Page 5 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, January 2021

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January 2021
January 2021
Community News

Mission Accomplished: NTC staple retires Silver Valley looking forward to

after 36 years in range operations second half of historic school year

by Janell J. Lewis Ford biggest thing is, technically I started out here
when the Army and everybody was still in the
NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison Public A airs NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison Public Affairs dents will be in a distance learning model from Dec. 7 – Jan.
analog era,” Peck said. “ is was before digital
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — When George and computers and everything else.” FORT IRWIN, Calif. — O cials with the Silver Valley 15. e in-person hybrid model and small group cohorts will
Peck rst came to Fort Irwin, it wasn’t even When Peck began working as a scheduler in Uni ed School District are hoping the second half of the 2020- return on Jan. 19.
called “Fort Irwin,” and “ e National Training the 1980’s, he said there were no computers. 2021 school year will continue to look much like the hybrid “ e delay is being implemented out of an abundance of
Center” wasn’t heard of yet. ey had typewriters, mini fax machines and model implemented in November 2020. caution because of the holidays,” Najera said. “Our return to
“ ey called it Camp Irwin but it was just sometimes made copies o of mini graphics in-person instruction on Jan. 19, will depend on local COVID
a little base.” Peck said. “All the troop housing machines. “Let me rst say how proud I am of our sta and students conditions at that time.”
was all temporary because they didn’t have “And all correspondence around the instal- for the job they’ve done in our Hybrid, Small Cohort and For those on the hybrid model, ‘B-day’ students will attend
full-time units stationed out here.” lation between the organizations, you used Distance Learning models,” superintendent, Jesse Najera said Tuesday and ursday, as normal, during the rst week back
Peck, 65, rst came to “Camp” Irwin in what they called routing envelopes,” Peck in a release. “We worked hard to establish safety protocols and and ‘A-day’ students will attend in-person classes on Wednesday
1978 when he joined the National Guard’s said. “If you want to send something over to we will continue to prioritize our implementation to keep our and Friday. All weeks following will be on the normal, hybrid
1/185 Armored Battalion, 40th Infantry Divi- the post headquarters or a unit or something, students and sta safe.” scheduled.
sion. Now, 42 years later, he’s nally leaving. you’d stick the memo or form in the routing School sites and the district o ces were closed from Dec. “Nothing about this pandemic has been easy but you have
“I got a job out here in 1984, and that was envelope, put the address and then somebody 19 – Jan. 3. Winter break ended Jan. 6 and all SVUSD stu- shown your resiliency and we have persevered,” Najera said.
back in, I believe it was, the DynCorp days, came around every day and picked up all the
base contractor, and they had some openings routing envelopes, then they’d take ‘em and From CEREMONY, Page 1
out here for some o -hours, o -duty, supervi- drop them o at the other organization, that VID-19 cases across the country, asking everyone to be cautious of restrictions and safety prohibited private gatherings of any size and put in place a curfew of 10p.m. – 5a.m. for coun-
sor personnel and I got a job with that.” was your ‘email.’” measures as they traveled. ties in Tier 1, which is the purple tier where San Bernardino County (NTC/Fort Irwin) falls.
In 1986, Peck was transferred to the Ranges Peck said the 30-plus years of change hap- “I truly appreciate the e orts of our entire community this past year as we dealt with the e county has seen nearly 130,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,300 deaths.
Operations department (referred to as Range pened gradually. pandemic and maintained readiness for our Army,” he said in his Dec. 9 ‘Lead 6 Sends’ message. Lesperance encouraged everyone to follow the Governor’s Stay at Home order and limit
Control back then) as a range scheduler. at’s “Of course, everything happens slowly, you “I do realize that it’s the dedication of our soldiers, family members and civilian employees that travel to essential services only.
where he worked for the next 36 years, barring don’t notice a whole lot of change all at once made that happen.” “Continue to follow our safeguards and CDC guidelines,” he said. “Stay safe, plan ahead and
