After 40 years of service, Soldier hangs his boots

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/20/2014)(readMedia)-- SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After serving nearly 40 years, Command Sgt. Maj. Sixto Lopez of Berwyn, Illinois, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago, will retire from the Illinois Army National Guard in September.

"My military family is a big family. I feel so honored and proud to serve all of these years," said Lopez. "I am proud to be there for all the Soldiers. I have an open door policy and I feel honored when they come to me. They have been there for me and I have been there for them."

Retired Sgt. William Steele of Chicago, a leg amputee wounded Soldier, who served with Lopez for six years and deployed with him to Afghanistan, remembered his first encounters with Lopez.

"He mentored me and always knew what a good leader looked like," said Steele.

Steele said when he wanted to reclassify to a different military job in preparation for a deployment, Lopez sent him to school and began to mentor him.

"While I was in Walter Reed and even now that I am retired, he continues to be my mentor," said Steele. "We talk or text every week. I know he will always be there for me."

Lopez joined the military at 20 years old in March 1975, as an infantryman with the Troop E, 106th Cavalry in Chicago. In June 1983, he began in the Active Guard Reserve program as the training noncommissioned officer with Company C, 108th Support Battalion in Chicago. He held many positions as he climbed the noncommissioned officer chain, serving as a section chief of a transportation platoon, squad leader, supply sergeant, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, battalion operations sergeant and the sergeant major as the unit operations sergeant.

"The most rewarding positions for me were as a sergeant major and as a command sergeant major," said Lopez. "I was able to get close to the Soldiers and understand their needs. I was able to be a better leader."

From January through July 2002, he deployed to Germany in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he served as the command sergeant major for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry in Chicago. During his military career, Lopez served his country through different missions in Honduras, Ukraine, Panama, Germany, Afghanistan and Botswana.

Lopez was the first of his family to join the military. Only after he joined, his extended family decided to join.

"I was the first one to break the ice," said Lopez. "My daughter served more than 8 years in the Air National Guard and my son served more than 6 years in the Illinois Army National Guard."

Lopez is married to Maria E. Lopez; they have one daughter Vanessa and two sons, Sixto Jr. and Omar.

"I want to thank my wife, Maria, for being there for me," said Lopez. "Without our spouses we cannot do much."

Plans after retirement include finishing his master's degree and finding a part-time job so he does not go crazy from boredom, said Lopez. He also plans to volunteer in his community at the town hall, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

"I am so proud to serve this great nation, the state of Illinois and Army National Guard," said Lopez.

Sgt. Maj. Sixto Lopez of Berwyn, Illinois, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, will retire in September after nearly 40 years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard. (Courtesy photo)