Fires Center of ExcellenceFort Sill, Oklahoma

2016Saint Barbara’s

Day Ball

Saint Barbara Saint Barbara

Cocktail HourBugler Sounds Mess CallIntroduction of GuestsPosting of the Colors

National Anthem and InvocationToastsDinner

Entertainment: The 77th Army Band and Costello’s Own

Guest Speaker RemarksPunch Bowl CeremonyInduction Ceremony

BenedictionRetirement of the Colors

Dancing

Sequence of Events

LTG Gary Cheek was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in May 1980 follow-ing his graduation from the United States Military Academy. His first assignment was 1st Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, 24th Infantry Division; the same unit his father, Colonel Leon Cheek, served with during the Korean War. While at Fort Stewart, Staff Sergeants Larry Walls and Michael Jacques and Sergeants First Class Harrel Smith, Leroy King, and Ira Todd were instrumental in the professional development of then Lieutenant Gary Cheek. LTG Cheek later served in 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery, VII Corps Artillery, US Army Europe as a battalion staff officer and commander of Battery A. His Battery First Sergeant was Stephen Williams. LTG Cheek then served as an Exchange Officer at the Canadian Field Artillery School in New Brunswick, Canada followed by the Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies. LTG Cheek then returned to Fort Stewart, GA where he served as a division plans officer and Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery. After serving at West Point as the Field Artillery Branch Representative, LTG Cheek commanded 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 3d Infantry Division. His Command Sergeants Major were Jerry Nelson and James Bryant. He then served as the Senior Fire Support Observer/Controller at the National Training Center. His Sergeant Major was Joe Smith. Upon completion of the US Army War College, LTG Cheek was assigned as the commander, Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, and later as the commander of Combined Task Force Thunder, CJTF-76 in Afghanistan. His Command Sergeants Major were Hershel Turner, Ed Murrell, and Gene Brewer. LTG Cheek was then assigned to the Joint Staff J-5 as a strategic planner for the war on terrorism and later to the Army Staff as the Deputy for Strategy, Plans and Policy, G3/5/7. He later served as the Commanding General of Warrior Transition Command with Command Sergeant Major Ly Lac. He then served as the Director of Military Personnel Management, G1 with Sergeant Major Stanley Randolph. LTG Cheek served as the Deputy Commanding General, Third Army/US Army Central. LTG Cheek’s previous assignment was serving as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army. LTG Cheek is currently the Director of the Army Staff. He is married to the former Leslie Clark of Riceboro, Georgia and they have two adult sons, Blakely and Christo-pher.

lieutenantGeneral Cheek

n artillery wife, Mary Hays McCauly (better known as Molly Pitch-

er) shared the rigors of Valley Forge with her husband, Wil-liam Hays. Her actions during the Battle of Monmouth (28 June 1778) became legendary. That day at Monmouth was as hot as Valley Forge was cold. Someone had to cool the hot guns and bathe parched throats with water. Across that bullet-swept ground, a striped skirt fluttered. Mary Hays Mc-Cauly was earning her nickname “Molly Pitcher” by bringing pitcher after pitcher of cool spring water to the exhausted and thirsty men. She also tend-ed to the wounded and once heaved a crippled Continental soldier upon her strong young back, carrying him out of reach of hard-charging British. On her next trip with water, she found her artilleryman husband with the guns, re-placing a casualty. While she watched, Hays fell wounded. The piece, its crew now too depleted to serve it, was about to be withdrawn. Without hesitation, Molly stepped forward and took the rammer staff from her fallen husband’s hands. For the second time on an American battlefield, a woman manned a gun (the first was Margaret Corbin during the defense of Fort Washington in 1776). Resolutely, Molly Pitcher stayed at her post in the face of heavy enemy fire, ably acting as a gunner. For her heroic role, General George Washington himself issued her a warrant as a noncommissioned officer. Thereafter, she was widely hailed as “Sergeant Molly.” A flagstaff and cannon stand at her gravesite in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. A sculpture on the battle monument commemorates her courageous deed.

ccording to legend, our patron saint was the beautiful daughter of Dios-corus, a nobleman of the Roman

