Military Service
Kansas State University,
Army ROTC (1978-1983)
I first started out in Air Force ROTC.
I took Air Force ROTC the first 2 semesters but wasn't able to pass the medical
exam (bad eyes). Did a lot of Drill & Ceremony (D&C) though LOL. Didn't do ROTC
for a year and then Army ROTC accepted me, bad eyes and all. Condensed Army ROTC
and went to Advanced Camp at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1982. Graduated from Kansas
State University and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on May 13, 1983. Captain
Butler commissioned me. Received my B.S. degree in History. I was branched
INFANTRY and would soon be on my way to Fort Benning, Georgia.
Fort Bliss, Texas (1982)
Right after completing ROTC Advanced
Camp at Fort Riley, Kansas I was selected for Cadet Troop Leadership Training/CTLT
at Fort Bliss Texas. I was assigned to a Communications Platoon attached to an
Air Defense Artillery/ADA unit at Magregor Range. My First Sergeant/1SG was MSG
Burns. He reminded me of my dad in a lot of ways. Stature, mannerism, etc..
and he was "Old Army" like my dad. My dad retired from the Army after a 21 year
career (1954-1975).
Fort Benning, Georgia
(1983)
Went to Fort Benning in June, 1983 for
my Infantry Officer's Basic Course/IOBC (16 weeks). I had lived in Kansas for
quite awhile and I thought I was used to the heat and humidity...UNTIL I arrived
in Georgia in June!!! Kansas had it's mosquitos and chiggers and poison ivy,
but.... that was nothing compared to the woods of Fort Benning, Georgia during
the summer time!! Had a good time at Fort Benning. We trained 6 days a week with
only Sundays off. We spent about 70% of the 16 weeks in the field. Captain Lamb
was our Platoon TAC Officer and let's say he liked to run!!! After the first
week we started running 5 miles every day. Only the smokers and LTDs (little
tubby dudes) complained. Finished Infantry Officer's Basic Course in October and
went straight into AIRBORNE school at Fort Benning. I didn't think it was all
that bad, but we still lost about 40% of our company. Made all 5 jumps out of a
C-130.
Fort Riley, Kansas
(1983-1986)
As soon as I arrived to Fort Riley,
Kansas I was assigned Platoon Leader of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd
Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. The Big
Red One. Captain Carroll was my first Company Commander. He was an honest LTD
(little tubby dude). Never made the PT runs in the morning. Funny how he made it
that far in the Infantry LOL. Captain Carroll soon rotated and Captain Clay
became our Company Commander. Captain Clay was a good man and a good Company
Commander. He cared for his troops and stood by them. I was the lead platoon
when we rotated to the National Training Center/NTC at Fort Irwin, California.
Although nobody was injured on the live-fire part of the deployment, we did have
2 roll-over accidents and lost a few soldiers. When I was a Platoon Leader, my
Battalion Executive Officer was MAJ Russell Honore. You may have recognized him
after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005. He was the big black cajun
General from the Louisiana Nationa Guard. His code name while with 2/16th
Infantry was "THE RAJUN CAJUN". He made things happen, a no bull-shitter!
After my platoon time I was assigned as Executive Officer (XO) of Echo Company
(anti-tank), 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry
Division. I had 2 company commanders while there and they were both pathetic.
First was Captain Wert and then Captain Sloan. Both were losers and had terrible
commands. I always reported the Operational Readiness Report/OR Report
accurately and Captains Wert & Sloan always wanted me to lie about it. I stood
my ground. It didn't get any better on the NCO side of the house, as one of our
1SGs was 1SG Au Hoon. The biggest liar, back stabber of them all. He was in his
"own Army" and would have been the first person fragged if given the chance.
Always reporting the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for his screw ups LOL!
I was XO of Echo Company when we rotated to Germany on a REFORGER Exercise. The
beer was good! And was able to go to Checkpoint Charlie.
National Training Center/NTC,
Fort Irwin, California (1984)
A good rotation to the NTC. Went
during the winter time. Learned a lot and was the lead platoon on all missions.
Captain Clay was our Company Commander and did a great job. Was always positive
and kept everyone informed.
REFORGER/Return Forces to
Germany (1986)
A winter deployment. We had really bad
weather. Snow at night that would melt during the day. Wasn't able to do
maneuvers because of the "maneuver damage" that would have happened. Had to deal
with the loser combination of Captain Wert & 1SG Au Hoon. Not a good deployment
because of poor leadership.
Fort Benning, Georgia
(1987)
Reported for Infantry Officer's
Advanced Course/IOAC (20 weeks) in January. Lots of rain during the winter time.
Had a good time. More classroom time this time around.
Fort Lee, Virginia (1987)
Went there for 6 weeks after IOAC for
the Logistics Course. The good news is that my brother was stationed at Langley
AFB not too far from there. So I was able to go there on the weekends. Did some
crabbing in the bay.
Fort Jackson, South
Carolina (1987-1990)
Basic Training assignment. Here I was
a Company Commander and a Battalion S-3. After firing my 1SG after a month of
being a Company Commander I got a new 1SG. 1SG Hensley....a GOOD MAN who kept my
ass out of hot water. Thank-you 1SG Hensley for all that you did and for all
that you did do and I didn't know about LOL ! Kudos to SFC Marshall & SFC
Bollinger for all the hard work and leadership that you provided. And to CSM
Parker for keeping my NCO's in line and for the advice that you gave to the
battalion officers as well. And last, but not least, a special thanks to LTC
William Carter. A great Battalion Commander mentor. He really took care of his
officers and NCO's. I learned a lot from LTC Carter.
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
(1990)
Spent 6 weeks here for CAS3 (Combined Arms
Services Staff School), lets just say that we ( a bunch of Captains) mad
numerous trips to the strip clubs in Kansas City! LOL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Army ROTC Prescott, Arizona (1990-1992)
A very rewarding assignment! I
taught the freshmen (MS I's) and the seniors (MS IV's) and the Rifle Team.
Had an exciting time taking the cadets out on Leadership Lab and on FTX's.
Ft. Huachuca, AZ was beautiful in the fall. Nice to watch cadets gain
confidence rappelling off the cliffs and gaining confidence. During this
time I also had to go to Ft. Lewis and run the STRAC lanes during ROTC Advance
Camp. I still run into some of those cadets, some are civilians and some
are still on active duty. I loved every minute of it!
HEROES
ZEROES
MAJ Honore
CPT Wert
CPT Clay
CPT Sloan
SSG Manzano
1SG Au Hoon
LTC Carter
COL Collins
1SG Hensley
SFC Harrington
SFC Marshall
SFC Reese
CSM Parker
LTC Harper
SFC Bolinger
CPT Hobby