Longest-serving defense worker, 94, is retiring after 65 years of service
Nevada- He served at depot since US entered World War 2
HAWTHORNE- Louis Dellamonica, retiring after 65 years at the central Nevada military ammunition depot- a record for federal defense workers- was honored Friday with awards and letters of praise from President Bush, military brass, members of Congress, and others
Department of Defense officials say Dellamonica, 94, is the oldest and longest continuously serving department employee on active service since the agency’s creation in 1947—six years after he started working at the depot in 1941.
The Hawthorne Army Depot was controlled by the Navy at the time.
The remote facility dates to 1930.
Dellamonica, an electrical engineer, will retire officially at the start of the year.
He has been out on sick leave for nearly a year, after breaking a leg.
Co-workers who attended Dellamonica’s retirement party Friday call him a sharp-minded man who has helped change his community and the country her served.
“It’s a historic milestone because he came to work right after Pearl Harbor,” said Jody Gonzales, an administrative officer for the depot base commander.
During his career, Dellamonica designed a building to disarm ammunition, and helped design innovative missile guidance and control systems, according to depot officials.
Because of his knowledge of the depot, he’s regularly asked for information and advice.
“When we can’t solve a problem, we go to Louie,” said Lt. Col. Hardee Green, the current depot commander.
“Just to pit it in perspective, I’m the 36th commander that he has served under,” Green said, “He’s served under 32 of 36 commanders.”
Dellamonica isn’t sure what he’s going to do next.
“I don’t know. I guess just take it easy, I hope,” he said.
Originally written by Tara Godvin (with the associated press)- Taken and copied from Salem, Oregon’s Statesman Journal.
