MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Friends and family members gathered Jan. 16 to celebrate the accomplishments and mark the end of the successful naval career of Lt. Cmdr. Jack A. Frost, officer-in-charge of the station branch medical clinic.
After 27 years of invaluable service to the Navy and Marine Corps medical team, Frost retired with plans to serve his community.
"He is very involved in the community and, now that he is retired, the community is really going to benefit from his help," said Teresa Contrabasso, Frost's administrative assistant.
According to Contrabasso, Frost's willingness to volunteer is one of the most important things that she will remember about him, including his devotion of many hours of his personal time to community services such as Habitat for Humanity.
"He is a very giving person; here at the clinic and during his time off," said Contrabasso. "Since he began working here, I have seen many more positive changes than negative and it has been great working for him."
Many servicemembers seem to agree about the positivity that Frost has had on the morale of the clinic and the station overall.
"It has been a privilege and an honor working with him," said Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Schmitt, leading petty officer, branch medical clinic. "It is sad to see him go, but I wish him the best. He has served his country well, and now it's time for him to move on."
Not only have those servicemembers working under his command been positively influenced by his leadership, but those he has worked for have seen the effects.
According to Col. James J. Cooney, station commanding officer, Frost's commendable service as the clinic's officer-in-charge has helped mission accomplishment of station Marines and sailors.
"I think the station was in great hands when he was in charge," said Cooney.
Part of Frost's great ability to maintain and improve the health of Marines and other servicemembers may be attributed to his parents. Both served in the Navy/ Marine Corps family.
According to Frost, his mother, who was a corpsman whose first patient was a Marine, had passed onto him the importance of taking care of Marines.
His father, a retired Marine Corps chief warrant officer, also influenced his decision to serve his country in the Navy.
After many years of honorable service, Frost is able to turn a new leaf and pursue a new way of life.
"So as today is the end of one phase of Lt. Cmdr. Frost's life, it is the beginning of another," said Navy Capt. Richard R. Jeffries, commanding officer of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and retirement ceremony guest speaker.
While Frost seemed optimistic about his plans for the future, he also expressed his fondness of the job he was leaving behind.
"I had a great career in the Navy," said Frost. "I don't know how I will be remembered for what kind of leader I have been, but at the end of the day, I hope I can be remembered as fair."