three years in the Installation Post Safety O ce but step-by-step-by-step, then we got the rst On Dec. 6, California Gov. Gavin Newsom enforced a new, three-week regional Stay Home watch out for those around you. It’s your continued vigilance and adherence to our safeguards
from 1990-1993. sets of computers,” Peck said. Order in the state, following an ICU availability of less than 15%. Among other restrictions, it that continue to keep our conditions on post favorable.”
On Dec. 30, 2020, Peck o cially retired Peck also talked about the first target-
from his position in Range Ops Safety. practice equipment at NTC in the 1980s. From VACCINE, Page 1
Early Life “When I started working here, the only tank
Peck was born in Iowa but his family moved gunnery range we had was up in the middle of “I chose to get the vaccine not only to protect myself, but to priate masks, practice physical distancing, wash hands, and ing and guidance on how to receive, store, and administer
to Southern California in 1962 after his dad the installation and we were still using a vehicle protect patients from me because I don’t want to be somebody follow restriction of movement to protect the safety of the the vaccine.
graduated. Peck joined the Army in 1972, after that had been mounted on railroad wheels and who’s asymptomatic and spreading the virus unknowingly to community as a large portion of the population will need to ose who receive the vaccine are slated to receive the
graduating from Eisenhower High School in it pulled a target around a railroad track,” Peck the people I’m caring for and my family as well,” Oesch said. be vaccinated before COVID-19 risks diminish. second dose of the vaccine in 28 days.
Rialto. said. “ at was the moving target for tank gun- Oesch said she hoped to encourage others to get the vac- “Protective measures, such as wearing a mask, washing According to the Food and Drug Administration’s Mod-
“I was originally stationed at Fort Hood, nery back in those days.” cine. hands, and maintaining social distancing, will still be very erna COVID-19 vaccine website, “ e most commonly
Texas, for two years, and then I was stationed Today, everything is digital and electronic “I think if I’m going to be such an advocate for the vaccine, important until all Americans are able to receive the vaccine reported side e ects, which typically lasted several days, were
at Fort Lewis, Washington, for two years until and run from the tower. lot of the projects you work on here.” I hate snow.” I should lead by example,” she said. “I can’t expect anybody and the United States has seen a reduction in COVID-19 posi-
I got out,” he said. “Yea, back in the old days, we didn’t even Peck said the feeling of accomplishment Although he’ll miss the sun, shores and to do anything that I’m not personally willing to do, and I tive cases,” Parson explained. “It is still critically important for pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain,
He joined the National Guard in 1978 have uniforms at rst in Range Operations,” never gets old. sand, there’s one thing he’s happy to leave think this is a great example of that.” everyone to adhere to [Centers for Disease Control and Pre- chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as
in Southern California and retired from the Peck said. “Everybody was running around in “Working with Soldiers, I’ve always liked behind. Col. Nancy Parson, the WACH commander, said she vention] guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.” the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever.”
Guard in 2001. T-shirts and cowboy hats mostly down range.” that,” he said. “Trying to give them training, “What I won’t miss is the drive,” he said. was “very proud” of everyone who volunteered to get the Oesch said she too believes continued safety precautions Oesch said she encourages anyone who is interested in
Biggest Changes he’s seen at NTC Peck said he never really noticed all the so they can improve their skills as they move “I’ve got about a 40-minute drive. I’m pretty COVID-19 vaccine. are important. receiving the vaccine to read the fact sheets provided by the
When asked about the most signi cant dif- changes over the years at rst, “But then one up through the ranks, also, you get a sense of well tired of the scenery. It has literally not “ e healthcare workers want to show everyone that the “ e vaccine is e ective … but you still don’t want to pass vaccine manufacturers and o ered one nal piece of advice.
ferences between when he rst came to NTC day you stop and look back and you go ‘wow, satisfaction out of that.” changed in 30 years between Barstow and vaccine is safe and highly recommended,” she said. “I appreci- anything along to anybody else,” she said. “I think safety for “Get vaccinated!” she exclaimed.
