> 33:03.417 he , uh , never finished high school , 33:03.417 --> 33:05.472 enlisted in the army , and his first 33:05.472 --> 33:07.417 assignment brought him here . As I 33:07.417 --> 33:09.583 discussed as an MP , he would later go 33:09.583 --> 33:11.750 on to OCS and so he become an infantry 33:11.750 --> 33:13.917 officer , um , and then he would serve 33:13.917 --> 33:16.028 20 years and then he did more than 20 33:16.028 --> 33:17.972 as a DA civilian and so as he just 33:17.972 --> 33:20.139 General Donahue described my my family 33:20.410 --> 33:22.743 exemplifies what is possible in America . 33:23.369 --> 33:25.702 Um , and what drove me to serve , right ? 33:25.702 --> 33:27.813 One is those opportunities that I saw 33:27.813 --> 33:30.040 afforded to my family . I tremendous 33:30.040 --> 33:32.160 relationship with my parents , more 33:32.160 --> 33:34.160 particularly my dad , right , who I 33:34.160 --> 33:36.382 wanted to emulate , and he was a master 33:36.382 --> 33:38.438 of cliches . I won't share them with 33:38.438 --> 33:40.640 you . I loved him . There's a perfect 33:40.640 --> 33:42.473 balance of assertiveness and and 33:42.473 --> 33:44.829 encouragement , and I trusted him , uh , 33:44.839 --> 33:47.420 implicitly . And then he also 33:47.420 --> 33:49.476 understood the the profound value of 33:49.476 --> 33:51.589 hard work and sacrifice from enduring 33:51.589 --> 33:53.699 war as a kid , something that I was 33:53.699 --> 33:56.140 fortunate not to have faced , but he 33:56.140 --> 33:58.196 used athletics as a proving ground , 33:58.196 --> 34:00.196 encouraging me to compete early and 34:00.196 --> 34:02.029 embrace both physical and mental 34:02.029 --> 34:04.307 challenges and . It wasn't overbearing . 34:04.307 --> 34:06.418 He was always present and engaged and 34:06.418 --> 34:08.362 through sports , he taught me that 34:08.362 --> 34:10.640 genuine success comes from preparation , 34:10.640 --> 34:12.862 persistence and courage to push through 34:12.862 --> 34:15.084 adversity . And that's how he built the 34:15.084 --> 34:17.251 remarkable life for our family through 34:17.251 --> 34:19.307 determination and understanding that 34:19.307 --> 34:21.140 nothing worthwhile comes without 34:21.140 --> 34:23.362 sacrifice . And so to my parents for my 34:23.362 --> 34:25.698 first thanks is my parents , um , and 34:25.698 --> 34:27.809 then my sisters Debbie and Julie know 34:27.809 --> 34:30.530 you shaped who I became . Uh , long 34:30.530 --> 34:32.697 before I put on the uniform , you gave 34:32.697 --> 34:34.752 me the foundation of character , the 34:34.752 --> 34:36.808 example of resilience and unwavering 34:36.808 --> 34:38.641 belief that service to something 34:38.641 --> 34:40.863 greater than yourself is life's highest 34:40.863 --> 34:42.697 calling . Your love sustained me 34:42.697 --> 34:44.586 through every challenge , and I'm 34:44.586 --> 34:46.586 profoundly grateful . But beyond my 34:46.586 --> 34:49.060 father's , uh , example as a leader , I 34:49.060 --> 34:50.893 think the other thing is I had a 34:50.893 --> 34:53.060 misleading vision of what life is like 34:53.060 --> 34:55.282 as a soldier , you know , so throughout 34:55.282 --> 34:57.449 my childhood I was exposed to soldiers 34:57.449 --> 34:59.616 much like uh Max is on and McKenzie is 34:59.616 --> 35:01.838 on a on a daily basis . I spent most of 35:01.838 --> 35:03.671 my days at a gym in Heidelberg , 35:03.671 --> 35:05.969 Germany . Uh , the summers were , um , 35:06.020 --> 35:08.187 I'd spent all day there . I go with my 35:08.187 --> 35:10.298 dad to work , he dropped me off . And 35:10.298 --> 35:12.520 then uh he picked me up on , on the way 35:12.520 --> 35:14.520 home from work . I always admired , 35:14.520 --> 35:16.687 right , how soldiers had time for pick 35:16.687 --> 35:18.853 up games at lunch and after work and I 35:18.853 --> 35:21.187 thought about that and I was like , man , 35:21.187 --> 35:23.409 but Lee , does that that sound familiar 35:23.409 --> 35:23.360 with Lee spent all the time at the gym . 35:24.409 --> 35:27.959 Uh But , but I couldn't believe this 35:27.959 --> 35:29.848 idea , right , because the , uh , 35:29.848 --> 35:32.070 recruiting slogan back there was be all 35:32.070 --> 35:34.126 you could be that I could be all you 35:34.126 --> 35:36.292 could be , get a uniform and spend the 35:36.292 --> 35:38.626 days in the gym , uh , at least 2 times , 35:38.626 --> 35:37.949 right ? And I thought that was 35:37.949 --> 35:39.949 fascinating , but boy was I wrong . 