My friend and coworker at the US European Command in Stuttgart Germany is retiring from the military after 22 years. Fortunately, life in the Air Force as a cyber warrior has trained him to be prepared to deal with the unexpected. Until an ill fated call over Memorial Day weekend, the very organized Lt Col Wood was on track to return to the United States and transition to life as a civilian. Lt Col Mark Wood - Cyber Warrior
He, his wife and two daughters decided to take one last trip, before retiring in Seattle to spend more time with his extended family. Immediately after checking into their hotel in London, Mark received the devastating news that his Mother had unexpectedly had a stroke. Before he could arrange transportation back to the United States, she had passed away. The final mini-break to London had went from excitement over tickets to Harry Potter World, to the realization of how fragile life is and how important it is to expect the unexpected.
Returning to his post at the US European Command, Lt Col Wood was faced with some challenges. He reviewed his courses of action and determined that the best option was to to change the date of his retirement ceremony so that his wife and children could attend. He and the family will be then travel to Seattle to make it home in time for his Mother's funeral. The girls are now saying their fond farewells to their school friends early and will be missing their final week of school.
Mark said, "It is a very unique situation where your own military retirement ceremony will be only the second most important ceremony you attend in a week."
Fortunately for Mark, he comes from an extended family that is familiar and understanding of the hardships of the military lifestyle. His Grandfather, Donald E. Hillman, was an Ace Fighter Pilot in World War II and was captured by the Germans in 1944. Luckily, then Lt Col Hillman, was able to escape. In 1946, his daughter Lee was born and she was raised as a member of an Air Force family. Lee would eventually grow up and raise, Mark Wood, Lt Col, US Air Force. She was both a military child and a military mother. The Amazing Life of Donald E Hillman
After spending a week with his extended family in Seattle and attending his Mother's funeral, Mark will return to Germany, alone. All of the details and duties of packing up the final household items and out-processing from the Air Force forever, will be left solely to LtCol Wood.
Because of the unexpected need to change the date of his retirement, Lt Col Wood, has an unusual request for his retirement ceremony. In order to share with everyone who will not be able to attend in person, he has asked me to live-Tweet the Ceremony. Please join us on June 6th at 1600 (GMT +2) and follow #Posttheorders from @ashban Lt Col Wood is requesting that instead of turning mobile devices off during the ceremony, everyone leaves them on so that he can hear the beeps of the retweets!
He, his wife and two daughters decided to take one last trip, before retiring in Seattle to spend more time with his extended family. Immediately after checking into their hotel in London, Mark received the devastating news that his Mother had unexpectedly had a stroke. Before he could arrange transportation back to the United States, she had passed away. The final mini-break to London had went from excitement over tickets to Harry Potter World, to the realization of how fragile life is and how important it is to expect the unexpected.
Returning to his post at the US European Command, Lt Col Wood was faced with some challenges. He reviewed his courses of action and determined that the best option was to to change the date of his retirement ceremony so that his wife and children could attend. He and the family will be then travel to Seattle to make it home in time for his Mother's funeral. The girls are now saying their fond farewells to their school friends early and will be missing their final week of school.
Mark said, "It is a very unique situation where your own military retirement ceremony will be only the second most important ceremony you attend in a week."
Fortunately for Mark, he comes from an extended family that is familiar and understanding of the hardships of the military lifestyle. His Grandfather, Donald E. Hillman, was an Ace Fighter Pilot in World War II and was captured by the Germans in 1944. Luckily, then Lt Col Hillman, was able to escape. In 1946, his daughter Lee was born and she was raised as a member of an Air Force family. Lee would eventually grow up and raise, Mark Wood, Lt Col, US Air Force. She was both a military child and a military mother. The Amazing Life of Donald E Hillman
After spending a week with his extended family in Seattle and attending his Mother's funeral, Mark will return to Germany, alone. All of the details and duties of packing up the final household items and out-processing from the Air Force forever, will be left solely to LtCol Wood.
Because of the unexpected need to change the date of his retirement, Lt Col Wood, has an unusual request for his retirement ceremony. In order to share with everyone who will not be able to attend in person, he has asked me to live-Tweet the Ceremony. Please join us on June 6th at 1600 (GMT +2) and follow #Posttheorders from @ashban Lt Col Wood is requesting that instead of turning mobile devices off during the ceremony, everyone leaves them on so that he can hear the beeps of the retweets!
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| Lt Col Mark Wood pointing to Seattle on the Globe |
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| Lt Col Wood outside the US European Command Headquarters |
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