ate the healthcare workers who want to make a di erence in everyone is still most important until [the CDC and DOD]
versus now, Peck said, “Pretty much everything all of this is di erent.’” What’s Next Fort Irwin.” protecting themselves and their patients.” let us know the restrictions have been loosened.” For more information about the Department of Defense’s
has changed, I’d guess.” Why stay for three decades? Peck started his life, living with his mother Overall, Peck said his experiences and time Sta who receive the vaccine will continue to wear appro- Prior to the vaccine’s arrival, WACH sta received train- COVID-19 response, visit health.mil/coronavirus.
He said the base he described as a “little In a world where Americans spend an aver- and father and when he retires, he’s fortunate spent at NTC and Fort Irwin have all been
base” 40-plus years ago, has expanded and had age of only ve years in one job (thebalanceca- to have his mother’s home to return to live. memorable.
everything rebuilt. reers.com), remaining at the same occupation “I’m moving back to Oklahoma,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the work, I’ve enjoyed the From DENZEL, Page 1
“I think my biggest memory looking back for nearly 40 years is unheard of but Peck said “I’m going to live with my mother, she’s 88 people out here,” he said. “Not too many Washington added, “We love you, we nominee Virgil Williams and based on Dana Maj. Justice and I are grateful that he and his members for several hours over two days in
now is that rst 10 years working out here he loved what he did. years old now.” people I started working with are still out here, respect you, we’re doing our best to honor Canedy’s New York Times best-selling memoir, team were willing to dedicate so much time September 2020.
with the Range Ops and the Safety,” Peck said. “I found a job that I liked and I was in- Pecks mother lives alone in Edmond, Okla- of course, but there’s a few people here.” you. God Bless you and have a safe and happy which was published in 2008. It tells the story with our community members while they During all community engagements,
“ at’s when they were guring out how to do terested in,” he said. “I liked the variety of homa, in the same town as Peck’s sister. holiday. We’ll see you at the movies.” of Pulitzer Prize winner Canedy’s relationship were here.” physical distancing and COVID-19 mitigation
things out here and they were expanding and things— you’re never doing the same thing Peck also has a 30-year-old son who lives in Peck said through it all, he remained steady Washington is no stranger to NTC, as some with First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, who e U.S. Army O ce of the Chief of Public measures were in place, in accordance with
building and putting infrastructure.” week after week when you work for Range Lawton, Oklahoma, and a 32-year-old daugh- on the Army’s goals. of his training for his 1996 movie, “Courage served at NTC in the Operations Group. A airs (OCPA) requested NTC and Fort Irwin safety and health precautions for the Centers
He said the Rotational Units Bivouac Area Operations, that’s for sure. You just have ter who is married to a Coast Guard o cer with “We’re all focused on accomplishing the Under Fire,” also took place here. “We were fortunate to host Denzel Wash- as a potential lming location earlier in 2020 for Disease Control and Prevention.
(RUBA) had no buildings at rst—just pop-up Soldiers continuously coming in here and you relatives living in Oklahoma. mission and supporting the soldiers,” he said. e O ce of Secretary of Defense agreed ington and his team at the request of the and Washington participated in a site visit, Stay tuned for more details and stories
tent cities with no over-cover shades. take it and get them a plan and work through Misses and Not-so-much misses “ at’s one thing that hasn’t changed and I en- to support the lming of “A Journal for Jor- Army,” NTC Commanding General, Brig. where he also made time to meet and greet with throughout the year about NTC’s roles in the
Peck was also a part of the transition into their issues and then you get them organized When it comes to Southern California, joyed working with the soldiers, even the new dan,” which was written by Academy Award Gen. David Lesperance said. “Command Sgt. leaders, Soldiers and hundreds of community lming.
the digital age. and scheduled and set something up and then Peck, who lives in Barstow, said, “I like the guys who don’t even know what a typewriter
“Back in the old days, I guess maybe the you’ve kind of got a start-to- nish feeling to a weather out here, I don’t have to shovel snow, is, but that’s ne.”

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