United States Army Infantry Officer Candidate School

Class 14-67; 52^nd Company

45^th Anniversary Reunion and

Memorial Re-Dedication Ceremony

San Antonio, TX

8 - 11 March 2012

After Action Report

Over the weekend of March 8^th to March 11^th, 26 of our classmates and two Tac Officers gathered in San Antonio, Texas to remember the 45^th anniversary of our commissioning and again to honor our fallen brothers. This was the sixth time since being commissioned on March 7, 1967 that we’ve reunited and this year there were two classmates and one Tac Officer participating in their very first reunion – Dennis Hendricks (3^rd Platoon) and Jeff Knowlton (4^th Platoon) and Chester Husband (4^th Platoon Tac Officer). Six of us (Doug Bulthaus, Bob Holt, George Hunsaker, Brian Smith, Bob Usher & Rick White) continue to have a perfect attendance record. We were also accompanied by 23 wives (including Patty Longgrear and Donna Husband), Gretchen and Leah Bulthaus (daughters of Doug and Mary), and several very special guests – Mary Lazaro (sister of Bobby Lazaro), Nora Ordway and Helen Olson (cousins of Billy Ordway), Helen’s husband Mark, MAJ Graham White (Rick White’s son) and his girl friend Carla Monaghan.

We used the El Tropicano Hotel as the “Tactical Operations Center” for all our activities. Our Hospitality Suite was filled with wonderful discussion, quite a few hugs, many smiles and yes, some tears. There was much heavy-duty storytelling as usual. Plenty of memorabilia were also available, from the Class Book, to a Biography Book prepared by Bob Usher, 6^th Platoon, telling “all” about our found classmates who have submitted “bios” for publication to a book (designed by Brian Smith, 6^th Platoon) dedicated to all of our KIAs. And thanks to Bob Usher (6^th Platoon) we even had some special photos – in particular one of Chester Husband sleeping behind the bleachers at one of our outdoor tactical classes (entitled “Rack-a-Tac”).

Name tags with our original Class Book pictures were again provided by Bob Usher’s wife, Jean, who deserves much more credit than she receives. As our former Company clerk – remember Jean Fox? – she continues to keep Bob on the straight and narrow, which as we all know is a massive challenge.

The Hospitality Suite opened at noon on Thursday (March 8^th) this year with our attempt at getting some additional time together. Judging by the number of classmates in full swing by the early afternoon, this experiment proved quite successful.

Our official program began Friday morning with a welcome and orientation meeting in the Hospitality Suite. With rain showers all day, the free time to explore San Antonio in the morning was used by many to hang loose in the hotel and visit. A handful made a short visit to the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery to visit the gravesite of Pete Zanca (5^th Platoon Tac Officer) who was KIA in Vietnam in 1968. In the afternoon we set up our own motorcade and traveled the short distance to Brooke Army Medical Center for a guided tour of the Center for the Intrepid and the Fisher House complex.

The Center for the Intrepid (CFI) was opened 29 Jan 2007. Thanks to the generosity of over 600,000 Americans, wounded warriors now have a $50 million state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation facility (built entirely from private funds through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund). The CFI provides assistance to the nation's military heroes injured in the performance of duty and their families. Originally designed for service members wounded in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, it specializes in prosthesis replacement of severed limbs lost in combat and burn treatment. We witnessed numerous military personnel in the area minus one or more limbs but with smiles as "Big as Texas

The Fisher house is a home away from home for these service members and their families during the recuperation period. The Fisher House Foundation was established by noted philanthropist and patriot, Zachary Fisher and his wife Elizabeth. Families pay a nominal service fee which is considerably lower than any other housing in the area. You can learn more about Fisher House and make donations if you so desire at: www.armyfisherhouses.org. A big highlight for all of us there was when a staff sergeant stood on his prosthesis, with his 4 children around him, and thanked us for our service. He said “if it weren’t for you doing what you did and enduring the failed welcome home that you got, we wouldn’t get the welcome we get”. More than a few tears were shed at that moment.

Friday evening we gathered in the suite of Candidate Holt (3rd Herd) for a wine and cheese party (Beer & chips for the Infantry) and then proceeded to supper on our own along the River Walk via a wet and windy ride on a river taxi. The return trip was led by several confused 2LTs without maps and compasses and for some, it took several hours. Non Infantry personnel cut straight through in 15 minutes or took a taxi in 5 minutes. The rest of the evening was spent reminiscing and some "stretching of the truth".

