1. Fires Center of Excellence
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Fires Center of Excellence
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
2016
Saint Barbara’s
Day Ball
2016
Saint Barbara’s
Day Ball

2. Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara
Cocktail Hour
Bugler Sounds Mess Call
Introduction of Guests
Posting of the Colors
National Anthem and Invocation
Toasts
Dinner
Entertainment:
The 77th Army Band and Costello’s Own
Guest Speaker Remarks
Punch Bowl Ceremony
Induction Ceremony
Benediction
Retirement of the Colors
Dancing
Sequence of Events
LTG Gary Cheek was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant of Field Artillery in May 1980 follow-
ing his graduation from the United States Military
Academy. His first assignment was 1st Battalion,
13th Field Artillery, 24th Infantry Division; the
same unit his father, Colonel Leon Cheek, served
with during the Korean War. While at Fort Stewart,
Staff Sergeants Larry Walls and Michael Jacques
and Sergeants First Class Harrel Smith, Leroy King,
and Ira Todd were instrumental in the professional
development of then Lieutenant Gary Cheek.
LTG Cheek later served in 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery, VII Corps Artillery,
US Army Europe as a battalion staff officer and commander of Battery A. His Battery
First Sergeant was Stephen Williams. LTG Cheek then served as an Exchange Officer
at the Canadian Field Artillery School in New Brunswick, Canada followed by the
Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies. LTG
Cheek then returned to Fort Stewart, GA where he served as a division plans officer and
Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery.
After serving at West Point as the Field Artillery Branch Representative, LTG Cheek
commanded 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 3d Infantry Division. His Command
Sergeants Major were Jerry Nelson and James Bryant. He then served as the Senior Fire
Support Observer/Controller at the National Training Center. His Sergeant Major was
Joe Smith. Upon completion of the US Army War College, LTG Cheek was assigned as
the commander, Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, and later as the commander
of Combined Task Force Thunder, CJTF-76 in Afghanistan. His Command Sergeants
Major were Hershel Turner, Ed Murrell, and Gene Brewer.
LTG Cheek was then assigned to the Joint Staff J-5 as a strategic planner for the war
on terrorism and later to the Army Staff as the Deputy for Strategy, Plans and Policy,
G3/5/7. He later served as the Commanding General of Warrior Transition Command
with Command Sergeant Major Ly Lac. He then served as the Director of Military
Personnel Management, G1 with Sergeant Major Stanley Randolph.
LTG Cheek served as the Deputy Commanding General, Third Army/US Army
Central. LTG Cheek’s previous assignment was serving as the Assistant Deputy Chief of
Staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army.
LTG Cheek is currently the Director of the Army Staff. He is married to the former
Leslie Clark of Riceboro, Georgia and they have two adult sons, Blakely and Christo-
pher.
lieutenant
General Cheek

3. n artillery wife, Mary
Hays McCauly (better
known as Molly Pitch-
er) shared the rigors of Valley
Forge with her husband, Wil-
liam Hays. Her actions during
the Battle of Monmouth (28
June 1778) became legendary.
That day at Monmouth was as
hot as Valley Forge was cold.
Someone had to cool the hot
guns and bathe parched throats
with water.
Across that bullet-swept ground, a striped skirt fluttered. Mary Hays Mc-
Cauly was earning her nickname “Molly Pitcher” by bringing pitcher after
pitcher of cool spring water to the exhausted and thirsty men. She also tend-
ed to the wounded and once heaved a crippled Continental soldier upon her
strong young back, carrying him out of reach of hard-charging British. On her
next trip with water, she found her artilleryman husband with the guns, re-
placing a casualty. While she watched, Hays fell wounded. The piece, its crew
now too depleted to serve it, was about to be withdrawn.
Without hesitation, Molly stepped forward and took the rammer staff from
her fallen husband’s hands. For the second time on an American battlefield, a
woman manned a gun (the first was Margaret Corbin during the defense of
Fort Washington in 1776). Resolutely, Molly Pitcher stayed at her post in the
face of heavy enemy fire, ably acting as a gunner.
For her heroic role, General George Washington himself issued her a warrant
as a noncommissioned officer. Thereafter, she was widely hailed as “Sergeant
Molly.” A flagstaff and cannon stand at her gravesite in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
A sculpture on the battle monument commemorates her courageous deed.
ccording to legend, our patron saint
was the beautiful daughter of Dios-
corus, a nobleman of the Roman
Empire, believed to have lived in Nico-
media in Asia Minor about the Third or
Fourth Century A.D. To limit Barbara’s
exposure to Christianity and encourage
her development as a zealous pagan, her
father kept her shut up in a tower, lighted
by only two windows.
But from these windows she looked
out upon the surrounding countryside
and marveled at the living things. She
concluded that they all must be part of a
master plan and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents
had to be condemned as false. She obtained instruction in Christianity and
was baptized. In token of her faith while her father was away, she had anoth-
er window pierced in the tower, making three, symbolizing the Holy Trinity.
On his return Dioscorus asked why she had made this change, and Barbara
acknowledged her conversion. Despite his threats, she refused to renounce
Christianity.
He delivered her to a Roman magistrate, who, even after torture, failed to
persuade her. Dioscorus himself then took his daughter to a high mountain,
where he beheaded her. As he descended the mountain, he was caught in a
sudden violent storm. In a blinding flash he was consumed by lightning.
As a logical consequence, Barbara came to be regarded as the sainted pa-
troness of those in danger from thunderstorms, fire and explosions. Given the
questionable reliability of early cannons — misfires, muzzle bursts, and ex-
ploding weapons were not uncommon — it is easy to see why our predecessors
sought the protection of Saint Barbara. She has protected us ever since.
SAINT BARBARA
A A
MOLLY PITCHER
Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara

5. he Ancient Order is the more distinguished of the two levels of the
Military Society of Saint Barbara. It recognizes the select few who stand
above their brethren of the Honorable Order. The specific criteria for
accession into the Ancient Order is to have performed conspicuous,
long-term service for or on behalf of the United States Artillery or Marine
Corps Artillery. The Ancient Order is reserved for an elite few whose ca-
reers have embodied the spirit, dignity, sense of sacrifice and commitment
epitomized by Saint Barbara. Membership in the Honorable Order is not a
prerequisite for membership in the Ancient Order.
The approving authority for all awards of the Ancient Order of Saint
Barbara is the Commanding General, United States Army Fires Center of Ex-
cellence and Fort Sill. The Commanding General may approve, disapprove or
downgrade the nomination to the Honorable Order as he deems appropriate.
THE ANCIENT ORDER of
SAINT BARBARA
T
he award authority for the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara is de-
centralized to the Artillery commanders who are Lieutenant Colonel
or above. Such commanders may approve the award for those in or
associated with their commands.
When there is no such Artillery commander available, an approving au-
thority will be selected by the Association as the approving authority for the
Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.
The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara recognizes those individuals who
have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character;
displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence; served the
United States Army or Marine Corps with selfless­ness; and contributed to the
promo­tion of the Artillery, both Field and Air Defense, in ways that stand out
in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers alike.
T
THE HONORABLE ORDER
of SAINT BARBARA
Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara

6. hose awarded the Order of Saint Barbara receive a medallion attached
to a red ribbon. The medallion for the Honorable Order is silver; the
Ancient Order has a gold colored medallion.
One side of the medallion has a cannon, the other a likeness of Saint
Barbara standing by a tower with three windows. The medallion will be worn
with the cannon side facing the chest and the bust of Saint Barbara facing out
and in view.
The Order of Saint Barbara should be worn only at Artillery functions
such as Saint Barbara’s Day celebrations, Artillery balls or Artillery din-
ings-in and dinings-out. Commanders, O-6 and above, may designate other
occasions for wear as appropriate.
SAINT BARBARA
MEDALLION
T
he award authority for the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher is decen-
tralized to the Artillery commanders, Lieutenant Colonel or above.
Such commanders may approve the award for individuals in their
communities.
When there is no such Artillery commander available, the Commanding
General of the United States Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill is
the approving authority for bestowing membership in the Artillery Order of
Molly Pitcher.
The Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher recognizes individuals who have vol-
untarily contributed in a significant way to the improvement of the Artillery
Community.
ARTILLERY ORDER of
MOLLY PITCHER
T
Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara Saint BarbaraSaint Barbara

7. Thank you to our Family & MWR
Saint Barbara’s Ball Sponsors!
Thank you to our Family & MWR
Saint Barbara’s Ball Sponsors!
Corvias Military Living
Raytheon Company
Fort Sill National Bank
The Fires Chapter of the Association
of the United States Army (AUSA)
U.S. Air Defense Artillery Association
Nissan of Lawton
Wyle-Cas Group
Mantech International Corp.
Silver Level Sponsors:
Platinum Level Sponsors:
Lockheed Martin
Gold Level Sponsors:
BAE Systems
The Burgess Family/Lawton Constitution
Northrop Grumman Corp
*NoFederal,U.S.Army,orFCoEEndorsementIntended
FIRES CHAPTER
FIRES CHAPTER
FIRES CHAPTER
1.
2.
3.
COMPLIMENTARY CAB RIDES HOME UPON REQUEST
COURTESY OF Family & MWR, see any MWR staff
COMPLIMENTARY CAB RIDES HOME UPON REQUEST
COURTESY OF Family & MWR, see any MWR staff