A retirement ceremony celebrating decades of service from three Soldiers retiring this weekend will be held today at Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB), Los Alamitos, 11:00 AM. Collectively, these combat veterans have nearly 100 years of service to the nation.
Joining the event will be Major General William D. Frink, Jr. and the Soldiers of the 79th Sustainment Support Command (SSC). The 79th SSC is a two -star Army Reserve command with units throughout Southern California and the western United States.
Headquartered at the JFTB, Los Alamitos, the 79th SSC provides trained, ready, cohesive, well-led sustainment forces for World-Wide Deployment. The 79th SSC currently has troops conducting logistical support operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and other locations around the world.
MSG James H. Biddle, Jr
MSG James H. Biddle, Jr., first joined the Army on 1 August 1972. He completed basic training in October 1972 and continued to Advance Individual Training in Fort Gordon, GA as a 31M Communication Specialist.
MSG Biddle served with honor and distinction beginning with his first Active Duty assignment from 1973-1976 in Ludwigsberg, Germany assigned to 34th Signal Battalion, Company D as Team Chief Radio Communication Specialist. In 1976 he returned stateside and was assigned to the 142nd Signal Battalion, Company C, in Fort Hood, TX as a Communication Specialist until 1979. In 1979, he ended his term of service as a Staff Sergeant.
MSG Biddle decided to enlist one more time in the Army Reserve and from 1987-1998 he was assigned to the 304th MMC in West Los Angeles as a Logistics NCO. From 1998-2000, MSG Biddle was part of the Inactive Reserves and in 2000 he reenlisted to join the 304th SBDE in Riverside, CA as a Procurement NCO. The 304th MMC was deactivated and renamed the 304th Sustainment Brigade. MSG Biddle retired from the 304th SBDE on 8 August 2011.
MSG Biddle is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Non Commissioned Officers Course Phase I and II, the Advance Non Commissioned Officers Course and Military Occupational Specialty as a 92A Logistics Specialist.
MSG Biddle’s awards include the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal with Bronze double knot clasp, the Reserve Components Achievement Medal Gold Star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device with Silver Hour Glass, the Non Commissioned Professional Development Service Ribbon with Numeral 3, the Army Service Ribbon and the Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.
MSG Biddle is married to Joyce A. Biddle and has 5 children, Candace, Trenise, Debra, Lance and Bryant.
SFC Jose A. Macias
SFC Jose A. Macias first joined the Army Reserve on 1 February 1981. He completed basic training and Advance Individual Training (AIT) as Construction Craftsman (81B) in Ft. Belvoir, VA. Upon completion of AIT he returned to his hometown of Los Angeles, CA and was assigned to the 311th COSCOM in West Los Angeles, CA to the Security, Operations, Training and Intelligence (SOTI) division.
While assigned with the 311th he participated in the Team Spirit in Camp Humphreys, Republic of South Korea, from 1986-1988 as the Operations NCO. He ended his term of service in 1993 as a Staff Sergeant. In June 2000, he re-enlisted for a one year trial and was assigned to Bravo Co, 368th MI BN in Bell, CA where he served as the NBC NCO, Drivers Training Instructor and S3 Training NCO.
Prior to 9/11, SFC Macias enlisted for another 6-year term and in January 2005, he was promoted to Sergeant First Class and assigned to the 393rd MP CID BN as the Detachment First Sergeant and S3 Training NCO. In April 2006, he was called for deployment and was cross leveled to the 411th EN BDE in Stewart, New York.
While deployed to LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq with the 411th EN BDE he was NCOIC of BG Silva’s Protective Services Detail (PSD) where he logged over 70 PSD missions. In August 2007, the unit redeployed back to New York and SFC Macias was reassigned back to the 393rd MP CID BN. Upon his return, he helped prepare the battalion for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.
In September 2008, he was assigned to the 311th COSCOM renamed to 311th ESC as a Platoon Sergeant in the G3 section. It was with the 311th ESC that SFC Macias begun his career and it is with this same unit where his Military career will eventually end.
SFC Macias is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, the 74D Chemical Specialist Military Occupation Specialty school, Non-Commissioned Officer Course Phase I and II and TACS SACC ANCOC Phase I.
SFC Macias awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device and silver hour glass device, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism with 2 oak leaf cluster, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Non Commissioned Officer Development Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Service Ribbon , the Overseas Training Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.
SFC Ronald H. Melton
SFC Ronald H. Melton initially joined the Army, 8 October 1985. He completed basic training and Advance Individual Training in Fort Bliss, TX. He was part of Air Defense Artillery as a 16P Chaparral Crew Member.
SFC Melton’s initial active duty tour began in 1986 as a Gunner in Ft. Ordinance, CA with the 7th BN, 7th ADA which later relocated to Ft. Lewis, WA. In 1988, SFC Melton then PCS’d to the 3rd BN, 2nd ADA also as a Gunner and in Ft. Lewis, WA. In 1989 he was assigned with the 2nd BN, 59th ADA, (later renamed to 6th Bn, 3rd ADA), in Germany, with whom he also deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
Upon his return CONUS, he returned to Ft. Lewis, WA, again to be assigned to the 3rd BN, 2nd ADA and remained there until his end of term service in 1993. After his ETS, he was placed in the Army Reserves with the 476th Chemical BN at Ft. Lawton, WA where he served as the BN Supply Sergeant until 1997. In 1998, he was assigned to the 307th QM BN as the Supply NCO in Salt Lake City, UT.
SFC Melton joined the Active Guard Reserve and upon completion of training he was assigned to the 348th Transportation Company in Phoenix, AZ. During his tour with the 348th TC CO, he was called to support Operation Enduring Freedom and in December 2002, he completed his Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom by 2003.
In 2004, SFC Melton was place on a special duty assignment in Ft Buchanan, Puerto Rico as the Supply NCO with the 2nd BN, 348th REGMT and in 2005 was placed on Detailed Recruiting Duty form 2005-2007. In August 2007, SFC Melton was then assigned to the 420th Movement Control Battalion, in Sherman Oaks, CA, where he worked as the Battalion’s Supply NCO and where he has continued his career and will end his career upon Retirement.
SFC Melton is a graduated of the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Non Commissioned Basic Course Phase I and II, 92Y Supply Specialist Phase I and II, Recruiter Course, and the Advance Non Commissioned Officer Course.
SFC Melton’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal w/4 oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal 6 awards, the Army Reserve Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon w/Bronze Service Star, the Southwest Asia Service Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon with M device, the Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, the Army Service Ribbon, the Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal with Palm Tree, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Valorous Unit Citation and the Army Superior Unit.
SFC Melton is married to Julie Weydt and has four children: Corita Zemla-Menchaca, Vianca Weydt, Anthony Weydt and Caleb Melton. SFC Melton also has a grandson named Adryan and a granddaughter named Maritxa.
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