Thousands of mission miles pay off

Photo By Lt. Col. Patrick Simon | Newly promoted Col. Jerry Crooks (left), deputy commander 225th Engineer Brigade, Pineville, La., addresses his Soldiers during his promotion ceremony, Oct. 4, while his son, Pfc. Taylor Crooks, looks on. The elder Crooks' thirty year military career is highlighted by over 20 overseas partnership, humanitarian and combat missions.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.04.2009

Story by Lt. Col. Patrick Simon 

225th Engineer Brigade

BAGHDAD — Driving a dump truck for the Louisiana National Guard almost three decades ago, then Pvt. Jerry Crooks, could not even begin to imagine that he would travel the world; eventually climbing to the highest rungs in the military.

On Oct. 4, before some of the same Soldiers that he has worked and traveled with through the years, the small town farm boy from Deville, La., now deputy commander of the 225th Engineer Brigade, proudly received his promotion to colonel.

"It's taken me longer that I had originally planned, but as a 19 year old kid trying to lay out long term plans and not fully understanding the requirements and the competitive nature of the process, it was hard," reflected Crooks.

Crooks' military travel can easily qualify for frequent flier miles: more than 20 missions that took him to countries like Belize four times, Honduras, Panama and Guatemala twice, the Bahamas, Jordan, Italy, England, Germany and now Iraq.

Crooks' most memorable missions were humanitarian and partnership in nature to Guatemala and Belize; building schools and roads in 1992 after the devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch.

"Entire communities were just gone," recalled Crooks. "It's amazing the amount of water and the flooding that took place in such a short time period. The elevation rose 20 plus feet in just two to three hours."

It is those missions that helped shape Crooks' skills in leading Soldiers and dealing with civilian and military leaders from different countries.

"As you continue to get bits of training opportunities, it leads to leadership development," Crooks added. "As some leaders say, the science of leadership is there. You can read and train. You can prepare. You have trained staffs that can support that, but the many years of experience fine tunes the overall art of leadership."

Like his father, Crooks' son, Pfc. Taylor Crooks, also joined the Louisiana National Guard in his late teens. Crooks said he is fortunate to have his son along with him during his current tour supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was proud to have him at his promotion ceremony.

"In some ways, I think he was more excited. He was just so pumped up," said Crooks with a smile. "It was just good seeing the excitement on his face. He and I have come a long ways in the last 18 months as a father and son and there's no doubt that a lot of that is a result of the military."

Wherever his military travels may take him next, Crooks plans to take it all in stride as long as he can.

"I'm not through yet. I think I have a few more years in me."

• Date Taken: 10.04.2009
• Date Posted: 10.05.2009 23:05
• Story ID: 39710
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