Saturday morning began with a re-dedication of our fallen comrades’ memorial plaque in our Hospitality Room due to the rain. The ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Hector Colon (our outgoing Commanding Officer) reading a moving poem written by one of his comrades in the 25^th Infantry Division while in Vietnam. Brother Bob Usher read the names of our 10 classmates and 2 tactical officers Killed in Action and those of the other 29 who have passed away from other causes since Vietnam. Brother Bob Holt read the 24 February 1836 letter from LTC William B. Travis to "The People of Texas And All Americans In The World" asking for supplies and reinforcements prior to the Alamo being overrun by General Santa Anna’s troops on March 6, 1836. Bob Holt then sang several moving songs to close out the ceremony.

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Rain again put a damper on some of Saturday’s planned activities, but not on the spirit of the group as several completed the walk to the Vietnam Memorial and on to the Alamo. The River Tour was canceled by the boat company due to the rain which forced the city to lower the water level in the river (used as emergency water runoff in case of flooding).

At 5:00 PM, we gathered for cocktails and more reminiscing prior to Texas-size "San Antonio Strip Steaks" with all the trimmings. Following dinner, we were treated to a very moving speech by MAJ Graham R. White, son of Brother (COL Ret) Rick and Pamela White. Graham's Introduction (by Bob Usher) and his speech and biography are attached. Additionally, (by request) COL Ret Paul Longgrear provided a blow by blow description of his encounter with the NVA tanks at the Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei as detailed in the book "Night of the Silver Stars" by William R. Phillips (If you haven't read it, we highly recommend you do.

During dinner, we were treated to music provided by Steve from San Antonio Premier Events, a local DJ and a retired U S Army Master Sergeant. After dinner and the talks by MAJ White and COL Longgrear we were introduced to Texas Line Dancing and the Texas Two-Step by Cathy and David Ramsey of Georgetown, TX (friends of Bob and Margarite Holt) and Cathy and David's daughter Emily and her husband Shane Littleton. Many thanks Cathy, David, Emily and Shane.

We had a great time dancing. Longgrear proved he had moves we never saw in OCS. Doug Bulthaus was caught on film dancing, much to the delight of his daughters Gretchen and Leah and Ranger Graham and Carla had some great moves on the floor too. Candidate Hendricks was voted "Ladies Man" for the reunion, dancing with every woman there plus several from the hotel staff.

A special thank you to the ladies who decorated the tables for the dinner. All the boots belonged to Bob and Margarite Holt (do they own a boot store?).

Brother Brian Smith designed and recorded a great Texas Music CD with over 20 songs sung by stars from Bob Wills to George Strait and Ernest Tubb to Willie Nelson. GREAT MUSIC, thanks Brian.

A framed picture of our Memorial Plaque at Ft. Benning was awarded to Dennis Hendricks (drew name out of a hat) who then proceeded to give it to MAJ Graham White. Great move Dennis.

There were hundreds of photographs taken during the reunion and some will be posted on our OCS website along with the After Action Report (AAR). The web site was designed and is maintained by brother Carey Boyles. The web site address is: https://www.tele-onecom.com/ocs_52nd. You will be advised when the AAR and pictures are uploaded and ready for viewing. Thanks again Carey.

After breakfast Sunday morning, a short business meeting was held in the hospitality suite. We elected Carl Jones as the new Company Commander until the next reunion which we voted to hold on the west coast (San Diego, San Francisco, Portland or Seattle) in the Sep/Oct 2014 time frame (2 1/2 years and half way to our 50th reunion). It was also agreed that the 50th reunion cannot be anywhere except Ft. Benning on or about 7 Mar 2017.

We concluded our 2012 (45th) reunion after the business meeting and said all our good-byes in the hotel and parking lot with wonderful memories to take with us on our travels home.

Special thanks to our three brothers, John Goodlett, Ralph Perez & Fred Shannon, who couldn’t make the Reunion this time around, but who made contributions to the class treasury to help cover expenses.

And a huge thank you to Bob and Margarite Holt for all the hotel, dinner, dancing, DJ, Dance Instructors, decorations, Wine & cheese soiree, and San Antonio sightseeing arrangements (even though some were rained out). Can't you control the weather candidate??

While the final financial figures are not yet completed awaiting some information from the hotel, our treasury remains in good shape. A separate email providing you a full accounting of the funds received, expended and still remaining will be sent out in a short while.

