Delaware National
Guard
198th Signal
BattalionSteele retires with 28 years of service in Delaware National Guard
By Maj. Jane Zak, 198th Signal Battalion
Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Jim Steele retired this month after 28 years of service in the Delaware National Guard. His retirement ceremony was held at the conclusion of the 198th Signal Battalion’s family day activities at Brandywine Springs Park Sunday afternoon August 12.
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State Command Sgt. Maj. James Vavala (right) presents the State Seal to Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Jim Steele . |
Steele enlisted in the Delaware National Guard on October 20, 1963. His career has spanned over 28 years. His has served proudly in the 198th Coastal Artillery; HHC and Company C, 198th Signal Battalion; the 261st Signal Brigade; the 259th Signal Company; and Company B, 280th Signal Battalion. Steele served proudly in the 198th units through 1977 when he decided to separate from the Guard to spend more time on work and family needs. After this ten-year break in service, he returned to the 261st Signal Brigade in August 1988. Steele was assigned as the Telecommunications Operations Sergeant at this unit; and, in this capacity he served in numerous overseas training missions in the Korean Theater. After completing the First Sergeant’s Course in 1995, Steele served as the First Sergeant in both the 259th Signal Company and Company B, 280th Signal Battalion – two newly activated units in the state of Delaware - from 1996 to 2000. Both of these companies were brought to prominence under Steele’s leadership. On January 15, 2001, Steele returned to the 198th Signal Battalion as the Senior Telecommunications Operations Sergeant. He remained in this position until his retirement in August 2002.
During the awards ceremony, then Master Sgt. Steele received his state promotion to Sergeant Major. Additionally, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Delaware State Seal, Order of the Griffin Head, a replica of the unit colors from the 198th Signal Battalion and Company B, 280th Signal Battalion, and the Wiley Coyote Award from Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret) Gerald Abbott. His wife was presented the Outstanding Spouse Award for her support during Steele’s 28 years of service.
Steele achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC) in 1977 when he decided to leave the Guard due to work and family needs. He said that his ten-year break in service was a blessing that allowed him to focus on raising his four children. Through that time though, he always kept in touch with his guard family, which was the driving factor for his return in 1987. Additionally, Steele said he’s always been fortunate to be given challenging and rewarding positions in the Guard, his most memorable being the time he spent as First Sergeant (1SG) of Company B, 280th Signal Battalion. He also said that good mentors were key in his decision to make the Guard a career. These mentors included (now retired) 1st Sgt. John Disantis, who recruited him into Battery A, 198th Coastal Artillery; Master Sgt. Harry Strusowski, Master Sgt. James Raymond, and Brig. Gen. Herbert Wardell.
Steele retired from Motiva in December
1999 after forty years of service. He is an avid hunter and fisherman, and
has been coaching Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) wrestling at St.
Peter’s in New Castle for twenty-five years. During his time as a coach,
he’s worked with over 30 young men who were later recognized as state
champions in high school wrestling. Steele lives in New Castle with his
wife. They have four grown children and five grandchildren.
The NCO Creed