Pine Bluff graduates share memories in Iraq

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford | Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric Dill works at his computer in the 64th Corps Support Group Support Operations Office.  

12.08.2005

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

At the 64th Corps Support Group at Logistical Support Area Al Asad, Iraq, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, the chaplain and an intelligence officer play key roles in day-to-day operations.

But for these three officers, their bond goes back even further than the military.

Maj. Richard Graves, chaplain, Capt. Oral White and Capt. Tim Hunt all hail from the state of Arkansas and even went to the same college, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

The city of Pine Bluff has a population near 70,000 and the UAPB campus has a little more than 2,500 students.

Although the years separate them, the trio along with Chief Warrant Officer Dill and Sgt. Nelson, who is on rear detachment assignment at Fort Hood, Texas, have common memories of life in Pine Bluff.

"There is definitely a connection between us. We know all the places to eat at and we know the area so we have reference points when talking about Pine Bluff," Graves said.

The group met by happenstance, through in-processing at the unit at Fort Hood and two of the officers knew each other at the school.

"I met Sgt. Nelson when I in-processed, because the clerk said, "Oh you're from the same hometown as Sgt. Nelson" and I met the others here," Graves said.

Graves, the oldest of the Arkansas natives, graduated UAPB in 1978 and spent time afterwards in the Kansas National Guard and the chaplain candidate program before coming onto active duty in 1999 and eventually landing a position with the 64th CSG in July.

White and Hunt, closer in age and graduation, both received their commission from the UAPB Reserve Officer Training Course. White graduated in 2000 and Hunt in 1999.

White, a tailback for the Golden Lions Division 1AA team, went on active duty as a chemical officer, re-classed to ordnance and then moved on to command the HHC for the 64th.

Hunt was on the Delayed Entry Program with the Arkansas National Guard before getting accepted for the Green to Gold Program and receiving his commission as an infantry officer assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

Both White and Hunt were in the same fraternity at UAPB.

"We were Omega Si Phi," White said.

Hunt also had two other officers in his graduating class who are currently serving in Iraq.

"Capt. Kendrick Lusk and Capt. Bernard House are both serving around Baghdad and another officer, 1st Lt. Williams, who was a couple of years behind us, served here as well," Hunt said.

"The ROTC program at UAPB, only produces 4 to 5 graduates a year," White said, 'so for that many of us to be out here serving in Iraq is amazing."

During Graves's time at UAPB, the ROTC program was mandatory for all students, but now the freshmen class will begin with 400 to 500 members and narrows down to 40 to 50 by the senior year, White added.

"It takes a lot of dedication to get through it. Doing PT in the morning is not usually a part of normal college life," White said.

College is not the only link the Soldiers have to Pine Bluff. All the servicemembers have family members living in the Pine Bluff and Little Rock area, which is a short drive away.
"I go home to hunt and visit during the holidays," Hunt said.

"It was a good place to grow up and I think we are all in touch with friends and family back there," Graves said.

Although not an official reunion of classmates, their meeting in Iraq helps remind them of past memories of friends and family as they continue their tour in Iraq.

• Date Taken: 12.08.2005
• Date Posted: 12.08.2005 08:47
• Story ID: 3992