Released by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake Public Affairs Office--

By Theresa Goldstrand

Following centuries old Naval tradition, six members of the USN Reserve unit DET 0176 at VX-31 retired on Saturday, Dec. 10. The unit bid a fond farewell to several of their leaders including: ADCS Ronald K. Mortimer, ITCS Kathy A. Russell, ATC (AW) Kathleen M. Courtney, AMCS Matthew A. Roberts, YN1 Sara K. Campbell, and AE2 Darryl Hall.

The retirement ceremony fondly referred to as “swallowing the anchor” was the final military engagement of the six hard working and distinguished Naval enlisted personnel.

Attended by RADM (RC) Mark M. Hazara (Ret’d), the guest speaker was local WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, BMC “C.B.” Knox. Knox recanted a personal, historically accurate account of the early morning tragedy at Pearl Harbor while he was stationed aboard the USS California Dec. 7, 1941.

The ceremony was brought to a close with six separate “Piping over the side” as each of the retirees departed, first as United States Naval Reserve personnel then, accompanied by their spouses, as civilians.

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Photo cutline: Official guests, guest speaker World War II veteran Master Chief C.B. Knox, and six reservists gathered with friends and family in the traditional retirement ceremony in early December.