Sergeant First Class Gayle McGary is retiring from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service.
Originally from Amite, McGary currently lives in Rock Island, Illinois, where she is stationed.
She served five combat tours: two in Iraq, two in Afghanistan and one in Kuwait. She served with the 1st Calvary Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Infantry Division and the Army Sustainment Command.
Among her military career highlights she names being non-commissioned officer for lead material management, non-commissioned officer in charge of 1st Cavalry Division Ready Resilient, Supply Support Activity, and 4th Sustainment Command Resource Identification Code Geographical, as well as Supply Support Activity Platoon sergeant and III Corps Basic Leader course instructor.
She also has a nursing science degree.
Among the areas in which she has had military training are material management support, warehouse operation management, army health promotions, mobile retention training, professional leaders development course, advanced leaders course, senior leaders course, sexual harassment assault response prevention, master resilience trainer level 1, equal opportunity leaders and combat life saver.
Awards and decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Citation, six Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Korea Defense Service Medal, two Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, an Army Service Ribbon, five Overseas Service Ribbons, a NATO Medal and a Driver and Mechanic Badge.
McGary has business management plans for her retirement.
“I’ve recently launched a freight transportation company,” she said.
“I’m humbly grateful for God’s grace in every task, mission and assignment,” McGary said. “Every ounce of my motivation derived from Quinterral and Quinton, my children, and my country.”
McGary’s family also include her sister Jaqueline Clark, daughter-in-law Dominque Clark and grandson Quinton Clark Jr.
