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Leslie Hobbs - Seventh Decade In Service To Army Reserve
by U.S. Army
Reserve Zachary Mott
May 21, 2021
A legacy of service that began “so long ago I don’t remember what
I did,” continues today for Leslie Hobbs as he works as the digital
training facility manager at the Sgt. Charles R. Long Army Reserve
Center here.
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May 18, 2021 - Leslie Hobbs, digital training facility manager at the Sgt. Charles R. Long Army Reserve Center, Independence, Missouri, was presented with a plaque honoring his 33 years of service to the facility and the Army Reserve Soldiers who work and train there. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Zachary Mott)
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Hobbs began his military service
in 1959 when he left his Joplin, MO hometown and headed down the
road to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for six months of training. What
followed was a 33 year military career that culminated with Hobbs
retiring as a lieutenant colonel. From there, he’s worked various
jobs around the reserve center doing what he can to help Soldiers.
“We usually can’t keep him out of the building because he never
leaves,” said Michelle Fostek, facility manager, 139th Medical
Brigade. “He does more hours than he’s supposed to because he’s
always trying to help the Soldiers. Even though we say the duty day
ends at 2 he always stays until 4 to make sure that everything is
taken care of even though that’s past his hours of working.”
That work ethic and staying until the job is finished was instilled
in him from a young age and is something Hobbs credits for
continuing to work today at the age of 80.
“I started
working when I was a teenager, I was a farmer,” Hobbs said. “I’ve
been working all my life and I don’t know what I would do if I
wasn’t working.”
For the Army Reserve Soldiers who drill and
train at the Long Army Reserve Center, Hobbs is the computer lab
man.
“The typical duties are I’m here and if somebody shows
up, I help them get on the computer so they can use it, basically,”
said Hobbs in his plain-spoken, straightforward way.
Hobbs is
not the only one at the Long Army Reserve Center with an extensive
period of service there.
“He’s been a great entity for us
throughout all the years. I’ve been here for 25 years and I’ve known
him the entire time myself,” Fostek said. “Mr. Hobbs has been here
for quite some time. We just all keep finding ways to keep coming
right back to this building.”
For Hobbs, he said the best
part is, “I like being able to associate with the Soldiers.”
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