Example Article for Honoring Our Veterans
Promotion Of Devinn Ragen To 2nd Lieutenant
Author: Matt Nelson
Matt Nelson
Eleven enlisted soldiers, consisting of three ladies and eight men of the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG), were promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) on Sunday, August 10th, at Fort Harrison. The keynote speaker was Colonel Chase Ragen, who is from Townsend. His son, former SGT Devinn, was one of the people earning a commission. Each of the people being promoted had gone through the arduous 18 months of Officer Candidate School (OCS).
Colonel Ragen was introduced by his son, Officer Candidate Ragen. Colonel Ragen has 32 years in the MTARNG, six of which were enlisted. He attended OCS in 2000. He has had an impressive military career, including his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan in 2013 as Executive Officer of the largest Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in theatre.
After welcoming all of the candidates, Col Ragen said, “The men and women serving in uniform, protecting our freedoms – safeguarding our way of life, and who have sworn an allegiance to our constitution make up less than 1% of our society today. Folks in the audience, do you realize that these leaders here today are the 10% of the 1%? These leaders here today before you represent less than point one percent of our society. Make no mistake; there is no greater responsibility and burden than to lead America’s sons, daughters, moms/dads, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters into harm’s way. There is no greater charge. May our Lord bless you in all of your future endeavors. Take Care of Soldiers, and they will Take Care of You. Always Ready, Always there. – the Montana Way!”
Following Colonel Ragen’s speech, the candidates were given their commissions as 2nd Lieutenants. Family members pinned the gold bars of a 2nd Lieutenant onto the new officers. Colonel Ragen and his wife, LTC(R) Daniela Ragen, pinned 2LT Ragen’s bars onto his uniform. It is noteworthy to mention that Daniela also spent 27 years in the MTARNG, retiring in 2023 as a Lt. Colonel. She deployed to Iraq during the insurgency in 2003. Devinn, while enlisted, had deployed to the Middle East in 2018. It is also noteworthy to mention that LT Devinn Ragen’s great-grandfather, Chuck Ragen, served in Patton’s army during World War II as a tank crewman. One family from Broadwater County and 4 deployments into harm's way, spread over generations.
To conclude the ceremony, a tradition going back to the days of General Washington was followed: The first enlisted soldier to salute the new Lieutenant was given a silver dollar. Each of the 11 officers had a friend or relative come up and salute them in exchange for the dollar. The most interesting was that a lady Lieutenant was saluted by her husband, a sergeant in the guard who had recruited her a few years ago.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: Montana Army National Guard Colonel Chase Ragen is congratulating his son 2nd Lieutenant Devinn Ragen on his promotion
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 2 Caption: Colonel Chase Ragen's family - Left to right, back row: Patrick, Chase Ragen's father; Colonel Chase Ragen; his wife Daniela, LT Colonel, Retired; 2nd L T. Devinn Ragen; daughter Zyanne; mother Sharon;
daughters Millie and Ellie; not pictured is Jazel, Chase's other daughter.
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
