Jeff never went through the “I want to be a cowboy/cop/jet pilot” phase … he just decided at age seven he was going to West Point; but he would be majorly fibbing if he were to deny having some second thoughts as a cadet. Nevertheless, despite his Plebe Math Ps’ best efforts he stayed the course.
Graduating was one thing. Committing to an Army career was another. His first assignment – as a heavy Infantry platoon leader in CONUS – left him muttering about wanting to SEE the guy who tried to talk him into making it a career. But then, in August 1970, he met First Platoon, A/2/5 Cav, 3rd Brigade, First Cavalry Division, in Vietnam.
Still battle-weary from the First Cav’s Cambodia “incursion,” 90% draftee and not much to look at, maybe numbering 20 souls (with platoon TO&E calling for 43), all they wanted was a decent leader who would learn from his sergeants, then do everything possible to accomplish missions without making them take needless risks. Oh, they understood “Mission First.” They even understood good soldiering was the best route home. They just didn’t want to be wasted by some know-nothing LT with stars in his eyes. Seemed a fair request to Jeff. 60 days later he had fallen in love with these guys and, by implication, the Army, which allowed him to lead them. He was forever honored to have led that platoon and, later, commanded their company … the best 18 months of his career. And yes, they accomplished every mission without losing a man.
19 years later he retired from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel on the Joint Staff/J3, The Pentagon. In between he earned a Georgetown masters, taught International Relations in a unique ROTC program, commanded a rifle company of 82nd Airborne paratroopers, taught U.S. and foreign officers at Bragg’s Special Warfare Center, served as a Foreign Area Officer in Damascus and Jerusalem, then as Ground Operations Chief on an incredibly efficient, if fairly anonymous, joint staff in Key West, of all places.
Since active duty he has built (and sold) a small IT training business and married the love of his life, Vicki, with whom he wrote and won several hundred million dollars’ worth of DoD contract proposals (enriching their boss, of course). He currently writes grant proposals for a nonprofit serving the veteran community.
Jimmy Buffet once wrote a song about an old, one-eyed guy fishing the pilings in Key West, who, reflecting on his own life, considered … some of it magic, some of it tragic, but I had a good life all the way. Jeff thinks that sums things up pretty well.
- Gym at R-Day
Vividly recall sweating through our first long, slow line of the day, right after leaving the gym … still in civvies, with suitcase in hand and a bewildered expression. After ten or so minutes of the start-stop-start-again shuffle, the tall guy in front of me, clearly bored, turned around, stuck out his hand,… Read more: Gym at R-Day