End Note: Honor Platoon (most attendees) this reunion goes to the Third Platoon with 14 participants – 7 classmates, 5 classmates’ wives and Paul and Patty Longgrear. And, of course, Honor State goes to Texas, also with 14 attendees (surprise, surprise !!).

Respectfully submitted:

Carl Jones Hector Colon Brian Smith Bob Usher Bob Holt

Incoming CO Outgoing CO Treasurer XO and 1SGT Local Coordinator

2012 REUNION ATTENDEES

Those attending the 2012 Reunion of Infantry OCS Class 14-67 (52^nd Company) were as follows (first time reunion attendees are noted in “blue”):

First Platoon

Paul and Carol Biesemeier - Austin, Texas

Terry and Donna Boettner - Raleigh, North Carolina

Carey and Sandy Boyles - Tyler, Texas

Mike and Cindy Briggs - Marion Center, Pennsylvania

Doug and Mary Bulthaus - St. Anthony, Minnesota

Second Platoon

Joe and Bernie Bambach - Oceanport, New Jersey

Hector Colon - Moline, Illinois

Larry and Mary Flakne - Fulton, Missouri

Pres and Charlene Funkhouser - Clearwater, Idaho

Third Platoon

Henry and Betty Gold - Lipan, Texas

Dennis Hendricks - Bakersfield, California

Farrel and Sheryl Hobbs - Westminster, Colorado

Bob and Margarite Holt - Georgetown, Texas

David Huebner - Lakeville, Minnesota

George and Karen Hunsaker - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Carl and Fran Jones - Sumner, Washington

Paul and Patty Longgrear (Tac) - Pine Mountain, Georgia

Fourth Platoon

Chester and Donna Husband (Tac) - Portland, Texas

Jeff and Beth Knowlton - Temple, Texas

Ted and Gail Mathis - Harrison, Michigan

Fifth Platoon

Jim O’Leary - Austin, Texas

Tom Medina - Buda, Texas

Leon and Diane Ooton - Jacksonville, Florida

Sixth Platoon

John and Fran Shaeffer - Hartville, Ohio

Brian and Janet Smith - Santa Barbara, California

Bob and Jean Usher - Lacey’s Spring, Alabama

Rick and Pamela White - Johns Creek, Georgia

Pat and Kathy Wing - Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Relatives and Friends

Gretchen Bulthaus (daughter of Doug Bulthaus) - St. Anthony, Minnesota

Leah Bulthaus (daughter of Doug Bulthaus) - St. Anthony, Minnesota

Mary Lazaro (sister of Bobby Lazaro) - Glendora, New Jersey

Shane and Emily Littleton (friends of Bob Holt) - Georgetown, Texas

Carla Monaghan (friend of Graham White) - San Diego, CA

Mark and Helen Olson (Helen is Billy Ordway’s cousin) - S. San Francisco, California

Nora Ordway (cousin of Billy Ordway) - Kennebunk, Maine

David and Cathy Ramsey (friends of Bob Holt) - Georgetown, Texas

MAJ Graham R. White (son of Rick White) - Ft. Benning, GA

INTRODUCTION OF MAJ GRAHAM R. WHITE

1. 45 YEARS AGO, I MET THIS "KID" IN OCS. HE WAS BARELY 18 And LOOKED 13. HE GRADUATED IN THE TOP OF OUR CLASS AND HAD A DISTINGUISHED MILITARY CAREER. SOMEHOW RICK MET AND MARRIED THE 1989 ROSE BOWL QUEEN (ACTUALLY THAT'S 69). WHY DO I MENTION THIS? BECAUSE THIS KID AND THE QUEEN ...........BEGAT GRAHAM RICHARD WHITE ON 12 FEB 1978.

2. GRAHAM WAS ARMY FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION. HE WAS BORN WITH A GRANADE PIN IN HIS TEETH (YOU CAN'T PULL A GRANADE PIN WITH YOUR GUMS) AND HE WORE CAMO DIAPERS. GRAHAM ACTUALLY JOINED THE ARMY ON HIS 17TH BIRTHDAY AND WAS AIRBORNE QUALIFIED BEFORE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IN 1996. HE WENT ON TO WEST POINT WHERE HE PLAYED ARMY FOOTBALL, WAS A NATIONALLY RANKED PUNTER, AND WAS SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE BLUE - GRAY BOWL GAME IN 1999. HE GRADUATED A 2LT IN 2000.

