FORT SILL, Okla. (Aug. 20, 2015) -- After 20 years of faithful, but checkered service, Master Sgt. Big Deuce VI retired Aug. 17, during a ceremony at the Sgt. Maj. John Sanders Stables here.
Post leaders, families and friends along with Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery batteries attended the 8:30 a.m. ceremony. Deuce VI's sidekick, Cpl. Shortround V, a Boer goat, was also there to see his supervisor off.
Big Deuce is the donkey mascot of 2-2nd FA, and is a living symbol of the heritage of the battalion, which at one time used mules to transport pack howitzers and ammunition.
In his invocation, Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Kraft, 2-2nd FA Battalion chaplain, said: Lord God, we give thanks for all the blessings you have bestowed on this battalion through the faithful service of its mascots, especially Big Deuce VI. His symbolism has encouraged us to move forward ... The donkey makes the difference.
The 2-2nd FA "Big Deuce" Battalion's tradition of having a donkey mascot goes back 65 years, said program narrator Maj. William Perry, 2-2nd FA executive officer.
In 1950, Sgt. Maj. John Sanders followed his commander's order to "get me an ass." He procured Big Deuce I from his father in Texas. Members of the Sanders family attended Deuce VI's retirement at the sergeant major's namesake stables.
Deuce VI had the longest tenure of all the donkeys, Perry said. He has acted as an ambassador in the Lawton-Fort Sill community, has been a source of pride for the "Mule Soldiers," a friend to Fort Sill families and a reminder of the post's rich history and heritage.
The mascots participate in numerous ceremonies, including changes of command, retirements, re-enlistments, community outreach and they always brought up the rear of the CG's Challenge -- a postwide fitness event, said Spc. John Lavender, A Battery, 2-2nd FA cannon crewmember and Deuce's caretaker. Deuce VI is also an honorary member of the United States Military Academy's Army mule team.
However, Deuce VI's unwavering service since March 1995, hasn't always been honorable, the major said.
"Big Deuce VI has been demoted twice," Perry said. "He has received multiple Article 15s (administrative disciplinary actions) for offenses ranging from leaving his assigned place of duty without permission to being caught heading north on I-44 for attempting to allegedly go AWOL to assaulting a commissioned officer in his change of command to, just last year, relieving himself in the presence of the commanding officer."
And, he was the subject of an investigation in the untimely death of Shortround IV, although charges were never filed because of lack of evidence.
During the ceremony, Deuce VI was presented a retirement certificate and his ceremonial blanket was removed off his back by 428th Field Artillery Brigade leaders, including Lt. Col. Adam Cobb, 2-2nd FA commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eduardo Iturregui, 2-2nd FA.
Cobb said having a donkey and goat mascot means a lot to the unit's Soldiers and their roots as artillerymen.
"I think it brings a lot of esprit de corps," the commander said. "I think it has made our unit very proud of its heritage and history."
Immediately after his retirement, Deuce VI's replacement, Sgt. Big Deuce VII, age 4 months old, was enlisted into the Army. Cobb performed the enlistment with Sgt. Cory Leddick, A/2-2nd FA, Sanders Stables noncommissioned officer in charge, who spoke for Deuce VII.
The commander noted that Big Deuce VII was generously donated to the Army.
DONKEY GONE
Deuce VI will now go out to pasture, literally, on 11 acres near Elgin, Okla., said former sergeant Tom Phillips, who was his caretaker from 2003-2005. Phillips and his wife, Emily, wanted Deuce VI for sentimental reasons. He will join another donkey, a mare and cattle on their farm.
MULE BE MISSED
Lavender said he will miss Deuce VI, but that he has earned his retirement.
"Me and him have grown pretty close over the past two years," he said.
One of the memories he has of the donkey was when he saw him playing with Shortround, who was on the other side of a fence. They would run along the chain fence and nuzzle each other and then run back, kind of like dogs playing.
"It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen."
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