Photo By Terrance Bell | The inductees of the 2014 Transportation Corps Hall of Fame Ceremony pose for...... read more read more
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FORT EUSTIS, Va. – “…You’ve honored me for being here today, but for those people who I served with you don’t get to hear their names. They’re mine. They reside in my heart; they reside in my head; and they will always reside in my memory.”
The thoughts of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Dwayne Perry, voiced with an intense but heartfelt tone to a captivated audience, represented the sentiments – some moving, some humorous but all conveyed with a sense of gratitude and humility – shared by honorees of the 2014 Transportation Corps Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony July 24 at the Transportation Museum.
Hosted by Brig. Gen John P. Sullivan, chief of transportation, and Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia B. Howard, regimental command sergeant major, the induction ceremony attracted roughly 100 people and was part of a two-day celebration that also included a physical training run at Fort Lee, a Trans. Museum exhibit opening and a formal in Richmond.
Perry, a former regimental command sergeant major, was one of 10 retired Soldiers inducted for the 13th such event held in conjunction with the 72nd anniversary of the Trans. Corps. The others were Lt. Gen. Kathleen M. Gainey; Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz Jr.; Maj. Gen. James Hodge; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Nicholas Indra; Command Sgt. Maj. Tomas R. Hawkins; Command Sgt. Maj. John L. Upchurch; Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Lyons; Command Sgt. Maj. C.C. Jenkins Jr.; and Sgt. 1st Class Donald Washburn.
Sullivan, who provided the opening remarks for the ceremony held in the dimly-lit, tin-ceilinged and intimate Regimental Room, said the honorees represented a combined “351 years of selfless, dedicated service to our regiment, to our Army and our nation.” He went on to say they have collectively served in every major conflict and peacekeeping operation from Vietnam to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, touching the lives of thousands of Soldiers including himself.
“Our hall of fame inductees represent our regiment’s best,” he said, “but I think they would agree that the true measure of their contributions to our regiment is not necessarily the senior positions they held or the awards they earned or even the rank they attained. I think the true measure of their contributions to our regiment is the incredibly positive impact each of them has had on those of us fortunate enough to serve with them.”
During the ceremony, each honoree was awarded with a medallion and certificate and afforded the opportunity to address the audience that included military members, various dignitaries, family members and supporters of the regiment. Like Perry, they all downplayed their individual achievements to raise the contributions of others. Gainey, the first honoree, set the tone.
“I just want to say thank you to so many of you out here in this audience and those (who are) not here,” she said, “because it was you all who taught me, coached me, mentored me and were wonderful friends and teammates that got me to where I was. I didn’t do it. It was the efforts of everyone and you all are representative of that group.”
Gainey culminated her career in the position of deputy chief of staff, Resources and Sustainment, Multi-National Force Iraq.
Lyons, whose deep-toned voice easily resonated and commanded audience attention, said he too owes his induction to those who supported him. “I’m like everyone else,” said the former regimental command sergeant major. “I haven’t done anything by myself, in the military, especially. There have been people who led the way before me, who have made these opportunities for me … I can look at everyone in this room and say you had an effect on my life.”
Lyons also said in the business of leading Soldiers, it was difficult to gauge if he was making a difference.
“There’s no book that tells you whether you got it right or not,” he said. “There’s no book that tells you whether you’ve raised your children right or not, but when you look around and you see the success of different people in the room … then you have to look back and say, ‘I think I got it right.’”
Though the ceremony offered sobering moments, it also produced laughter. Jenkins, another former regimental command sergeant major and proclaimed Yazoo City, Miss., native, provided both. On the serious side, he told the audience of how Soldiers like retired Command Sgt. Maj. Howard Rathmann helped him along the way. “You know Sergeant Major Rathmann – he’s going to tell you when you’re wrong, but it was the best constructive criticism I had in my life because it afforded me the opportunity to excel.” On the humorous side, Jenkins recounted how he courted his biggest supporter, his wife of 32 years, Shelih.
“I met her back in ’77, got married, and the way I asked her to get married is that I said, ‘Do you want some paperwork on me?’ I did not say (the word) ‘marriage.’ It would not come out of my mouth.”
The crowd, already attuned to Jenkins and his folksy persona, burst out in prolonged laughter. The former CASCOM command sergeant major segued the laughter into another serious statement when he said, “You all made me. Soldiers made me, and I wouldn’t be here today …”
Jenkins wasn’t the only speaker to honor the support of his spouse. Indra made a touching tribute to his wife, Pamela, after she joined him on the stage for the presentations. The mariner and former regimental chief warrant officer said she was the “backbone behind the family” while he was sailing the seas and pursuing his career interests. “The way the kids turned out is the way Pam raised them. It had nothing to do with me. For that Pam, thank you.”
For her contributions to the Transportation Corps community, Pamela received the Patron of the Wheel or Patronus Rotae award. Rosylum Hawkins, Pamela Lyons, Vonnie Upchurch and Roselyn Washburn also earned the recognition.
Rathmann, a 2004 inductee and member of the selection committee, said the ceremony was a good one. He noted the induction of two honorees that might have been overlooked in past years.
“John Upchurch was the guy who started all the regimental command sergeants major, and what an honor it was to see him get that recognition that he so well deserves,” he said after the ceremony. “Don Washburn touched more people in the Transportation Corps than all of the regimental command sergeants major combined. He taught every TOBC and TOAC class for years, and he mentored lieutenants in a coffee shop on Saturdays. He did more to help this regiment than anyone.”
Rathmann said it was also a pleasure to see Howard in the conduct of her duties as regimental command sergeant major. “I remember when she was a PFC and a ball of fire. It was a great time for me. I enjoyed everything.”
There were 107 individuals and four units included in the hall of fame prior to this year’s ceremony. The first was Gen. Frank S. Besson Jr., the first transporter to attain the rank of general.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2014 08:33 |
| Story ID: | 137821 |
| Location: | FORT EUSTIS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 451 |
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