3. WE HAVE ALL KEPT UP WITH GRAHAM VIA RICK'S UPDATES ON HIS MILITARY CAREER AND WE ALL PRAYED FOR HIS RECOVERY AFTER HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN ACTION IN JUNE 2003 BY AN IED. GRAHAM HAS SERVED 3 TOURS IN IRAQ AND 7 IN AFGHANISTAN FOR A TOTAL OF 39 MONTHS IN COMBAT.

4. AS YOU CAN SEE BY HIS BIO ON THE REVERSE OF OUR DINNER PROGRAM, THIS YOUNG MAN HAS ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN HIS 12 YEARS IN UNIFORM (20 COUNTING H.S JROTC & WEST POINT). HE HAS BEEN TO EVERY MAJOR SCHOOL THE ARMY OFFERS (EXCEPT OCS - HE KNOWS HIS DAD SET THE BAR TOO HIGH), AND I'M NOT SURE HE COULD HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE REST OF US 52ND BOYS.

5. I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THE OLD COWBOY SAYING - "NEVER DRINK DOWN STREAM FROM THE HERD"......... REMEMBER THIS !!

6. I READ A TOP SECRET SITREP NOT LONG AGO ABOUT 3 TWELVE YEAR OLD BOYS (ALL SONS OF US ARMY COLONELS) IN PANAMA WHO ASSULTED A STRATIGIC FRESH WATER TANK THAT SUPPLIED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DRINKING WATER TO THE LOCAL US ARMY BASE AT FT. CLAYTON, PANAMA. NOT ONLY DID THIS TEAM OF WARRIORS CONQUER THE OBJECTIVE, THEY CELEBRATED THEIR VICTORY WITH A SWIM IN THE TANK. BOYS BEING BOYS, THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT THEY MAY HAVE LEFT SOME YELLOW LIQUID RESIDUE IN THAT WATER. IT IS ALSO UNCLEAR HOW MANY TIMES THIS TRIO RE-TOOK THAT TANK AND RE-CELEBRATED THEIR VICTORY, LEAVING BEHIND MORE RESIDUE.

7. ABOUT THIS SAME TIME IN PANAMA THERE WAS A REALLY CUTE LITTLE 12 YEAR OLD GIRL NAMED CARLA, WHOSE FATHER WAS A PANAMA CANAL ZONE EMPLOYEE . SEEMS GRAHAM AND CARLA WERE CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS, WHO BY THE WAY, HAVE RECONNECTED SOME 20 YEARS LATER.

8. NOW YOU REMEMBER THE OLD COWBOY SAYING ABOUT NOT DRINKING DOWN STREAM FROM THE HERD? WELL, CARLA... IT APPEARS THAT YOU MAY HAVE INDEED "DRANK DOWN STREAM FROM THE HERD", THANKS TO THE WATER TANK ASSAULT TEAM.

9. GRAHAM WILL SOON BE GIVING UP HIS RANGER COMMAND AT FT. BENNING FOR A 3 YEAR ASSIGNMENT IN THE DC AREA. HE WILL SPEND A YEAR GETTING HIS MASTERS OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, A YEAR WITH US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AS LIAISON TO THE JOINT STAFF AND FINALLY A YEAR AS LIAISON TO CONGRESS. THE LATTER IS CONSIDERED A COMBAT ASSIGNMENT AND SHOULD MERIT COMBAT PAY.

10. I FULLY EXPECT THIS YOUNG OFFICER TO BE ADDRESSED AS GENERAL WHITE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN......................... MAJOR GRAHAM R. WHITE !!

REMARKS BY MAJ GRAHAM R. WHITE

Distinguished alumni of the 52^nd Officer Candidate School Company, family members, and friends - Good evening. It is with a humble and full heart that I speak to you tonight as you gather to celebrate 45 years since your commissioning into the ranks of the United States Army as newly minted Second Lieutenants.

Major Usher invited me to speak at this event back in early February of last year and told me to be prepared to share the podium with one of several guest speakers who might be addressing your group tonight - to include - General Colin Powell, Lieutenant General Hal Moore, and/or President Bush. I don’t see them here, and I’m assuming it is not because they didn’t receive an invite or didn’t want to come, but instead likely the result of a conflict with a more pressing, meaningful, and momentous world event. An event so relevant and sacred, that only this event could keep them away tonight…I’m sure you have guessed by now that I am referring to the celebration of Chuck Norris’ 72^nd Birthday. That’s right movie fans; today is March 10^th - the Birthday of one of the world’s most intriguing and charismatic figures, and fittingly - a Texas native and one of the more famous Texas Rangers, Walker to be exact. A man so highly regarded by world leaders, respected by world class athletes, and feared by our world’s enemies, that the following Chuck Norris facts have been established:

1. “The reason no weapons of mass destruction were found in the Middle East, is because Chuck Norris lives in Texas.”

