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MCLB honors Donahue retirement

• Sgt. Maj. Francis X. Donahue retires from a 30-year military career effective Oct. 1.

Barbara Rivera Holmes

MCLB-ALBANY — After 30 years, one month and five days of service to the United States Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Francis X. Donahue of Marine Corps Logistics Command in Albany retired his post Friday.

The officer’s retirement from the Corps — which isn’t official until Oct. 1 — was celebrated as part of a relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at Maintenance Center Albany at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany.

“What a great day. What a great day this is,” said Maj. Gen. Willie Williams, commanding general of LOGCOM and Donahue’s superior. “Today is a celebration not just of a successful career, but also of life.”

Sgt. Maj. Stephen Balczo assumed Donahue’s position, which Williams said focuses on personnel and family readiness, Friday.

Donahue, originally of Boston, enlisted in the Corps in September 1978. He held numerous positions at a slew of stations, most recently at LOGCOM, where he arrived in June 2004.

“Sergeant major has done your name proud ... throughout his career in the Marine Corps,” said Williams, who has developed a “tremendous” personal friendship with the officer, to Donahue’s father.

“We have traveled around the world and created a bond that goes beyond work,” Williams said.

For his part, Donahue thanked his father for life’s lessons as well as friend John Foley, who attended the ceremony, for his inspiration. Foley was in Okinawa, Japan, during World War II as a private first class in the Marine Corps.

“It’s been a tremendous, tremendous journey,” Donahue said. “I did not put myself here; it was the likes of the Marines behind me.”

Balczo arrived in Albany 10 days ago and said he’s looking “forward to serving in ... and being a part of that LOGCOM family.”

“Even amidst the liquid sunshine we’re receiving,” he said, “what a great day. Thank you and Semper Fi.”

Ever-present at ceremonies, the base’s Marine Corps band set the spirit of celebration with favorites including “Anchor’s Away” and the “Marine’s Hymn” — “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. We will fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea.”

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