Naperville Soldier retires after more than 29 years of service

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/06/2018) (readMedia)-- A retirement ceremony was held March 3 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois for Lt. Col. Doug Masters of Naperville, Illinois, commander of the 1886th Engineer Facility Detachment based in Springfield, Illinois.

Masters enlisted in 1988 following in the footsteps of his father who is also a retired military officer. Masters served in various command positions throughout his career including commander of the 135th Engineer Company based in Lawrenceville, Illinois, and commander of the 766th Engineer Battalion based in Decatur, Illinois, which later became the 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion.

During his service Masters deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and returned in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit personnel coordinated the ceremony without Masters' knowledge. Masters said he was surprised by the small gathering to celebrate his career.

"This is a welcome surprise," said Masters. "I really wasn't wanting to do this because I knew it would be hard. The Army has been a huge part of my life for the last 29 years and it's hard to say goodbye to family."

Cutline 1: Lt. Col. Doug Masters of Naperville, Illinois, commander of the 1886th Engineer Facility Detachment based in Springfield, Illinois, stands with Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Illinois National Guard and the noncommissioned officers of the 1886th after being presented with a commemorative plaque. Masters was honored at a ceremony on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, to celebrate his retirement after more than 29 years of service. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 2: Lt. Col. Doug Masters of Naperville, Illinois, commander of the 1886th Engineer Battalion based in Springfield, Illinois, addresses the Soldiers of the 1886th Engineer Facility Detachment during a ceremony on Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, to celebrate his retirement after more than 29 years of service. The Soldiers of the 1886th organized the ceremony as a surprise to their former commander. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)