Army Officer With Local Ties Receives Promotion

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Special to the Atlantic News

Atlantic News, Friday, February 18, 2005

[The following article is courtesy of the Atlantic News]
PROUD MOMENT -- Frederick C. Rice (left) of Hampton pins insignia on the collar of the Army uniform worn by his son, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick L. Rice. The younger Rice, a 1988 West Point graduate, was recently promoted in rank just prior to leaving for a year of duty in Afghanistan.
[Atlantic News Courtesy Photo]

HAMPTON -- Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Rice of Hampton recently returned from a trip to the US Army Aviation Center at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. While there, they participated in a ceremony at which their son, Army Major Frederick L. Rice, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC).

Mr. Rice, a former Army officer, had the privilege of pinning the new insignia of rank on his son's collar, as LTC Rice's mother, Joan, his wife, Cindy and his sons, Freddie and Spencer, looked on.

Immediately following the promotion ceremony, which was attended by more than 75 people, Brigadier General E.J. Sinclair, Commanding General of Ft. Rucker and the Army Aviation Center, presented LTC Rice with the Army Commendation Medal for his outstanding performance of duty as Public Affairs Officer for the Aviation Center.

LTC Rice departed in mid-January for a year of duty with the Office of Military Cooperation in Afghanistan. His family will remain at Ft. Rucker during his deployment. His previous overseas tours have included a year in Iraq as a Cobra helicopter gunship pilot during the 1991 Iraq War, command of a Cobra company in Korea in 1995, and a year with the Multinational Force and Observer team in the Sinai Desert in 2001.

LTC Rice was commissioned upon graduation from West Point in 1988. His U.S. assignments include troop duty in the 24th Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, command of an aviation company in the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, service as a Tactical Officer and Regimental Executive Officer art West Point, New York, and two years as manager of the Army's NASCAR program.

His previous awards and decorations include five awards of the Meritorious Service medal, the Air medal with "V" device for valor, two previous awards of the Army Commendation medal, two awards of the Army Achievement medal, Senior Pilot's wings, and the Parachutist and Air Assault qualification badges, in addition to nine other service medals and ribbons.

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