35:39.949 --> 35:42.005 That is clearly not what the army is 35:42.005 --> 35:44.060 about . Now West Point initially was 35:44.060 --> 35:46.171 not in the plans . I was gonna attend 35:46.171 --> 35:48.227 the University of Arizona . I got an 35:48.227 --> 35:50.116 offer to walk on there , um , and 35:50.116 --> 35:52.116 everything was set and I walk on to 35:52.116 --> 35:54.338 play football and then I was gonna join 35:54.338 --> 35:56.505 ROTC . Um , because I knew I wanted to 35:56.505 --> 35:58.616 serve , but then one day I got a call 35:58.616 --> 36:00.782 from Coach Seymour , and uh , he asked 36:00.782 --> 36:03.005 if , hey , you're interested in playing 36:03.005 --> 36:04.727 football at West Point , and I 36:04.727 --> 36:06.949 explained that , uh , he explained that 36:06.949 --> 36:06.459 I , I would need to go to the prep 36:06.459 --> 36:08.649 school first before doing that . Now , 36:08.659 --> 36:10.770 naturally my parents were ecstatic at 36:10.770 --> 36:12.937 this idea of potentially going to West 36:12.937 --> 36:15.159 Point , you know , my mom , right , she 36:15.159 --> 36:17.159 sealed the deal . Um , they told me 36:17.159 --> 36:19.159 they were saved a bunch of money to 36:19.159 --> 36:21.381 send me to college and that , uh . With 36:21.381 --> 36:23.437 that money , you know , because they 36:23.437 --> 36:25.603 could actually save that for invest it 36:25.603 --> 36:27.770 for a period of time , I could get the 36:27.770 --> 36:29.937 car of my choice . And I looked at her 36:29.937 --> 36:29.800 and I said Ferrari , and she said , 36:29.889 --> 36:32.520 yeah , and I said that was it , um , 36:32.570 --> 36:34.626 but we clear both had no idea what a 36:34.626 --> 36:36.792 Ferrari cost at that point in time . I 36:36.792 --> 36:39.070 did get a cool car , but , uh , that's , 36:39.070 --> 36:41.237 that's another story . So I went and I 36:41.237 --> 36:43.237 attended the prep school . I gained 36:43.237 --> 36:45.403 acceptance of West Point and I admit , 36:45.403 --> 36:45.290 and I doubted whether I could get 36:45.290 --> 36:47.290 through the prep school , let alone 36:47.290 --> 36:49.457 West Point . There's a lot of talented 36:49.457 --> 36:51.623 people out there . But I knew I wanted 36:51.623 --> 36:54.209 to serve . A nation that had given so 36:54.209 --> 36:57.530 much . The one weekend you come up to 36:57.530 --> 36:59.697 West Point from the prep school , then 36:59.697 --> 37:01.586 it was at a different location in 37:01.586 --> 37:03.752 Jersey . You spend a week , um , after 37:03.752 --> 37:05.919 that experience because I'd never even 37:05.919 --> 37:07.919 seen West Point . That was it . The 37:07.919 --> 37:09.974 deal was sealed for me . I went back 37:09.974 --> 37:11.863 and I was focused , um , and then 37:11.863 --> 37:14.030 ultimately I was able to make it to to 37:14.030 --> 37:15.752 West Point graduate , but upon 37:15.752 --> 37:17.752 graduation , you know , I literally 37:17.752 --> 37:17.409 approached my career one assignment at 37:17.409 --> 37:19.576 the time , you know , whether it's get 37:19.576 --> 37:21.520 through my 5 year commitment , get 37:21.520 --> 37:23.798 through grad school , get through CGSE . 37:23.798 --> 37:25.965 But at some point I realized I hit the 37:25.965 --> 37:27.853 halfway point and I might as well 37:27.853 --> 37:31.189 continue on . But I had no aspirations 37:31.189 --> 37:33.411 of ever commanding at a certain level . 37:33.411 --> 37:35.467 It was literally one job at a time , 37:35.467 --> 37:37.467 and I was never one of the anointed 37:37.467 --> 37:37.070 ones . I was never one of the 37:37.070 --> 37:39.669 privileged ones uh to get special favor . 37:39.790 --> 37:41.623 I just simply applied what I had 37:41.623 --> 37:43.734 learned playing sports , and that was 37:43.734 --> 37:46.068 number one is , is be coachable , right ? 37:46.068 --> 37:48.179 Listen to your coach , listen to your 37:48.179 --> 37:50.234 boss , and , and do what's asked and 37:50.234 --> 37:52.457 continue to improve . Number 2 was be a 37:52.457 --> 37:54.679 good teammate , which means I got to be 37:54.679 --> 37:56.346 accountable for myself , also 37:56.346 --> 37:58.346 accountable for for my teammates as 37:58.346 --> 38:00.512 well . The one thing I learned through 38:00.512 --> 37:59.939 my father , right , is the one 37:59.939 --> 38:02.300 intangible that I can always do is that 38:02.300 --> 38:04.467 regardless of what my coach told me or 38:04.467 --> 38:06.578 what was going on with my teammates , 38:06.578 --> 38:08.578 if I had to , I just could just out 38:08.578 --> 38:10.744 hustle people , right , because , uh , 38:10.744 --> 38:12.689 and , and that was my approach and 38:12.689 --> 38:14.856 there's there's good and bad that that 38:14.856 --> 38:16.744 does come with that . But while I 38:16.744 --> 38:18.911 experienced the doubts along the way . 