Two long-time National Guard Soldiers retire after 'gratifying' careers

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two long-serving Missouri National Guardsmen recently retired after decades of service to their country and state.

Since 1968, the Missouri National Guard has sent Master Sgt. Frank Welter to train in exotic countries like Panama and Honduras and interesting places stateside, like Fort Lewis, Wash. He has fought floodwaters and helped countless young people -- including his sons -- into Soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Albert Moody joined the National Guard later in life - at age 40 - but he's been sent to warzones in Iraq and served the Guard -- and the U.S. citizens -- in countless other ways in his many years of military service.

Both men retired from the Missouri National Guard last month, Welter after nearly four decades of service and Moodey after more than 20 years in the Guard. Both served finally in the 735th Quartermaster Force Provider Company Detachment 3, which is a unit based at the Guard armory in Cape Girardeau.

During a retirement ceremony, both men were presented with Army Commendation Medals for meritorious service, as well as U.S. flags and commemorative paintings.

Welter, 61, of Chaffee, served in many units in his time in the Guard, including with the 1140th Engineer Battalion's Headquarters Company, the 135th Engineer Group and the 735th. He went to Panama three times and Honduras once. During Southeast Missouri's 1993 and 1995 floods, he helped his fellow Guardsmen fight back the rising river.

"I remember looking out there and I couldn't believe how much water there was," Welter said. "I was so inspired by the home-owners who were out there fighting for their homes. If I could help them save their homes in some small way, I'm honored to have been able to help."

Welter's son, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Welter, is in the Guard now and another son is in the U.S. Air Force.

"I have loved my time in the Guard," Welter said. "It's just been so gratifying for me to be able to serve."

Moody, 62, joined the Guard at 40 years old in 1988. Moody was a prior service Soldier who had been drafted to serve in the U.S. Army for two years. He joined the National Guard later, in part to help his financial situation.

But he said he came away with so much more.

Moody says he's loved his time in the Guard and one high-point was going to Iraq. Moody, who is from Caruthersville, Mo., went to Tikrit in 2008 as a Guard representative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While there, Moody said, he was a military liaison for the Corps, serving as "the first sergeant, the motor pool sergeant, an MP. I was the only one with a weapon."

Moody's time in the Guard has been an opportunity for him to do things most people will never do, he said.

"Consequently," he said, "most people will also never know the bond you have with somebody you share a foxhole with. There's a bond that is made when you spend time with someone in a uniform who can make the difference between whether you live or die. The Guard truly is a brotherhood. I have been allowed to do things most people have never dreamed of."

The 735th has its headquarters in De Soto, but has five detachments, including Detachment 3 in Cape Girardeau. Detachment 1 is in Poplar Bluff, Detachment 2 is in Jefferson City, Detachment 4 is in Rolla and Detachment 5 is at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

Quartermaster units provide support to other troops such as general supply, mortuary affairs, food service, fuel and water and other field services, such as laundry services.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Scott Moyers at 573-339-6237 or at scott.moyers1@us.army.mil