FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, "The Army Special Operations Center of Excellence," hosted a Regimental Induction Ceremony at Kennedy Hall at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Nov. 2, 2018, which recognized 12 individuals as distinguished and honorary members of the Civil Affairs, Special Forces and Psychological Operations Regiments.
The Army Special Operations Command Regimental Honors, Awards and Affiliation Program recognizes individuals who have made overwhelming significant contributions to the welfare of Army special operation regiments. The program serves as a bridge for present regimental operators and those from the past who departed uniform service after very distinguished careers and have continued to promote the interest of their individual regiments.
Maj. Gen. Kurt L. Sonntag, commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, said the day was one to remember.
“It’s historic because it celebrates the continued successes and honors of those who are building on future successes through their ongoing commitment to our regiments.”
The Civil Affairs Regiment inducted three Distinguished Members of the Regiment from the U.S. Army: Gen. Lucius Clay, posthumous, Col. Irvin L. Hunt, posthumous, and retired Col. Harold W. Youmans.
Both Clay and Hunt are considered the forefathers of the Civil Affairs Regiment and its development within the U.S. Army dating back to World War I.
Dr. Lucius Clay III, a surgeon and the grandson of General Clay, accepted the recognition on behalf of his grandfather. Dr. Clay expressed his appreciation for the institutional memory of General Clay’s contributions to the Army and the nation.
“I also think it’s great for the Army to have that history in the background to fall back on in difficult times,” Clay said. “It’s good to have heroes, and I think he is one of mine.”
A new academic building on the school campus is scheduled to be dedicated in General Clay’s honor in January 2019.
The Civil Affairs Regiment inducted Dr. Deborah Alexander, a retired foreign service officer at the U.S. Department of State, as an Honorary Member of the Civil Affairs Regiment.
The Special Forces Regiment inducted three Distinguished Members of the Regiment from the U.S. Army: retired Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas B. Corbett and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey W. Wright.
During his command of the 5th Special Forces Group, Mulholland was the individual with a lot of responsibilities put on his shoulders after the 9/11 attacks, Sonntag said. Then-Colonel Mulholland took command of Task Force Dagger and led forces into Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Scott A. Gibson, a contractor who has operated the dining facility at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School for more than 23 years in Key West, Florida, was inducted as an Honorary Member of the Special Forces Regiment.
The Psychological Operations Regiment welcomed two Distinguished Members of the Regiment from the U.S. Army: Retired Col. Miguel Hobbs, and retired Lt. Col. Alfred E. Lunt III.
Debra L. Ambrose, a career Department of Defense civilian employee, joined the Psychological Operations Regiment as an Honorary Member for her contributions to the regiment’s language program.
Gregory Orme, who began his service as a government employee in 1983, was posthumously named an Honorary Member of the Psychological Operations Regiment for his development of PSYOP doctrine and training literature.
These distinguished and honorary members have “Clearly demonstrated the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional confidence, unit morale, cohesion and esprit de corps,” Sonntag concluded. “They are the pictures of true patriots.”