38:18.911 --> 38:21.133 And nearly submitted my resignation one 38:21.133 --> 38:23.189 time , which a soldier saved me from 38:23.189 --> 38:25.300 doing . That all changed in 2001 with 38:25.300 --> 38:27.467 the global war on terror . So I jumped 38:27.467 --> 38:29.689 on , committed to the up tempo that the 38:29.689 --> 38:31.800 army had , and I had the privilege of 38:31.800 --> 38:33.911 leading soldiers in combat . Before I 38:33.911 --> 38:36.022 knew it , I was a brigadier general . 38:36.022 --> 38:37.939 Um , pretty amazing . So it's a 38:37.939 --> 38:40.050 whirlwind with the highest of highs , 38:40.050 --> 38:42.500 the heartbreaking lows , and along the 38:42.500 --> 38:44.333 way I met extraordinary people , 38:44.333 --> 38:46.167 witnessed incredible bravery and 38:46.167 --> 38:48.278 tackled the most challenging problems 38:48.278 --> 38:50.500 that others were either unwilling to do 38:50.500 --> 38:54.050 or believed impossible to solve . So 38:54.050 --> 38:56.272 over my course , I've clearly learned a 38:56.272 --> 38:58.383 few things . I want to talk about two 38:58.383 --> 39:00.606 topics . One is sacrifice and the other 39:00.606 --> 39:02.383 is leadership . You know , when 39:02.383 --> 39:04.439 soldiers down the uniform and people 39:04.439 --> 39:06.439 talk about sacrifice , I think what 39:06.439 --> 39:06.419 they do is they think it's missing 39:06.419 --> 39:08.475 weekends foregoing family gatherings 39:08.475 --> 39:10.308 and enduring uncomfortable field 39:10.308 --> 39:12.530 conditions , but years of service along 39:12.530 --> 39:14.620 extraordinary soldiers has taught me 39:14.620 --> 39:16.731 that understanding that understanding 39:16.731 --> 39:18.898 merely scratches the surface of a much 39:18.898 --> 39:21.580 deeper truth . Genuine sacrifice , the 39:21.580 --> 39:23.636 kind that defines leaders and shapes 39:23.636 --> 39:26.189 legacies , cost you something precious . 39:26.820 --> 39:29.042 It demands uh pieces of yourself you'll 39:29.042 --> 39:32.879 never fully reclaim . A 39:32.879 --> 39:34.990 sacrifice that costs nothing holds no 39:34.990 --> 39:38.229 value . Through the years though , I've 39:38.229 --> 39:40.340 learned that a leader's measure isn't 39:40.340 --> 39:42.562 found in what they're willing to gain . 39:42.562 --> 39:44.840 But what they're prepared to surrender . 39:46.090 --> 39:48.580 So I've witnessed young soldiers . 39:50.780 --> 39:52.947 sacrifice their own safety , sometimes 39:52.947 --> 39:54.780 their own lives for their battle 39:54.780 --> 39:58.050 buddies . See seasoned officers forfeit 39:58.050 --> 40:00.272 their career advancement to ensure that 40:00.272 --> 40:02.439 their units receive proper resources , 40:02.689 --> 40:05.250 and those exemplars demonstrated that 40:05.250 --> 40:07.810 true sacrifice transforms both the 40:07.810 --> 40:10.090 giver and the receiver , creating bonds 40:10.090 --> 40:11.923 stronger than blood and purposes 40:11.923 --> 40:14.439 greater than self . So what did I learn 40:14.439 --> 40:16.689 about leadership ? It's been the 40:16.689 --> 40:19.330 privilege of a lifetime . It's most 40:19.330 --> 40:21.274 demanding calling that you'll ever 40:21.274 --> 40:22.774 answer both personally and 40:22.774 --> 40:24.830 professionally , and you must invest 40:24.830 --> 40:27.770 your entire self in the endeavor . And 40:27.770 --> 40:30.370 then uh the foundation is really 40:30.370 --> 40:32.481 service before self , right ? Some of 40:32.481 --> 40:34.399 these are pretty obvious . Every 40:34.399 --> 40:36.566 decision I ever made was really guided 40:36.566 --> 40:38.177 by three pillars , one , the 40:38.177 --> 40:40.121 Constitution . Our mission and our 40:40.121 --> 40:42.689 people and the the principle eliminates 40:42.689 --> 40:44.633 self-serving choices and creates a 40:44.633 --> 40:46.467 foundation for everything else . 40:46.467 --> 40:48.810 Effective leaders don't base decisions 40:48.810 --> 40:51.120 on personal consequences or popularity , 40:51.570 --> 40:53.626 and effective leaders make decisions 40:53.626 --> 40:55.848 that benefit the organization even when 40:55.848 --> 40:58.969 unpopular . But the practice of 40:58.969 --> 41:01.929 leadership requires courage . Requires 41:01.929 --> 41:04.239 moral courage in approaching problems 41:04.530 --> 41:07.070 and people . You don't avoid risk , you 41:07.070 --> 41:09.070 manage it , you remove it from your 41:09.070 --> 41:11.292 subordinates , and you take it on . You 41:11.292 --> 41:13.403 focus on solving the most challenging 41:13.403 --> 41:15.514 or important problems for your unit . 