CHESTER'S SHUGART RECEIVES BRONZE STAR/PROMOTION
Columbia, SC – May 19, 2005 – Five months after returning from Iraq, Chaplain (Major)
Steven L. Shugart of Chester, SC was presented with a Bronze Star Medal for his
service during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served
as a guest speaker for the SC National Guard at the City of Columbia’s “America
Supports You” rally.
Shugart's big day began with Major General Stan Spears, the Adjutant General of
SC saying a few kind words about the Chester man. He described Chaplain Shugart
as “the best known man in the SC National Guard.” Spear’s added “Steve’s personal
relationship with our soldiers is something special.” The Adjutant General then
had Shugart’s Bronze Star Medal certificate read for the audience which highlighted
Shugart's “outstanding devotion to his soldiers and others.”
Shugart’s bronze star nomination included the following data: “counseled over 300
soldiers from 12 different battalions; logged over 12,000 combat miles while assigned
to the SC Army National Guard’s 3rd of the 178th Field Artillery Battalion; traveled
the length of the Main Supply Route (MSR) in Iraq to minister to over 1,100 soldiers
assigned to the 197th Field Artillery Brigade; served the Iraqi people directly
through a variety of civil-military affairs programs, Medical Civil Assistance programs
and 23 cultural awareness operations.” His service as a “combat lifesaver and leader”
in responding to medical emergencies from accidents and enemy attacks along the
MSR were also highlighted.
Following Adjutant General Spear’s presentation of the Bronze Star Medal to Shugart,
he invited Major General Harry Burchstead, the Deputy Adjutant General up front
to lead the promotion portion of the ceremony. MG Burchstead then invited the Chaplain’s
wife Sue to join them up front, and proudly pinned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
on Shugart’s uniform.
Surrounded by his family and friends, Shugart made the following comment: “Awards
and promotions are not really so much about the recipient as they are about the
people a person surrounds himself with. I wouldn’t be where I am without the love
of my Mama who is here today, my wife Sue and my children who are so dear to me.
They have stuck with me through all of the deployments. My friends and the soldiers
I have had the pleasure of working with over the years have also had a great hand
in what has happened in my life. Thank you. I love you all.”
A few hours after receiving the BSM and a promotion, Shugart represented the SC
National Guard at the City of Columbia’s “America Supports You” rally. Shugart thanked
“the American people who have been praying daily for our troops. It is those prayers
that have helped us since 9-11.”
The Chaplain is married to Sue. The couple has five children.