Col. Jerry R. Stidham officially retired from the U.S. Army on Jan. 22 at Fort Bragg, N.C. Stidham is the son of William and Betty Stidham, who live in London, Ohio. He was presented with the Legion of Merit award for 25 years of faithful service to the nation. Stidham, a veteran of the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, his wife Amy and son Matthew plan to reside in Fayetteville, N.C.