2. That “Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep when the lights go out at night, he waits.”

3. It has even been said “that Chuck Norris was never born, he was forged.”

4. Here’s an interesting fact for you, “Chuck Norris’ first job was as a paperboy…there were no survivors.”

5. And finally, that the legendary “Chuck Norris walked out on the first day of kindergarten when he found out they have recess. After all, Chuck Norris doesn’t play.”

So while GEN Colin Powell, LTG Hal Moore, and President Bush spend this evening in quiet reflection to ponder the impact Chuck Norris’ life has had on us all…you all are stuck with me. I’m sorry about that, but I will do my best to keep you mildly captivated with my remarks for the next 2 to 3 hours - which is the time limit given to me by MAJ Usher - and I do plan on filling all 180 minutes; so please hydrate. After this lengthy and intriguing dissertation, I will trade in these Army Blues and jump boots for Wranglers and cowboy boots - and then do my best to keep up with you Chris Ledoux fans during some good ole fashion line dancing, beer drinking, and storytelling. One note on storytelling for you war vets, remember that nothing ruins a good war story like an eyewitness. A word of advice, make sure your story is limited to an audience that is either too old to remember the details, or too drunk to process the details. I have a feeling you are going to find both here tonight.

Most of what I want to share with you tonight involves facts and numbers, so forgive me if I am reading from notes I prepared - I simply want to get it right.

My address this evening is an effort to honor you #1, inform you #2, and report to you stockholders #3 - on the current state of your most cherished and highest priced stock - YOUR ARMY; an Army that has been in the midst of war for nearly 11 consecutive years now, and as a result - an Army that is tired, but never asleep; and Army that is downsizing troop strength, but never diminishing in quality; an Army that produces warriors and heroes every day, but purposely stops short of creating a Hollywood script to go along with those heroes’ stories; an Army that is aware of the cost of war - a cost paid by the men and women you saw yesterday at Brooke Army Medical Center; an Army that realizes that invisible wounds are just as life threatening as visible ones; an Army that recognizes the service and sacrifice of military spouses and children as well, and therefore actively looks after their interests and needs; and an Army that instills values from Day 1 - with special emphasis on honor and integrity. Taxpayers, the bottom line up front is that your hard-earned money is going toward a noble Army that IS as strong as the commercials say it is, and for this - you should be proud.

The strength of your Army is found it its people. You inherently know this, but you may not have heard recent examples of this strength, so I will share some with you.

Allow me to tell you about some of my friends…five to be exact.

Sergeant First Class Kanaan Merriken is my friend, and HE is Army Strong. Kanaan is married to Kari and they have one child and live in Columbus, Georgia. On 26 June 2003, Kanaan was traveling in my vehicle convoy in Baghdad, Iraq - Route Irish - when our two vehicle convoy was hit by a catastrophic roadside bomb - one of the first IEDs of the war. There were nine of us in the light skinned, unarmored HMMWV that day. Two were killed - SGT Tim Conneway, my driver, and CPL Andrew Chris, who was sitting right behind Tim on the left side acting as a gunner. The remaining seven of us were all injured, with Sergeant First Class Merriken, who was a Specialist at the time, the most severely injured survivor. Kanaan’s injuries were to his head. His carotid artery had been severed by shrapnel, along with the left frontal lobe of his brain, and he had a retinal hemorrhage and severe hearing loss. At the scene, Kanaan was unconscious and unresponsive when Ranger first responders came to our aide from the vehicle directly behind us. Kanaan would remain that way, unconscious and in a drug induced coma on a ventilator - for the next 2 weeks. Kari was asked to medically retire Kanaan from his bed in Landshtuhl, Germany - which is where we all ended up. Medical retirement essentially acknowledges that the person undergoing treatment, should they live, will almost certainly never live a normal life again - and therefore, allows the family member to begin receiving full retirement benefits almost immediately. At the last minute, Kari balked, citing that it most likely was not something Kanaan would want…in her estimation, her young husband still had more fight left in him. Kanaan awoke on 6 July 2003, and the first person he saw and recognized - was Kari. It was another 5 days before Kanaan could speak; an additional 5 days before Kanaan could speak in complete sentences; an additional 3 days before he could walk with assistance and be processed out of the ICU; an additional few days before he could travel home to Georgia on a life flight; 2 more weeks before he was out of the hospital; months before he began to have restored hearing and sight; several more months before doctors could repair the caved in portion of his skull; several more months before he could return to work in a limited capacity; more months before he returned to work full time…and several more years - 6 to be exact - that now Sergeant First Class Kanaan Merriken entered, competed and FINISHED the Best Ranger Competition in 22^nd place out of 51 teams…arguably one of the worlds toughest and most grueling physical tests. Kanaan Merriken is YOUR ARMY.