41:15.514 --> 41:17.626 And you tell people what they need to 41:17.626 --> 41:19.848 hear , not what they want to hear . You 41:19.848 --> 41:22.070 know , General Powell said it best once 41:22.070 --> 41:24.126 when he said , don't take counsel of 41:24.126 --> 41:26.181 your fears or naysayers . Successful 41:26.181 --> 41:28.348 organizations are not built on cowards 41:28.348 --> 41:30.949 or cynics . The other piece is that the 41:30.949 --> 41:33.949 truth about leadership is authenticity 41:33.949 --> 41:36.239 does matter . And so people can lead 41:36.239 --> 41:38.350 differently . I've seen it . They can 41:38.350 --> 41:40.350 remain effective , provided they're 41:40.350 --> 41:42.572 authentic and engaged and so leadership 41:42.572 --> 41:44.795 is not something that's bestowed , it's 41:44.795 --> 41:44.159 something that's earned every single 41:44.159 --> 41:46.560 day . And you can also lead from 41:46.560 --> 41:48.782 wherever you sit . You don't have to be 41:48.782 --> 41:50.838 in command of anything , right ? You 41:50.838 --> 41:53.004 can lead from whatever position you're 41:53.004 --> 41:55.227 in , you just have to choose to do so . 41:55.227 --> 41:57.227 And perhaps the most profound truth 41:57.227 --> 41:59.338 that I've learned is that there is no 41:59.338 --> 42:01.504 greater privilege than being entrusted 42:01.504 --> 42:01.439 with someone else's son or daughter . 42:02.719 --> 42:04.608 Every soldier who served under my 42:04.608 --> 42:06.830 command was someone's child . Someone's 42:06.830 --> 42:08.941 pride and someone's future , and that 42:08.941 --> 42:11.179 sacred trust that we have to develop 42:11.179 --> 42:13.580 them , care for them , and bring out 42:13.580 --> 42:15.636 their best while keeping them safe . 42:15.979 --> 42:17.923 That's what made every challenge , 42:17.923 --> 42:19.812 every sleepless night , and every 42:19.812 --> 42:22.709 difficult decision worthwhile . Now I 42:22.709 --> 42:25.060 transitioned to to the thanks for those 42:25.060 --> 42:26.893 people that made it possible . I 42:26.893 --> 42:28.893 discussed my parents . I won't name 42:28.893 --> 42:30.949 individuals , I'll reach out to them 42:31.790 --> 42:34.012 individually and let them know how much 42:34.012 --> 42:36.012 they mean to me . We start with the 42:36.012 --> 42:37.957 American soldier , and I would say 42:37.957 --> 42:39.901 that's also true for all the other 42:39.901 --> 42:42.068 service members that I've got to serve 42:42.068 --> 42:44.179 with here in this headquarters . They 42:44.179 --> 42:46.234 represent every walk of life , and I 42:46.234 --> 42:48.179 always endeavor to know as much as 42:48.179 --> 42:50.179 possible . I want to understand why 42:50.179 --> 42:52.346 they serve , who inspires them , their 42:52.346 --> 42:54.346 motivation , and those who make the 42:54.346 --> 42:54.199 commitment and invest in the effort , 42:54.280 --> 42:56.370 they're truly inspirational . I 42:56.370 --> 42:58.648 witnessed injured soldiers fight their . 42:58.909 --> 43:01.100 A way to return to their comrades and 43:01.100 --> 43:03.211 even those so severely wounded , they 43:03.211 --> 43:05.378 know that they would never be retained 43:05.378 --> 43:07.600 in the military . And I've watched them 43:07.600 --> 43:09.767 lose teammates and return to the fight 43:09.767 --> 43:11.767 in 72 hours , more professional and 43:11.767 --> 43:13.989 focused than ever . Our NCO corps , the 43:13.989 --> 43:16.044 MVA of every military in the world , 43:16.409 --> 43:18.465 they welcome you in , they teach you 43:18.465 --> 43:20.242 the profession , they model the 43:20.242 --> 43:22.409 behavior aligned with the army ethic , 43:22.409 --> 43:24.465 and they arrive early , performing , 43:24.465 --> 43:26.520 demanding work to set conditions for 43:26.520 --> 43:28.742 success , and they stay late , ensuring 43:28.742 --> 43:30.965 the soldiers and equipment are prepared 43:30.965 --> 43:33.020 to repeat that cycle . And then they 43:33.020 --> 43:34.965 forge those inseparable bonds with 43:34.965 --> 43:37.076 their soldiers . I don't want to make 43:37.076 --> 43:36.879 sure I want to make sure that I also 43:36.879 --> 43:38.768 mention the civilian workforce as 43:38.768 --> 43:40.879 General Donahue noted , I've served a 43:40.879 --> 43:42.768 number of times in civilian heavy 43:42.768 --> 43:44.990 organizations . Army Corps of Engineers 43:44.990 --> 43:47.046 is one of those , right ? There's no 43:47.046 --> 43:48.990 and this headquarters is another . 43:48.990 --> 43:51.212 There is no shortage of inspiration and 43:51.212 --> 43:53.323 sacrifice in the civilian workforce , 43:53.323 --> 43:55.546 and I appreciate everything that you do 43:55.546 --> 43:57.546 on a daily basis and all the things 43:57.546 --> 43:59.879 that you've given me and made me better . 