Delavan Soldier Retires after 29 years

Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist balanced family, military for decades

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/27/2015)(readMedia)-- Story by Pfc. Justin Malone, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist of Delavan, Illinois, recently retired after 28 years of service to the Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG). Hultquist most recently served in Kuwait from 2013 to 2014 with the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago, where he served as the operations sergeant major coordinating training and operations for nearly 3,000 Soldiers and 1,700 contractors.

Hultquist enlisted in 1986 in the Illinois National Guard's Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment in Macomb, Illinois, as a cannon crewmember.

"I think of the brotherhood that was built when I was in artillery," he said. "Many of the relationships I built have transcended beyond the Army. Many of those relationships are as strong today as they were 20 years ago."

Hultquist met Capt. Tim Johnson of Waunakee, Wisconsin with the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield, Illinois, when both men were assigned to field artillery units.

"He's a model noncommissioned officer," said Johnson. "I've always looked up to him. He was someone I aspired to be more like. He was someone who was always taking care of Soldiers and looking out for the impact of decisions and how they would affect Soldiers and their ability to accomplish their missions."

Johnson said Hultquist possessed many attributes that made him a great leader.

"He is very meticulous and very detail oriented," said Johnson. "He likes things just the way he wants them to be to make them perfect. He was the one I always counted on to do what we had to do and get things done."

Hultquist said he is proud of his involvement with the creation of the 733rd Quartermaster Battalion and the transformation of the 1144th Transportation Battalion in Delavan, Illinois.

"During about a six-year time period we stood up a headquarters, transformed a headquarters, stood up a transportation company and transformed a maintenance company into transportation," Hultquist said. "We also deployed six different units during that time. A lot of support was provided to the war while I was a member of that team."

Hultquist said his secret to success is simple.

"I pride myself on traditions and bringing together teams," he said. "Whatever I'm a part of, I want it to be the best of whatever it is."

Even after decades of service to his country, Hultquist said his proudest moments were the births of his two children, Sydney, 16, and Pete, 14.

"He values his family most in life and I've always appreciated that about him," said Hultquist's wife, Sharon, a first sergeant with the Illinois National Guard. "No matter what, he puts us first. He spends almost all of his free time with the family."

Hultquist's military duties often separated him from his family, whether through long hours in the office, field exercises or deployments.

"In 2002, I would leave the house before Sydney woke up and return home around the time she would go to bed," Hultquist said. "She actually asked my wife, 'Where does daddy live?'"

Sharon said it is not always easy being a military family.

"We have been geographically separated because of our jobs many times," Sharon said. "David always made an extreme effort by driving long distances to make sure he was still a regular part of our lives and to make it as seamless as possible to the kids when he wasn't working in the area."

Hultquist went above and beyond for his family, said Johnson.

"I can relate to being in the military and dealing with deployments but their family has two parents in the military, so they've endured a lot more than I have as far as having both parents gone," he said. "He was assigned to the unit in Chicago and somehow he was always able to juggle all of his responsibilities."

Hultquist said he cannot take all of the credit.

"I was able to balance my life in the military and my personal life because of my very resilient children," Hultquist said. "My children had to tolerate the military in ways that parents should never ask their kids to and in ways that a lot of children don't have to."

Hultquist said things will be different now that he has retired.

Although retired, Hultquist still strives to better himself. He attends Western Illinois University, where he intends to earn his Bachelor of Arts in history.

"During my career, I decided that I was going to go back to school, do it right and get it done," he said.

Hultquist plans to teach history and geography to secondary education students as a substitute teacher.

"That way I don't have to work if I don't want to," he said. "I can be flexible for my kids."

Sharon looks forward to the change.

"For all of our life together, we have both had very active careers and the concept of 'home' sometimes suffered," Sharon said. "With two teenage kids, it will be very good to have a parent fully engaged at home."

Hultquist said he plans to make up for lost family time.

"He has compassion and empathy as a leader in the military and towards Soldiers," said Johnson. "I see that even more so with his family."

Hultquist said his first priority from now on is his family.

"I want to be available to go to practices, rehearsals, dress rehearsals and all of those things that my kids are involved in," he said.

After 29 years, Hultquist reflects on his retirement with mixed emotions.

"When I look back on my career it was certainly a great experience and I didn't let opportunities slip by," he said. "I'm going to miss the mentorship of Soldiers and talking to them about their challenges and teaching them to look at positives in every situation."

Sharon says Soldiers will still see him around from time to time.

"He is an honest man who cares about people, particularly Soldiers," she said. "He will remain active in the Guard through the National Guard Association of Illinois and will attend future functions like battalion and brigade balls. He may be retired, but he still cares about Soldiers and the Illinois National Guard."

Johnson said Hultquist touched the lives of many Soldiers during his career.

"He really affected me when I made the decision to go to Officer Candidate School," said Johnson. "Thinking back on how Dave Hultquist would approach a situation, really helped me focus on decisions I had to make. Every decision I've made as an officer didn't just affect the Soldiers but it also affected the Soldier's families as well. I will always look back and wonder, 'What would Sergeant Major Hultquist say?'"

Cutlines: Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist of Delavan, Illinois, receives a noncommissioned officer sword from Command Sgt. Maj. Lester Edwards of Mechanicsburg, Illinois, during Hultquist's retirement ceremony. Both are with the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago. Hutlquist recently retired after 29 years of service to his nation and the Illinois National Guard. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist)

Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist, of Delavan, Illinois, assigned to the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago, and his mother, Patty, during Hultquist's retirement ceremony. Hultquist recently retired after 29 years of service to his nation and the Illinois National Guard. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist)

Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist (middle) of Delavan, Illinois, with the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago, receives a battalion coin from Lt. Col. Cory Wise (left) of Bryant, Illinois, Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment and 2/123rd Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony McCormick (right) of Jacksonville, Illinois. Hultquist, a resident of Delavan, Illinois, served with both Wise and McCormick while assigned to the field artillery from 1986 to 1991. Hultquist recently retired after 29 years of service to his nation and the Illinois National Guard. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Sgt. Maj. David Hultquist)