Captain Scotty Smiley is my friend, and HE is Army Strong. Scotty is married to Tiffany, and they have two children and live in Columbus, Georgia. On 6 April 2005 Scotty was leading his platoon on a mounted Stryker patrol in Mosul, Iraq when he noticed a suspicious looking car nearby. Scotty, a Lieutenant at the time, ordered his Stryker closer in an attempt to intercept the car and question the occupants. Commanding the scene from the hatch of his vehicle, Scotty personally directed the driver to exit the vehicle and slowly move closer for questioning. The man did as Scotty said, but instead of moving forward slowly - the man ran toward Scotty. In his own words, Scotty recalled - “I fired two warning shots in his direction to try to get him to stop. He just continued to go. As he was still going, I kind of turned into him and was probably 10 to 15 meters away. He looked at me and raised his hands several times, but everything went black.” End quote. The other troops in Scotty’s vehicle had been shielded from the suicide bombers blast, but Scotty was not so lucky. Scotty took shrapnel to his eyes and his brain on one side. Doctors were able to stabilize Scotty from a forward surgical hospital in Iraq. He too was later sent to Landshtuhl, Germany and eventually Walter Reed, where Scotty, now conscious but paralyzed on his right side, was greeted with the news that they were going to have to remove his left eye. Tiffany, like Kari, was asked to sign medical retirement papers, and like Kari - Tiffany refused. Days later, doctors removed Scotty’s right eye; a week later, Scotty walked and began learning Braille; weeks later he was discharged from the hospital; months later he was promoted to Captain and granted a scholarship to Duke University where he earned an MBA; more years later he was hand selected to teach leadership at West Point where he also Commanded an Infantry Company and received the annual MacArthur Leadership Award; and several more years later, in 2008, that he won the ESPN Espy Award for Best Outdoor Athlete - for skiing blind, sky-diving blink, surfing blind, and summiting Mount Rainier - blind. Scotty Smiley is YOUR ARMY.

Master Sergeant Aaron Totten-Lancaster is my friend, and HE is Army Strong. ATL, as we all call him, is married to Sue, they have two children and live in Columbus, Georgia. On 4 March 2002, ATL, a Specialist and Squad Automatic Weapons Gunner at the time, was in an 18-hour fight of his life in the Shahikot Valley of Zormat, eastern Afghanistan as part of Operation Anaconda. With 10,000 foot peaks to all sides and battling a confirmed 300 to 1000 Taliban and al Qaida force as a member of 1^st Ranger Battalion, ATL was - as his Silver Star citation reads, “in the face of extreme duress during the successful rescue of special operators,” while providing suppressive fire with his machine gun during evacuation procedures. While exiting the aircraft during one of these evacuations, ATL was severely wounded by shrapnel to his calf. With total disregard for his well being and in complete rejection of the pain, ATL continued to engage the enemy during the evacuation, thus enabling the assault element to successfully break contact, and further saving friendly lives. ATL, a collegiate long distance runner before the Army, was concerned with only two things that day; 1. his comrades and 2. the mission…a distant third was his prospects for ever being the same caliber runner he once was. Let me address that concern in the following way…in the 10 months that I have had the honor of commanding the 75^th Ranger Regiment’s Reconnaissance Company, ATL has led the winning team to 1^st place finish in the Bataan Death March in White Sands, New Mexico - a 26.2 mile race with a 40-pound load being carried by each runner (ATL’s team was made up of all Rangers from the Regimental Reconnaissance Company); finished second in a Regiment wide two-man Endurathon adventure race; competed in and won numerous local races, and was just recently selected to join the elite All Army Cross Country Team - a team your classmate and my Dad - Colonel Rick White was a member of back in 1969. I think it’s safe to say that ATL healed up just fine, and his physical prowess aside, ATL is my best Team Sergeant and one of the most gifted Non-Commissioned Officers I have ever met. Aaron Totten-Lancaster is YOUR ARMY.