44:00.870 --> 44:02.759 Then there are my peers and close 44:02.759 --> 44:04.814 friends . I'm in this room today who 44:04.814 --> 44:07.037 served as sounding boards that provided 44:07.037 --> 44:09.203 course correction when needed . That's 44:09.203 --> 44:11.259 happened plenty . And then during my 44:11.259 --> 44:11.229 challenging periods throughout my 44:11.229 --> 44:13.530 career , they were there . And I 44:13.530 --> 44:15.808 appreciate them immediately responding , 44:15.889 --> 44:18.056 right , and just listening to me or or 44:18.056 --> 44:20.167 just being there for , for someone to 44:20.167 --> 44:22.278 bounce ideas off of . And to them , I 44:22.278 --> 44:24.445 apologize for being distant , but look 44:24.445 --> 44:26.556 forward to reconnecting . And then so 44:26.556 --> 44:28.833 thank you to all those that carried me . 44:28.833 --> 44:31.000 Taught me the fundamentals , believed 44:31.000 --> 44:33.320 in me , right ? You make our army the 44:33.320 --> 44:35.399 finest in the world . And then there 44:35.399 --> 44:37.510 are those senior leaders who invested 44:37.510 --> 44:39.566 in me , believed in me and advocated 44:39.566 --> 44:41.677 for me and supporting me through both 44:41.677 --> 44:44.570 triumphs and setbacks . What you gave 44:45.070 --> 44:47.181 has never been forgotten , and I made 44:47.181 --> 44:49.389 it a daily mission to share what you 44:49.389 --> 44:52.459 gave me . You made me better . Along 44:52.459 --> 44:54.626 with the organizations I was fortunate 44:54.626 --> 44:57.840 enough to lead . Now to the family that 44:57.840 --> 44:59.840 supported me , and this is where it 44:59.840 --> 45:01.951 gets a little more difficult . So you 45:01.951 --> 45:04.173 got to keep a straight face . In fact , 45:04.173 --> 45:07.889 I'll try not to look at you . But I'll 45:07.889 --> 45:10.056 start with uh Ken and Jeannie K and my 45:10.056 --> 45:13.020 my in-laws . You know , some of my 45:13.020 --> 45:15.209 staunchest supporters , I , I thank 45:15.209 --> 45:17.265 them for encouraging Casey , uh , to 45:17.265 --> 45:19.429 marry me . And more importantly for 45:19.429 --> 45:21.651 embracing me and , and treating me like 45:21.651 --> 45:23.762 one of your own children , and thanks 45:23.762 --> 45:25.985 for your example of selfless commitment 45:25.985 --> 45:28.096 to , to our family . Uh , you've been 45:28.096 --> 45:30.096 there every step of the way for the 45:30.096 --> 45:32.207 past 25 years . Right now to McKenzie 45:32.207 --> 45:34.429 and Max . You know , I used to tell you 45:34.429 --> 45:36.651 that I understood your experience . You 45:36.651 --> 45:38.818 know , I , I lived through my father's 45:38.818 --> 45:40.873 two deployments to Vietnam . I still 45:40.873 --> 45:43.040 remember at Schofield Barracks someday 45:43.040 --> 45:45.151 that kids would never show back up on 45:45.151 --> 45:46.873 the block , and I never really 45:46.873 --> 45:48.762 understood why . I , I eventually 45:48.762 --> 45:52.090 figured it out . Something all too 45:52.090 --> 45:54.257 common in places like Fort Hood , uh , 45:54.257 --> 45:56.368 for our seven years that were there . 45:56.370 --> 45:58.929 But I was wrong . Your experience is 45:58.929 --> 46:01.151 far more demanding than mine ever was . 46:02.070 --> 46:05.750 You take a 2016 to 2021 , we 46:05.750 --> 46:08.699 moved into seven different homes , uh , 46:08.709 --> 46:10.931 too many schools forcing you to rebuild 46:10.931 --> 46:13.820 relationships over and over again . You 46:13.820 --> 46:16.100 endured 5 deployments and the time in 46:16.100 --> 46:18.060 between offered no reprieve , just 46:18.060 --> 46:20.282 remarkable just preparation in the next 46:20.282 --> 46:22.504 goodbye , and through it all you became 46:22.504 --> 46:24.504 remarkable young people , excellent 46:24.504 --> 46:26.560 athletes , intelligent , resilient . 46:28.879 --> 46:31.389 And fiercely independent , and I carry 46:31.389 --> 46:33.556 the weight of every missed milestone , 46:33.556 --> 46:35.590 but I need you to know . That I've 46:35.590 --> 46:37.590 never been more proud of who you've 46:37.590 --> 46:40.389 become , and I love both . I love you 46:40.389 --> 46:42.669 both beyond measure . General Donahue 46:42.669 --> 46:44.558 mentioned what McKenzie's working 46:44.558 --> 46:46.836 towards , right ? And I'm proud of you , 46:46.836 --> 46:49.169 right ? Max did just come back from his , 46:49.169 --> 46:51.225 uh his joint tour , uh , back in the 46:51.225 --> 46:53.447 states . He did go to the West Point in 46:53.447 --> 46:55.336 the Naval Academy , but he's also 46:55.336 --> 46:57.391 looking at RTC options . I won't put 46:57.391 --> 46:59.502 any pressure on you , but as you come 46:59.502 --> 47:01.558 to the reception for any of you that 47:01.558 --> 47:03.891 got input , Max is , he's all ears , so . 