Empire, believed to have lived in Nico-media in Asia Minor about the Third or Fourth Century A.D. To limit Barbara’s exposure to Christianity and encourage her development as a zealous pagan, her father kept her shut up in a tower, lighted by only two windows. But from these windows she looked out upon the surrounding countryside and marveled at the living things. She concluded that they all must be part of a master plan and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents had to be condemned as false. She obtained instruction in Christianity and was baptized. In token of her faith while her father was away, she had anoth-er window pierced in the tower, making three, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. On his return Dioscorus asked why she had made this change, and Barbara acknowledged her conversion. Despite his threats, she refused to renounce Christianity. He delivered her to a Roman magistrate, who, even after torture, failed to persuade her. Dioscorus himself then took his daughter to a high mountain, where he beheaded her. As he descended the mountain, he was caught in a sudden violent storm. In a blinding flash he was consumed by lightning. As a logical consequence, Barbara came to be regarded as the sainted pa-troness of those in danger from thunderstorms, fire and explosions. Given the questionable reliability of early cannons — misfires, muzzle bursts, and ex-ploding weapons were not uncommon — it is easy to see why our predecessors sought the protection of Saint Barbara. She has protected us ever since.

SAINT BARBARAA A

MOLLY PITCHER

Saint Barbara Saint Barbara

he Ancient Order is the more distinguished of the two levels of the Military Society of Saint Barbara. It recognizes the select few who stand above their brethren of the Honorable Order. The specific criteria for accession into the Ancient Order is to have performed conspicuous,

long-term service for or on behalf of the United States Artillery or Marine Corps Artillery. The Ancient Order is reserved for an elite few whose ca-reers have embodied the spirit, dignity, sense of sacrifice and commitment epitomized by Saint Barbara. Membership in the Honorable Order is not a prerequisite for membership in the Ancient Order. The approving authority for all awards of the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara is the Commanding General, United States Army Fires Center of Ex-cellence and Fort Sill. The Commanding General may approve, disapprove or downgrade the nomination to the Honorable Order as he deems appropriate.

THE ANCIENT ORDER of

SAINT BARBARA

T

he award authority for the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara is de-centralized to the Artillery commanders who are Lieutenant Colonel or above. Such commanders may approve the award for those in or associated with their commands.

When there is no such Artillery commander available, an approving au-thority will be selected by the Association as the approving authority for the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character; displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence; served the United States Army or Marine Corps with selfless ness; and contributed to the promo tion of the Artillery, both Field and Air Defense, in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers alike.

T

THE HONORABLE ORDER of SAINT BARBARA

Saint Barbara Saint Barbara

hose awarded the Order of Saint Barbara receive a medallion attached to a red ribbon. The medallion for the Honorable Order is silver; the Ancient Order has a gold colored medallion. One side of the medallion has a cannon, the other a likeness of Saint

Barbara standing by a tower with three windows. The medallion will be worn with the cannon side facing the chest and the bust of Saint Barbara facing out and in view. The Order of Saint Barbara should be worn only at Artillery functions such as Saint Barbara’s Day celebrations, Artillery balls or Artillery din-ings-in and dinings-out. Commanders, O-6 and above, may designate other occasions for wear as appropriate.

SAINT BARBARA MEDALLION

T

he award authority for the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher is decen-tralized to the Artillery commanders, Lieutenant Colonel or above. Such commanders may approve the award for individuals in their

communities. When there is no such Artillery commander available, the Commanding General of the United States Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill is the approving authority for bestowing membership in the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher. The Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher recognizes individuals who have vol-untarily contributed in a significant way to the improvement of the Artillery Community.

ARTILLERY ORDER of

MOLLY PITCHER

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Saint Barbara Saint Barbara

Thank you to our Family & MWR Saint Barbara’s Ball Sponsors!

Corvias Military LivingRaytheon Company

Fort Sill National BankThe Fires Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA)

U.S. Air Defense Artillery AssociationNissan of LawtonWyle-Cas Group

Mantech International Corp.

Silver Level Sponsors:

Platinum Level Sponsors:Lockheed Martin

Gold Level Sponsors:BAE Systems

The Burgess Family/Lawton ConstitutionNorthrop Grumman Corp

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COMPLIMENTARY CAB RIDES HOME UPON REQUESTCOURTESY OF Family & MWR, see any MWR staff