Sergeant First Class Joe Kapacziewski is my friend, and HE is Army Strong. Joe, or Kap as most people call him, is married to Kimberly, they have two children and live in Columbus, Georgia. On 3 October 2005, Kap was a Team Leader in 3^rd Ranger Battalion and leading a mounted patrol through the streets of Mosul, Iraq in a Stryker vehicle when an enemy grenade was tossed into his hatch - detonating just inches away. With his lower right leg shattered, nerve damage to his right arm after a major artery had been cut, and shredded flesh from the hip to upper thigh - Kap asked the medical team who wheeled him into the ward in Mosul, “is this going to ruin my chances of being a squad leader?” Kap would spend the next 6 months in Walter Reed with Kimberly right by his side. Kap, who has a natural intolerance to the relief of morphine, would often spend nights awake in screaming agony…and that was just his leg. His arm was a different story. Doctors were sure he would never be able to use it again, but somehow, Kap found the strength to manage a wiggle, then a grip, and then feeling - an accomplishment he celebrated by having Kimberly wheel him down to the hospital’s basement where he fashioned a shooting range with a laser-equipped M4 rifle, and also where he honed a new style of shooting. After several more months at Walter Reed, the external fixator holding Kap’s leg bones together was removed…and shortly after - Kap heard a snap in his ankle bone. Kap’s bones had not healed properly, and now he faced a decision…endure another fixator and the prospect of it not healing properly again, or have the leg removed. In March of 2007, Kap told doctors to remove his right leg. In time, Kap healed and learned to walk on his prosthetic; then he ran on it - 5 miles in under 40 minutes - the Ranger standard; then he ruck marched on it - 12 miles in under 3 hours; then he fast roped on it - 50 feet down a fast rope with a 60 pound load on his back; and then he jumped out of plane with it. You see, Kap was proving to his Ranger leaders that he could still do his job - and in 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan, with his prosthetic, as a Ranger Squad Leader. That was the first of five deployments that followed - and Kap has 15 in all. On 19 April 2010, Kap and another Ranger raced down an Afghan road to rescue one of his men who had just been shot in the stomach. They then dragged him 75 meters under enemy machine gun fire to safety, where his life was spared. That was just one story - but there are others - after all, Kap has 3 Purple hearts for three separate battle injuries. Joe Kapacziewski is YOUR ARMY.

Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry is my friend, and HE is Army Strong. Leroy is married to Ashley and they have four children and live in Tacoma, Washington. Most of you know Leroy’s story already, so I’ll spare you the finer details. For those of you who don’t - Leroy was awarded the Medal of Honor on 12 July of last year - at the time, only the second living Medal of Honor recipient of the Global War on Terrorism. Leroy’s Medal of Honor was for his gallant actions on 26 May 2008 in central Afghanistan during a rare and dangerous daylight Ranger raid - as most of our operations are at night. During that raid, and the battle that ensued, Leroy was pinned down in a firefight with two other Rangers inside an enemy compound. Having already been shot in both legs and later knocked to the ground from an enemy grenade that landed a mere 10 meters away - the situation was dire. After returning fire and shielding his comrades, Leroy tossed his own thermo baric grenade toward the enemy…an action that resulted in an enemy counter-action. Another enemy grenade, this one much closer - a few feet to be exact, landed beside the men. Instinctively, Leroy ran to the grenade, picked it up, and threw it - saving the life of all three men in the process, but also taking his right hand in the process. What I love most about Leroy’s story isn’t the dramatic 10 month recovery that followed, but the 8 year re-enlistment that followed. Leroy Petry is YOUR ARMY.

So here’s the point to all this, the point isn’t that I have amazing friends, but that YOUR ARMY is made up of amazing people, and YOUR STOCK is in good hands.

And here’s the second, and arguably more important point. This Army of yours, and the men you heard about in the examples I just shared, are the offspring of another generation of warrior brothers who laid the firm foundation, taught the hard lessons, and set the right example for the generation that now fights on their behalf…that generation…is you.

I know I speak for my lovely girlfriend Carla, the other audience member from my era, when I say “thank you” for raising us right, leading us right, and for fighting for what was right in a place called Vietnam - or wherever the Army might have sent you following the events of 7 March 1967. You are OUR inspiration. We both happen to be very fond of our parents, and in turn we honor and respect them immeasurably. Likewise, we honor and respect each of you. Although I don’t know you each on a personal level, many of you men have stories similar to the ones I shared, and many of you women have equally touching or tragic tales of your own.

