Senior Master Sgt. Jonathon Holbrook presents his wife with diamonds as a retirement gift during a ceremony to honor the Air Force couple who are retiring after 52 years of combined service. (Bryan Mitchell / S&S)
Senior Master Sgt. Jonathon Holbrook presents his wife with diamonds as a retirement gift during a ceremony to honor the Air Force couple who are retiring after 52 years of combined service. (Bryan Mitchell / S&S)
Senior Master Sgt. Carla Holbrook embraces her children, Joia, 19, and Christian, 11, during the retirement ceremony for she and her husand, Senior Master Sgt. Jonathon Holbrook. (Bryan Mitchell / S&S)
UK weekly edition, Wednesday, July 18, 2007
RAF MILDENHALL — With friends, family and co-workers gathered in her honor, Senior Master Sgt. Carla Holbrook reflected on her more than two decades serving alongside her Air Force husband.
They enlisted months apart in 1981, met on duty in Spain a few years later, wed and rose through the ranks at roughly the same pace on their way to the second highest enlisted rank.
“It’s never been easy, but we’ve never competed. Except that time I made staff [sergeant] before you,” she said to widespread laughter. “Then you were a bit salty for a while. But we got through that like we got through everything else.”
The Air Force couple with more than a half-century’s worth of combined service was honored last week with a retirement ceremony attended by dozens of servicemembers from the two largest Air Force bases in England.
Carla Holbrook served as the superintendent at the 48th Judge Advocate General’s office on RAF Lakenheath while her husband, Senior Master Sgt. Jonathon Holbrook was the infrastructure superintendent for the 100th Civil Engineering Squadron on RAF Mildenhall.
Airmen filled the banquet hall of the RAF Mildenhall officer’s club to send the Holbrooks off from the Air Force with style, pomp and heartfelt appreciation.
“Even though we are sad to see her leave, this is a day to celebrate,” said 48th Staff Judge Advocate Lt. Col. James Byrne of Carla Holbrook. “She made the Air Force a better place through her time here.”
Lt. Col. Scott Hartford, 100th Civil Engineering Squadron commander, praised Jonathon Holbrook’s commitment to country, personal sacrifice and leadership.
“Most of all, we will miss you as a true leader, a coach and mentor to young airmen under your charge,” Hartford said. “That is where you excelled, and that is where your legacy will carry on.”
While the Holbrooks’ service to country was honored by colleagues, it was their devotion to each other that supported their family through 26 years of service.
“When a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing,” Jonathon Holbrook said. “Thank you for standing side-by-side with me all these years.”
