Cape Girardeau serviceman retires after long career

Master Sgt. Ronald Carlton retired recently after 27 years of service in the Missouri Army National Guard and four years of service in the U.S. Navy.

Carlton's retirement plans include working with the Family Support Group at the Cape Girardeau Armory. Soldiers from the 1140th Engineer Battalion and the 35th Engineer Brigade recently held a retirement party for him at Cape County Park.

Carlton received certificates from the President of the United States, the governor of Missouri, the adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard and an encased American flag for his service to his country.

Carlton served in the navy from 1964 to 1968 as an assault boat engineer on the USS Iwo Jima. He then joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 1977 where he became a cook with the 135th Engineer Group based out of Cape Girardeau. In 1998 Carlton became the nuclear biological and chemical noncommissioned officer for the 35th Engineer Brigade and served as the recruiting/ logistics NCO in charge of the St. Louis area in 1999. In 2000, Carlton became a military technician as the budget analyst for the 35th Engineer Brigade until his retirement.

Carlton said, "I stayed in the Guard as long as I could. It's like a close family, you're there for each other. In fact, I purchased most of the things I have from Guard soldiers and I have things fixed or repaired by Guard soldiers. It's such a great organization."

His retirement plans include golfing, barbecuing and enjoying time off.