THANK YOU, each of you, for serving your nation when you did and where you did and for being OUR inspiration. You did it under the most difficult conditions, and it is not lost on us that unlike what my comrades and I experienced. Your welcome home was not as warm.

I am honored to know you men, honored to have been invited into your unique fraternity, honored to be sharing this weekend with you, and in a moment honored to take your questions.

May God bless you and your families, may God bless the ones we’ve lost, may God bless those in harm's way tonight, and may God bless America.

Rangers Lead the Way! 52^nd Never Second Sir!

BIOGRAPHY - GRAHAM R. WHITE

MAJOR, INFANTRY, UNITED STATES ARMY

Graham was born on 12 February 1978 to our own COL (R) Rick and Pamela White. In 1995, on his 17^th birthday, he enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard and served as an Airborne Infantry Rifleman in the 121^st Long Range Surveillance Unit for sixteen months while still in high school. During the summer between his junior and senior year, then Private White completed Infantry Basic Combat Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA. After graduation from high school in 1996, Graham received an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY.

While at West Point, Graham was a nationally ranked punter for the Black Knights playing in all four Army-Navy games going 2 and 2 against the Midshipmen. He was selected to represent the USMA and played in the Annual Blue-Gray Game in Montgomery, AL in 1999. Graham currently holds several Army football punting records.

Upon graduation in May 2000, he was commissioned as an Infantry 2LT. He then completed the Special Forces Combat Divers Qualification Course at Key West, FL and Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School at Fort Benning. His first assignment was as a Rifle Platoon Leader with the 3^rd Battalion, 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82^nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC where he was selected as the 504^th Lieutenant of the Year.

After 9/11, now 1LT White volunteered for the 75^th Ranger Regiment. He was assigned to the 3^rd Ranger Battalion at Fort Benning and deployed twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq during 2002, 2003, and 2004.

On 30 March 2003, Graham led his Ranger Platoon on a night assault and successful capture of the massive Haditha Dam on the Euphrates River in Iraq. For the following four days, the elite Iraq Republican Guard unsuccessfully counterattacked the Ranger’s defensive positions on the dam. For this action, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. In a subsequent Iraq deployment, he was awarded the Purple Heart after being severely wounded in the left lung and left arm by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on 26 June 2003.

Back at Fort Benning, now CPT White completed the Infantry Officer Career Course and Pathfinder School. His next assignment was to Fort Carson, CO where he commanded a Rifle Company in the 1^st Battalion, 9^th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Infantry Division, deploying to Iraq during 2006 and 2007. Later in 2007, he again volunteered for Ranger duty and was assigned to Fort Lewis, WA with the 2^nd Ranger Battalion where he commanded a Ranger Company, deploying four more times to Afghanistan in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Following his company command with 2^nd Rangers, now MAJ White was again selected to lead Rangers, this time as the commander of the 75^th Ranger Regiment Reconnaissance Company at Fort Benning. He assumed command in May 2011 and soon afterwards completed the US Military Freefall School in Arizona. In August 2011, he once again led Rangers to Afghanistan for a four month deployment returning to Fort Benning in December 2011.

Since 2002, MAJ White has been on ten combat deployments; seven times to Afghanistan and three times to Iraq, for a total of 39 months in combat.

Awards & Decorations

Bronze Star Medal (Valor) Army Service Ribbon

Bronze Star Medal (2 awards) Overseas Service Ribbon

Purple Heart Combat Infantryman Badge

Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards) Expert Infantryman Badge

Joint Service Commendation Medal Master Parachutist Badge

Army Commendation Medal (4 awards) Ranger Tab

Joint Service Achievement Medal Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge

Army Achievement Medal Special Operations Diver Badge

Joint Meritorious Unit Award Pathfinder Badge

Valorous Unit Award Air Assault Badge

National Defense Service Medal (2 awards) German Armed Forces Parachutist Badge

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Overseas Service Bar (6 bars)

Afghanistan Campaign Medal (4 campaign stars) Combat Service Identification Badges:

Iraq Campaign Medal (4 campaign stars) 3^rd Ranger Battalion Scroll

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 2^nd Infantry Division Patch

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 2^nd Ranger Battalion Scroll

Ranger Regiment Special Troops Battalion Scroll