Army Aviatior commander retires at Fort Rucker

By Jane McCardle

Published: May 13, 2008

With more than 321 combat missions and 4,300 flight hours under his belt, Maj. Gen. James E. Simmons officially retired during a brief ceremony at Fort Rucker recently.

The 10 a.m. ceremony took place Friday, May 10 in the Army Aviation Museum.

United States Army Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, and Deputy Commanding General for Support Multi-National Corps, Iraq, Simmons served a 15-month rotation in Iraq from 2006 until Feb., 2008.

Ceremony host was Maj. Gen. Virgil L. Packett II, Fort Rucker and United States Army Aviation Warfighting Center commanding general.

Several awards and certificates were presented to Simmons by Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Packett.

As is the tradition, Mrs. Simmons were presented a bouquet of roses for her service and support.

“Jim Simmons has been long time friend for more than 30 years,” Packett said. “He was a great warrior armor officer before becoming a great aviator in 1983.
“He can be described as another ‘John Wayne’ who always has a great story to tell, and always tells you what he thinks.

“He was always ready to meet the challenge of leading our nation. He has tasted death, felt pain, carried burdens and seen the glory of victory
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“He has aways been a excellent example for us all to follow, and a friend that you can trust and depend on--an an around good American. His wife, Rita, has been by his side the entire ride.”

Thanking Packett for the ‘kind words,’ the Fort Hood commander said he chose to return to Fort Rucker to retire because it was the place he ‘ first broke friction with the ground.’

Said Simmons, “It just seemed right to return to Fort Rucker for my retirement ceremony. This place holds many memories, and I have always been honored to serve as a pilot from Alabama.”

Army Aviation has come a long way, he said, and it still has a way to go. “We must lead by example, meet and exceed expectations, and never again break our contact with the soldiers on the grounds,” said Simmons.

“The last 15 months in Iraq made quite an impression on my life.”

Also attending the ceremony was Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who will be taking over the command in Iraq.

Simmons spoke of the two men he felt made the greatest impact on his life, and about officers who won’t get their hands dirty, saying, “An officer who won’t get his hands dirty, most likely won’t be there when you need them in battle.”

Expressing his thanks to his wife Rita, Simmons stated that during his service, the family had moved 29 times. “Each time, she made our dwelling a home.”
The couple have one son James (Michelle) and two grandsons, James Alexander and Miles Gabriel.

Simmons concluded, “ I have lived the life of a soldier. I have felt cold, wet, hunger, pain and fatigue. Through it all, it has been a great ride.”

Simmons awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit (with three Oak Leaf Clusters); the Bronze Star; the Air Medal; the Master Aviator Badge; the Combat Action Badge; the Ranger Tab; and Airborne Wings. He was also presented the Order of National Security Merit for his work in the Korean Peninsula by the President of Korea.