After my honorable discharge from the USMC in August 1991, I enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard as an Infantry Sergeant with C Company, 3rd Battalion, 53rd Infantry, Florida Army National Guard. In August 1992 I enrolled in the Army ROTC at the Florida State University (FSU). At FSU I was enrolled in the Simoultaneaous Membership Program (SMP), acting as a Cadet with A Company, 3rd Battalion while a student at Florida State.
I began my Army career in the Infantry. While a Company Commander, I had 17 years towards retirement and I began to think about what I would do for a living after I retired. Subsequently I requested to change my job to that of a Network Management Officer, 53A. Immediately after company command I went to Fort Gordon for training. Since there is no "Network" branch, I keep my infantry crossed rifles.
Best Friends LT Joaquin Croslin LT Art Yarbrough LT Rex Boone
Best Moment During Operation Desert Strike in Kuwait, while the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Hon. Togo West was watching, our mortars hit abandonded Iraqi tanks, steel on steel. We were given coins by Togo West, mine is still the prize in my collection.
Worst Moment One year, a Company Commander in our Battalion logged 268 days in the field and submitted a memo to that fact to the Division Commander. Back in the days when we would go to the field to train for 6 weeks straight before heading to a 4 week NTC rotation. No coming in for the weekends. Our Battalion had more DUIs than any other battalion in the Corps. It was a hard time.
Chain of Command LTC Chris Ellis, Battalion Commander
Other Memories I spent almost my entire time as the Mortar Platoon Leader.
