Four Army Reserve soldiers were honored for decades of service during a retirement ceremony at the 79th Sustainment Support Command Headquarters on the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Saturday, April 6. About 50 guests including family and friends of the retirees along with more than 100 active and retired warrior–citizens were in attendance.
The honored retirees included Lt. Col. Gilbert Martin of the 915th Contract Support Battalion, Sgt. Maj. Richard Theodore of the 304th Sustainment Brigade, Sgt. 1st Class Angela Haslip-Farris, HHD, of the 79th Sustainment Support Command and Staff Sgt. Ernesto Espinoza of the 950th Combat Support Maintenance Company. The ceremony was hosted by Col. Peggy Stradford. Councilman Dean Grose was also in attendance.
Following in his family’s tradition, Lt. Col. Gilbert Martin served for 37 years combined in the Army, National Guard and Army Reserves. His father, mother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, grandfathers , uncles and an aunt all served in the armed forces. “We are a very patriotic family,” he said.
One of LTC Martin’s proudest moments was being deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 to 2003. “I appreciate America’s freedom and was defending the Constitution,” he said. “I gained such an appreciation for America’s way of life.”
LTC Martin began his military career in 1975 as a Private E-1. He graduated from Cal State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1982 and earned his juris doctorate degree in 1988 from Western State University in Fullerton. His numerous awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals.
Upon retirement, LTC Martin will work as a civilian resource management officer for the 79th SSC. He is happily married to wife, Julia, and has two daughters, Brandi and Courtney.
Sgt. Maj. Richard Theodore was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and enlisted in the Marines in 1973, completing his infantry training at Camp Pendleton. After his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1977, he went to college for two years, moving to California. In 1980 he joined the Army Reserves as a finance specialist. One of his proudest and memorable times was when he was deployed to the border of Jordan and Iraq in 2003, just prior to the Gulf War where he served as support to Special Forces. He served a total of 36 years combined in the Marines and Army Reserves.
SGM Theodore’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 2 gold oak leaf clusters, the Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary) and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Upon his retirement, SGM Theodore is planning a vacation to Miami Beach, and plans to look for employment or pursue volunteer work. He lives with his wife, Silvia, in Palmdale, and has two sons, Russell, who is also in the Army Reserves, and Marqus.
Sgt. 1st Class Angela Haslip-Farris was born and raised in Los Angeles, and was recruited into the Army after completing high school. After serving 4 years active duty, she joined the Army Reserves, serving a total of 32 years in the military. She served in training and instruction for 15 years, and said she was most proud of how she trained more than 1,000 soldiers. “It’s been a privilege to serve in the military,” she said. “I’m proudest about just wearing the uniform.”
SFC Haslip-Farris awards include the Army Commendation Medal (6th award), the Army Achievement Medal (4th award), National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon. She has a bachelor’s degree in management and has been employed for the last 22 years in human resources for Fed Ex Ground.
SFC Haslip-Farris is proudly married to SGM (retired) Robert Lee Farris, and shares a blended family of 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Upon retirement, she hopes to pursue photography, and to spend more time with her grandchildren.
Staff Sgt. Ernesto Espinoza’s has been in the Army Reserves since 1989. He entered the army as a machinist, and was awarded for his civilian occupation in the aerospace industry as a conventional machinist.
In 1990, SSG Espinoza deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Shield and afterwards in Desert Storm. In 2006, he was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Afterwards he continued his service with the 950th Combat Support Maintenance Company, participating in overseas training in Germany with Operations Platinum Wrench and Pacific Warriors Training.
His military education includes a primary leadership development course and combat life saver course. His awards include Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, South West Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Kuwaiti Liberation Medal.
SSG Espinoza has been working for the U.S. Postal Service for 17 years, and is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He resides in Canoga Park and is happily married to wife, Myrna, for the last 34 years. They have two daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel, along with three grandchildren, Angelina, Katherine and Michael. Upon retirement, he will continue working for USPS, and wants to get into paintball games.