47:03.891 --> 47:06.058 All right , so I set all that up now . 47:06.058 --> 47:08.169 I gotta go , gotta go to Casey . Um , 47:08.780 --> 47:11.310 You know , uh , Casey recognized I was 47:11.310 --> 47:14.139 a keeper from from day one . Um , and , 47:14.179 --> 47:16.290 and I say that because uh she , the , 47:16.290 --> 47:18.623 the next day she invited me out to , uh , 47:18.623 --> 47:20.623 her parents' home . Um , and it was 47:20.623 --> 47:22.901 easy because they loved me immediately , 47:22.901 --> 47:24.957 which , uh , which seemed impossible 47:24.957 --> 47:27.290 because they , it is a Navy family . Uh , 47:27.290 --> 47:29.512 but those who know Casey appreciate her 47:29.512 --> 47:31.512 quick wit and remarkable ability to 47:31.512 --> 47:33.457 befriend befriend strangers within 47:33.457 --> 47:35.457 minutes , right ? She also has this 47:35.457 --> 47:37.568 knack for revisionist history , which 47:37.568 --> 47:39.623 I've been the subject of , uh , many 47:39.623 --> 47:43.270 times , too many times . But she's 47:43.270 --> 47:46.020 uh You know , generous and giving 47:46.020 --> 47:47.964 person , right ? I and on downtown 47:47.964 --> 47:50.298 where we're traveling or downtown trips , 47:50.379 --> 47:52.435 right ? I frequently have to go find 47:52.435 --> 47:54.546 where she's wandered off to , right ? 47:54.546 --> 47:56.601 And , and she and I , I always enjoy 47:56.601 --> 47:58.768 watching , uh , it's not to a boba tea 47:58.768 --> 48:00.490 place either , right ? And and 48:00.490 --> 48:02.546 typically what it is is you have all 48:02.546 --> 48:02.540 the street vendors out there , you have 48:02.540 --> 48:04.762 those folks in need , right ? I'll I'll 48:04.762 --> 48:06.651 find Casey standing in front of a 48:06.651 --> 48:08.762 street vendor just listening to music 48:08.762 --> 48:11.096 and then dumping money in there , right ? 48:11.096 --> 48:11.030 She's genuinely interested . Right , 48:11.139 --> 48:13.083 the , the folks that are in need , 48:13.083 --> 48:15.139 Casey does the same thing . She goes 48:15.139 --> 48:17.306 over and she talks to him , right ? It 48:17.306 --> 48:19.472 is an amazing gift that she has , um . 48:20.469 --> 48:22.525 And as I say that she's probably the 48:22.525 --> 48:24.636 most generous person , uh , that I've 48:24.636 --> 48:26.858 ever met and understand sacrifice . She 48:26.858 --> 48:28.969 abandoned her own career . I won't go 48:28.969 --> 48:30.802 in any details um about that and 48:30.802 --> 48:32.969 General Donahue , there's two examples 48:32.969 --> 48:35.136 that I do want to share with you . One 48:35.136 --> 48:37.136 is about sacrifice and one is about 48:37.136 --> 48:39.639 love . After that first deployment or 48:39.639 --> 48:41.861 during that first deployment , the army 48:41.861 --> 48:44.028 went through a massive restructuring . 48:44.028 --> 48:46.139 They basically eliminated most of the 48:46.139 --> 48:46.030 engineer force structure . My next job 48:46.030 --> 48:48.689 was to , our opportunity was hopefully 48:48.689 --> 48:50.911 battalion command , and they got rid of 48:50.911 --> 48:53.133 most of the battalions . So I looked at 48:53.133 --> 48:55.245 other opportunities . So I applied to 48:55.245 --> 48:57.078 West Point to get a PhD and be a 48:57.078 --> 48:59.245 permanent professor . Um , I made it . 48:59.245 --> 49:01.356 I got selected . We sold our house in 49:01.356 --> 49:03.411 Coppers Cove . We bought a brand new 49:03.411 --> 49:05.411 house in Austin , Texas , 5 minutes 49:05.411 --> 49:07.633 from town Lake . Couldn't pick a better 49:07.633 --> 49:10.560 location in Tarrytown . Um , And then I 49:10.560 --> 49:12.919 got asked to go back and deploy the BCT 49:12.919 --> 49:15.030 commander said , Hey , you want to be 49:15.030 --> 49:17.197 the deputy commander . And Casey could 49:17.197 --> 49:19.252 tell something wasn't right , and uh 49:19.252 --> 49:22.040 she said . You really don't want to go 49:22.040 --> 49:24.439 be a . A professor 49:33.889 --> 49:35.111 I said you're right . 49:40.189 --> 49:42.560 She said go be with her friends . The 49:46.030 --> 49:48.197 Couple of weeks later , I left for the 49:48.197 --> 49:50.141 surge deployment . Put Casey in an 49:50.141 --> 49:52.560 apartment ? 30 days later , she's 49:52.560 --> 49:56.379 pregnant with Max . So many 49:56.379 --> 50:00.320 don't understand . Why is she worthy ? 50:02.260 --> 50:05.090 Abandoned Right , a much more 50:05.090 --> 50:08.050 comfortable life . As I said before , 50:09.310 --> 50:11.739 True sacrifice cost you something 50:11.739 --> 50:14.017 precious , in case you understood that . 