Gender

Male

Birth date

1950-9-26

Place of birth

Osaka , Japan

Inducted

1973-6-15, Univ of Davis, Davis CA

Enlistment type

Volunteer

Service branch

Army

Service type

War,peacetime

Unit type

Combat

Units served

'73 - '75 2d Battalion (Airborne) 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade; '75 - '76 3d Brigade 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); '78 - '80 1st Battalion 21st Infantry 25th Infantry Division; '80 - '81 Division G-3 25th Infantry Division; '81 - '84 1st Battalion (Airborne) 505th Infantry 82d Airborne Division; '84 - '85 125th Military Intelligence Battalion 25th Infantry Division; '85 - '86 Division Artillery 25th Infantry Division; '86 - '87 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division; '87 - '88 Division G-2 25th Infantry Division; '88 - '92 Regiment Headquarters 75th Ranger Regiment; '92 - present Special Operations Command Central

Military specialty

Infantry ('73 - '88); Military Intellligence ('88 - present)

Stationed

USA - Fort Campbell, KY; Schofield Barracks, HI; Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Benning, GA; Grenada; Panama; Kuwait; Mogadishu, Somalia

Unit responsibility

(75th Ranger Regiment) To deploy short-notice worldwide into combat to deter agression and/or support U.S. national objectives and strategies.

Personal responsibility

Regimental Intelligence Officer for the Army's 2,200 Ranger Regiment with three subordiante Ranger Battalions responsible for providing all Ranger commanders and their staffs and units with strategic, operational, tactical, and target intelligence. Supervised a 30-man Regimental S-2 Intelligence Section and a 22-man Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment.

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

Operation URGENT FURY (Oct '83, 82d Abn Div); Operation JUST CAUSE (Dec '89 - Jan '90, 75th Ranger Rgt); Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (Jan '91 - Mar. '92, 75th Ranger Rgt); Operation SOUTHERN WATCH (Aug '92 - Oct '92, SOCCENT); Operation RESTORE HOPE (Dec '92 - Jan '93, SOCCENT); Operation URGENT FURY - deployed with the 82d Airborne Division to Grenada to assist in the rescue of American citizens and medical students; Operation JUST CAUSE - deployed with the 75th Ranger Regiment and conducted a combat parachute assault onto Rio Hato Airfield, Panama to destroy Panamanian Defense Forces and assist in the removal of Manuel Noriega. This was the first parachute assault of U.S. forces of this magnitude since World War II. The 75th Ranger Regiment received the Valorous Unit Award for their heroic actions during this operation; Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM - conducted parachute assault with the 1st Ranger Battalion onto Ali Asalem Airfield, Kuwait to demonstrate to the Kuwaiti government American resolve to restore Kuwaiti sovereignty from Iraq's seige by Saddam Hussein. Other actions on my part during that operation remain classified from disclosure; Operation SOUTHERN WATCH - deployed with Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) to Kuwait to assist in establishing the no-fly zone over Southern Iraq which would provide protection to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia from any further Iraqi invasion and enforce United Nations sanctions and resolutions. SOCCENT received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its actions; Operation RESTORE HOPE - deployed with Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) to Mogadfishu, Somalia to restore law and order in Somalia and provide security for relief and aid organizations. SOCCENT received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its actions.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

Combat Infantryman's Badge; Expert Infantryman's Badge; Master Parachutist Badge (with Combat Star); Air Assault Badge; Ranger Tab; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Bronze Star Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with Arrowhead and two service stars); National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); United Nations Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Multinational Force and Observers Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Valorous Unit Award

Living conditions

SLEEP - when we were able to get some, it was usually under a make-shift 'pancho hooch' or most of the time, without any shelter and looking up at stars. BATHE - there were no baths and only after hostilities ceased (generally after 10 - 14 days) were we afforded an opportunity to go to the rear and get a hot shower at a shower point (which always seemed to run out of hot water when you go there!) MEALS - never had any hot chow; ate C-rations three times a day, later ate the supposed new and improved dehydrated Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs); greatest treat was getting chunks of ice from which we could chip away pieces and put in our canteens for cool water to drink which we considered a luxury. ENTERTAINMENT - never had much; occasionally played card games to pass the time.

Most vivid memory of military experience

My most vivid memory will always be that which I saw as I jumped from a C-130 aircraft flying 500 feet above ground level into the darkness over Rio Hato Airfield in Panama. I saw tracer rounds coming at me from the ground below along with the flash of explosions all around me. I can't repeat here the words (profanity!) I uttered at that point! It was one o'clock the morning of 20 December 1989, and I knew I would not be spending Christmas with my wife, two sons, and Great Dane (named 'Ranger') and further - I thought I would never see another Christmas again.

Missed most whilst in the military

I am still currently on active duty and loving every day I serve. What I will miss most when I retire will be the soldiers - the very heart and soul of our Army.

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

My military service has taught me much about myself - my strengths and weaknesses as a person, my ability to lead and motivate others to accomplish the mission in the face of adversity, and strengthened my love and respect for all Americans who have served our great country in uniform in times of peace and conflict. In my mind, there truly is no more honorable a profession than the profession of military service.

Additional information

My present duty assignment has afforded me the time and opportunity to further my education and in 1995, I received a Masters Degree in Public Administration, and by early 1997, I will receive a Masters in Science Degree in Management. I plan to retire in 1997 after 24 years of faithful service - so, if you know of anyone looking to hire a dedicated military professional - please let me know!