409th CSB civilian retires after 37 years of service
Story by Sgt. Fay Conroy,
21st TSC Public Affairs
http://www.21tsc.army.mil/21tsc/Articles/2010/2010-03-15-054_409civilianretireswith37years.htm
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Napoleon Bonaparte said that an army marches
on its stomach, which means that an army cannot march without support.
It can also be said that the Army cannot march without the support and
dedication of its civilian employees.
One such employee is Matano Gracias, a procurement analyst with the
Wiesbaden Contracting Center, Matano Gracias, a procurement analyst with
the Wiesbaden Contracting Center, 409th Contracting Support Brigade,
21st Theater Sistainment Command, retired March 16 after 37 years of
service with the U.S. government. (U.S. Army photo) which is part of the
409th Contracting Support Brigade in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Gracias
retired March 16 after 37 years of service with the U.S. government.
Originally from Caranzalem, India, a former Portuguese colony, Gracias
began working for the U.S. government in 1973 as an accounts clerk for
the quartermaster laundry in Frankfurt. After serving in various
positions in the Frankfurt area for 22 years, Gracias began working in
his current position in Wiesbaden.
“I don’t think I’ve met someone who enjoys his job as much as he does,”
said Lt. Col. Ralph Tremaglio, the command counsel for the 409th CSB,
21st Theater Sustainment Command. “While I’m happy for him to retire,
this command will take a huge hit. No one can replace him, and no one will.”
“If you ever want to know what real dedication is, he showed it with the
Frankfurt bombing and hasn’t let up since then,” said Tremaglio.
The year was 1985 and Germany was still a divided country. There had
been a rash of terrorist bombings on military installations. Gracias
had just started his new position as the deputy chief of the Regional
Contracting Office in Frankfurt. A car bomb went off in the parking lot
of the Post Exchange in Frankfurt Nov. 24. Thirty-four people were
injured in the attack that carved a 6-foot crater into the parking lot
and damaged the buildings. Gracias was at home on annual leave attending
to his wife, who had just had a baby, when he heard about the bombing.
“I called Mr. Meisegades, chief of the Regional Contracting Office in
Frankfurt, and offered my services. We had a meeting early morning the
next day, and I was put in charge of the project to rebuild the area,
said Gracias. “Contracts to repair the damages were awarded same day and
within three days the commissary and PX were open for shopping. The rest
of the work was completed by the end of January 1986.”
Gracias continued to draft and administer contracts throughout his
career, he also has earned himself the name of “fraud fighter” as he was
dubbed by Tremaglio.
“I have been working with Mat for 18 months, but I have known about him
for some time,” Tremaglio said. “He has probably saved the government
more money than anyone I know in the government.”
One of the ways Gracias has saved the government money is by
investigating cases of possible fraud. When a claim is made by a
contractor or civilian for a certain amount of money, Gracias makes sure
that the amount is correct or determines how much should actually be paid.
“If something goes through Mr. Gracias and he says that the government
owes you, then they owe that much and not a penny more,” said Tremaglio.
Although his years as a fraud fighter are almost behind him, Gracias
said he plans to continue his work even in retirement by continuing to
advise his co-workers.
"I’ve worked hard and done my best,” he said. “I’ve offered my services
after I retired, free of charge.”
Gracias plans to do a lot of traveling with his wife now that he is
retired, he said. He has been married for almost 30 years to Annelore,
and they plan on enjoying life and relaxing as much as possible.