50:14.770 --> 50:16.714 General Donahue talked about the 5 50:16.714 --> 50:18.881 November thing , right ? That was uh . 50:19.449 --> 50:21.671 Obviously something I'll never forget . 50:22.689 --> 50:25.070 But the reality is she was in Chicago 50:25.070 --> 50:27.959 working at the time . And uh 50:29.020 --> 50:31.076 So I was dealing with everything . I 50:31.076 --> 50:33.020 was in the hospital , I watched my 50:33.020 --> 50:33.020 shoulders wheeled in . I got , I 50:33.020 --> 50:35.310 watched my shoulders in surgery . By 50:35.310 --> 50:37.590 the time before 5 o'clock , she was 50:37.590 --> 50:39.757 already back from Chicago . She got on 50:39.757 --> 50:42.350 a plane , got out there . And uh I 50:42.350 --> 50:44.294 remember that night , one of the 4 50:44.294 --> 50:46.461 soldiers that died was married and had 50:46.461 --> 50:48.517 kids . So I had to go participate in 50:48.517 --> 50:50.628 the notification process and I walked 50:50.628 --> 50:53.989 in there and a young wife and two kids , 50:54.159 --> 50:56.909 furniture for uh made a cardboard , 50:57.110 --> 50:59.221 right , the mattresses on the floor . 50:59.360 --> 51:01.304 There was nothing , nothing in the 51:01.304 --> 51:03.304 kitchen . The next day , because we 51:03.304 --> 51:05.360 obviously got plenty of help , Casey 51:05.360 --> 51:07.527 already had everything organized . The 51:07.527 --> 51:09.693 next day there was food streaming into 51:09.693 --> 51:11.693 the headquarters . There was a food 51:11.693 --> 51:13.916 train that was lined up and people were 51:13.916 --> 51:16.082 delivering food to injured soldiers in 51:16.082 --> 51:18.249 the hospital , um , families that were 51:18.249 --> 51:20.416 inbound . It was unbelievable to see , 51:20.416 --> 51:22.582 and that did not last just a couple of 51:22.582 --> 51:22.149 days . That went on for a long period 51:22.149 --> 51:26.040 of time . And the other thing is that 51:26.040 --> 51:27.984 she has a very generous network of 51:27.984 --> 51:29.984 friends , you know , we don't raise 51:29.984 --> 51:31.984 money , but you get a lot of people 51:31.984 --> 51:33.818 that do give you donations . She 51:33.818 --> 51:35.873 created another problem at Fort Hood 51:35.873 --> 51:37.818 and no one had ever seen that much 51:37.818 --> 51:39.984 money get come in and get offered to a 51:39.984 --> 51:42.096 to a single unit . Um , we worked our 51:42.096 --> 51:44.318 way through that , um , obviously , but 51:44.318 --> 51:46.484 then I went and deployed 45 days later 51:46.484 --> 51:46.399 and through the course of that 51:46.399 --> 51:49.280 deployment I lost another 14 soldiers 51:49.280 --> 51:52.340 and numerous others injured . Casey met 51:52.340 --> 51:54.173 every one of them that came back 51:54.173 --> 51:56.340 through Fort Hood . More importantly , 51:56.340 --> 51:58.562 she was the one that did all the work , 51:58.562 --> 52:00.729 right , to set up what we uh uh put on 52:00.729 --> 52:03.020 was a memorial service upon 52:03.020 --> 52:05.242 redeployment and a ball that followed . 52:05.242 --> 52:07.379 All of that was cost free to those 52:07.379 --> 52:09.546 families that we brought in , and they 52:09.546 --> 52:11.712 brought them in from Fort Lewis , Fort 52:11.712 --> 52:11.699 Bragg , Fort Drum because they weren't 52:11.699 --> 52:14.510 all stationed at Fort Hood . So this is 52:14.510 --> 52:16.566 what unconditional love looks like , 52:16.566 --> 52:18.732 love that serves without expectation , 52:19.110 --> 52:23.050 love that gives without limit . So I've 52:23.050 --> 52:24.828 been more of a recipient than a 52:24.828 --> 52:27.050 contributor over the years , and I know 52:27.050 --> 52:29.217 a thank you is inadequate , but I , as 52:29.217 --> 52:31.439 so many others remain indebted to you . 52:31.540 --> 52:33.707 You personally touched countless lives 52:33.707 --> 52:35.949 and inspired . All who witness your 52:35.949 --> 52:38.550 selflessness . To include me . 52:39.959 --> 52:42.181 All right , so taking off the uniform , 52:42.181 --> 52:45.010 obviously it's gonna be difficult . But 52:45.010 --> 52:47.232 inevitable for us all , and as the song 52:47.232 --> 52:49.454 goes that we'll sing here shortly , the 52:49.454 --> 52:51.566 army goes rolling along , and there's 52:51.566 --> 52:53.677 abundant talent that's following . So 52:53.677 --> 52:55.510 we'll stay in Germany as General 52:55.510 --> 52:57.732 Donahue noted , Matt get Max through at 52:57.732 --> 53:00.066 least his last year of high school . Um , 53:00.066 --> 53:02.232 Max said he wants to see me sporting a 53:02.232 --> 53:04.620 modern mullet ASAP . Alright , um , he 53:04.620 --> 53:06.620 wants me to get a