Leaders and staff of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District said goodbye their Deputy Commander during a farewell ceremony, May 15.
Lieutenant Col. Don A. Nestor, a Notre Dame alumnus whose love for his alma mater is surpassed only by his love for family and the Army, advised the commander and provided guidance to employees at the Tulsa District the past two years. He leaves to take command of the 8th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Hood, Texas.
Col. Richard A. Pratt, the Tulsa District Commander, presented Nestor with a Meritorious Service Medal, and praised him for his commitment to excellence. The medal is bestowed upon military members who distinguish themselves through outstanding service or achievement.
“Lt. Col. Nestor has done a wonderful job for the district, ensuring all of the behind-the-scenes work is accomplished,” said Pratt. “We are sad to see him go but it’s great to see that he’s going to command a battalion and to command troops again.”
In his farewell address, Nestor thanked the men and women of the district, who he called the “gears that make the machine run.”
“One of the big things that drew me to the Army is the bonding and camaraderie,” said Nestor. “You guys have that same camaraderie here that we have in units. I think what brought that home to me was the Oklahoma tornado. Every one of you raised your hand and asked, ‘How can I help my fellow man?’ and that’s all we could ever ask of our soldiers.”
Nestor will be replaced by Maj. Daniel R. Young who comes to the Corps of Engineers after serving as the executive officer of the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga.