PEPPERELL — Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Bernard C. St. Laurent and his wife Marie, of 26 Oak Hill Road, Pepperell, are proud to announce the promotion of their son Matthew St. Laurent (NMRHS Class of 1981) to the grade of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) in the United States Air Force.
In a ceremony held on Feb. 12 at the All Ranks Club at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, CMSgt Matthew St. Laurent was promoted with six of his peers during a formal ceremony steeped in Air Force Non Commissioned Officer tradition. Chief Master Sergeant, which is the highest enlisted rank, represents one percent of the over 266,000 enlisted personnel in the United States Air Force. CMSgt St. Laurent’s ceremony was attended by his wife of 17 years, Simone, and their two children Jocelyn and Joshua. Also in attendance were his parents and younger brother.
Chief St. Laurent’s military career is in its third decade as he entered into basic training in October 1983, when he enlisted as an F-15 Jet Engine Mechanic. His duty assignments include Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Langley Air Force Base, Va., Osan and Kunsan Air Bases in the Republic of South Korea, and most recently, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
Chief St.Laurent has deployed to several locations world-wide such as the Philippines, Thailand and Norway and multiple tours in Southwest Asia supporting Operation Southern Watch at King Abdul Aziz, and Prince Sultan Air Bases in Saudi Arabia. He most recently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the summer of 2007 to Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
In an interesting twist of fate, while on Temporary Duty Assignment to Korat Air Base, Thailand, as a Dedicated Crew Chief, then Staff Sergeant St. Laurent launched, recovered and maintained his F-15C aircraft from a runway that was built by his father’s Engineer Battalion during the Vietnam War.
CMSgt St. Laurent has filled multiple positions and executed the responsibilities expected of an aircraft maintainer from the rank of Airmen Basic to Chief. He is currently the Maintenance Superintendent of the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, under the 388th Fighter Wing. He is responsible for the leadership, training and supervision of 250 active duty and Air Force Reserve Command personnel. He manages maintenance for 24 assigned F-16 aircraft valued in excess of $725 million and supports associate fighter squadrons’ annual flying hour program with 6,000 combat training sorties totaling over 8,500 flying hours.
Chief St. Laurent’s awards and decorations include five Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, four Air Force Achievement Medals, one Meritorious Unit Award, seven Outstanding Unit Awards (with Valor device), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and an Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon.
Chief St. Laurent proudly continues a family tradition of military service as he enters his 26th year of service. His father CW4 (Ret.) Bernard St. Laurent served honorably for over 31 years, retiring from the United States Army on his birthday in March 1983. His career covered all four points of the globe, to include assignments in Germany, Texas, Iceland, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Ft. Devens.
His younger brother Jeremy is a Major with 12 years served in the United States Army, recently completing Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and is currently assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, N.Y. Following in his father’s footsteps as a Logistics officer, Jeremy has served in the 1st Infantry Division forward deployed to Germany and Kosovo as well as the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. While in company command deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007, Jeremy had the opportunity to fly down from Camp Speicher to Balad Air Base to visit Matthew and spend a weekend.
Adding an additional branch to the family military tree, 1LT Hannah K. Leadbetter, an Army Transportation Officer, will deploy this June in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while assigned to 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Hannah is the granddaughter of CW4 St. Laurent and the niece of Matthew and Jeremy.