sleeve tattoo . I 53:06.620 --> 53:08.731 don't know about that , right , but I 53:08.731 --> 53:10.509 told him today , I , I don't be 53:10.509 --> 53:12.676 surprised . You just find me as a long 53:12.676 --> 53:12.300 term substitute inside the high school 53:12.300 --> 53:15.679 to keep an eye on him . I , I'm about 53:15.679 --> 53:17.790 to close , you know , so , you know , 53:17.790 --> 53:19.901 there's a lot of things I'll miss the 53:19.901 --> 53:21.901 people , there's so much talent and 53:21.901 --> 53:23.790 commitment , being part of a team 53:23.790 --> 53:26.012 that's committed to solving challenging 53:26.012 --> 53:28.235 problems . That gives you purpose , you 53:28.235 --> 53:30.879 know , the shared uh hardship and the 53:30.879 --> 53:32.935 associated sense of accomplishment , 53:33.120 --> 53:35.231 you know , for some odd reason , some 53:35.231 --> 53:37.231 of you will understand this already 53:37.231 --> 53:39.290 misleading soldiers in combat . You 53:39.290 --> 53:41.512 know , the military , we pray for peace 53:41.512 --> 53:43.512 more than those that don't wear the 53:43.512 --> 53:45.512 uniform . However , there's a war , 53:45.512 --> 53:47.623 right , you want to be a part of it . 53:47.623 --> 53:49.734 You want to contribute , do your part 53:49.734 --> 53:51.846 and bring your soldiers home . And so 53:51.846 --> 53:53.623 not participating feels like an 53:53.623 --> 53:55.846 investing effort and practice and never 53:55.846 --> 53:57.957 playing in a game . So you never feel 53:57.957 --> 54:00.068 more alive than outside the wire with 54:00.068 --> 54:02.179 your soldiers in harm's way . But the 54:02.179 --> 54:04.290 the journeys debated much and I carry 54:04.290 --> 54:06.457 some regret as I depart , but I remain 54:06.457 --> 54:08.234 optimistic . I'll leave with my 54:08.234 --> 54:10.457 character intact . I leave known that I 54:10.457 --> 54:12.679 contributed my best to develop the next 54:12.679 --> 54:14.901 generation , leaving every organization 54:14.901 --> 54:16.957 I touched in a much better place and 54:16.957 --> 54:19.234 more importantly , my family is intact . 54:21.000 --> 54:23.229 So to the army and the UCO staff and 54:23.229 --> 54:25.451 all those that believed and invested in 54:25.451 --> 54:27.507 me , thanks for making me who I am . 54:28.179 --> 54:30.401 Thanks for all those for allowing me to 54:30.401 --> 54:32.512 serve , to be part of the institution 54:32.512 --> 54:34.735 that gave my family so much . It's been 54:34.735 --> 54:36.623 a privilege of a lifetime to lead 54:36.623 --> 54:38.623 America's sons and daughters and to 54:38.623 --> 54:40.790 those younger service members that are 54:40.790 --> 54:42.901 out there , right , or those that are 54:42.901 --> 54:45.235 thinking right about serving . You know , 54:45.235 --> 54:47.123 if you look out there's plenty of 54:47.123 --> 54:49.346 examples . My family is just just one . 54:49.750 --> 54:51.750 And a living proof that anything is 54:51.750 --> 54:54.149 possible in the military . The army 54:54.149 --> 54:56.260 provides unparalleled opportunities , 54:56.260 --> 54:58.593 the resource and support systems exists , 54:58.750 --> 55:00.528 and you'll find engaged leaders 55:00.528 --> 55:02.528 committed to helping you reach your 55:02.528 --> 55:04.639 fullest potential . Take advantage of 55:04.639 --> 55:06.694 what the institution offers . It can 55:06.694 --> 55:08.639 transform not just your life , but 55:08.639 --> 55:10.750 generations of your family . So thank 55:10.750 --> 55:12.861 you all . May God bless you , and may 55:12.861 --> 55:13.972 God bless America . 55:33.870 --> 55:36.037 Thank you Major General Andriesiak and 55:36.037 --> 55:38.949 congratulations . Before concluding , 55:39.110 --> 55:41.277 we would like to take this opportunity 55:41.277 --> 55:43.277 to thank the United States European 55:43.277 --> 55:45.499 Command Honor Guard , the Joint Service 55:45.499 --> 55:47.669 Brass Quintet , and Chaplain Nevin for 55:47.669 --> 55:49.959 making this a memorable event for Major 55:49.959 --> 55:51.959 General Andriesiak and his family . 55:52.750 --> 55:54.750 Please stand for the playing of the 55:54.750 --> 55:56.694 Army song and the departure of the 55:56.694 --> 55:56.350 official party . 56:17.520 --> 56:18.520 Uh 57:06.399 --> 57:08.510 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 57:08.510 --> 57:10.732 today's ceremony . The Andriesia family 57:10.732 --> 57:12.510 welcomes you to join them for a 57:12.510 --> 57:14.566 reception in the commander's mess at 57:14.566 --> 57:16.677 the headquarters building . Thank you 57:16.677 --> 57:18.899 for attending and have a great European 57:18.899 --> 57:18.639 Command Day .