By Staff
TEMPORARY COMMANDER n Lieutenant Commander Mark K. Fields, left, replaced Lt. Commander Randy C. Reeves as temporary commander of the Naval Reserve Center in Meridian Saturday. Reeves was the first commander of the center, which was relocated to Meridian from Jackson. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
Aug. 26, 2001
Lieutenant Commander Mark K. Fields assumed temporary command of the Naval Reserve Center in Meridian on Saturday during a change of command ceremony.
Fields replaced Lt. Commander Randy C. Reeves, who has been assigned as service worker officer on the USS Yorktown, a Navy cruiser. Fields, commander of the Naval Reserve Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., will serve as interim commander in Meridian until a new commander is named in November.
During the ceremony Fields said he looks forward to serving the extra duty and Reeves bid a tearful goodbye to his personnel and family members he will be leaving.
A native of Little Rock, Reeves said he had mixed emotions when he received orders to command the Naval Reserve Center 16 months ago.
He said his fears were unfounded and that one could only dream of the kind of support that followed from the community.
During Reeves' command the center's recruiting and retention continued to rise and eight new officers were commissioned. The center also made its move from Jackson to Meridian as the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Naval Reserve Center.
The center's namesake, former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, was present Saturday for the ceremonies.
Full-time staffers at the center said they will miss Reeves.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.