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HomeNewsMilitaryVING Bids Farewell to Master Sgt. Blyden After 39 Years of Military...

VING Bids Farewell to Master Sgt. Blyden After 39 Years of Military Service

Brig. Gen. Deborah Y. Howell, adjutant general for the Virgin Islands (VING), will host a retirement ceremony for Master Sgt. Delano L. Blyden after 39 years of military service. The event will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 17, at the Sergeant First Class Leonard B. Francis Readiness Center (armory), Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas.
Master Sergeant Delano Blyden was born on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on March 28, 1956. He graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School on June 9, 1974, and enlisted two years later in the Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) on Oct. 26, 1976.
During his 39 years as a member of VING, Blyden deployed to Iraq in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, he responded in support of various natural disasters at home and abroad. He was a member of a recovery team from VING in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in Louisiana.
Blyden served in several units and held leadership positions. He served in the Ordnance Branch and the maintenance career field. As a longtime VING member, he experienced its growth and transformation. Blyden held positions in the 662nd Field Service Company and 610th Quartermaster Water Supply Company, and he spent the last years of military service in the 786th Combat Service Support Battalion as an instructor, mechanical maintenance management NCO and supervisor.
His awards and decorations are numerous and include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon.
For more information, contact Master Sgt. Karen Williams at 712-7750 or cell 332-5541. www.facebook.com/VIGuard (www.vi.ngb.army.mil)
 

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