Baird, Ruppert, SFC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I come from a service family. My father and mother met in the Army and were married at Ft. McClelland, Alabama. My father would retire as a Master Sergeant after 20 years as a medic. He spent two tours in Vietnam, the first with MACV in Baria, Vung Tau, and

MSG John R. Baird, jr, USA-Ret, and SSG Ruppert G.

the second with the 1st Aviation Brigade's Flight Surgeon in Long Bihn. He also performed combat patrols along the Iron Curtain in Germany in the 1950s and 1960s. Due to military regulations in those days, my mother signed a Bar To Reenlistment upon her marriage and ended her two-year stint at the rank of Spec 3.

My brother also served as an airborne infantryman in the 82nd Airborne and then on the Korean DMZ in 2nd ID. He would later be commissioned through OCS and serve in the National Guard and Reserves. He had tours in Kuwait and Iraq during the OIF I invasion and in Afghanistan. He retired as an LTC.

My paternal grandfather graduated from VMI and served in the Mississippi National Guard. He also served in WWII as the commander of the segregated 386th Engineer Battalion in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy and retired as a Lt. Colonel. I have ancestors who fought in the Civil War and the Revolution. But, strangely enough, it was a movie that finally pushed me to seriously look at the military as a career - "An Officer And A Gentleman."

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I enlisted as an Observation-Scout Helicopter (OH-58) Repairer. I also requested Ft. Bragg because it was near home, and my new wife had never lived away from family. But, partway through basic, I decided that I really didn't want to leap from a perfectly good aircraft and dropped the Airborne Option. Incredibly enough, the Army rewarded me for my first assignment by sending me to Hawaii.

It was in Hawaii that I made the decision that no matter where the Army sent me, I would have fun. And I did, whether I found myself at Ft. Irwin or Iraq, and I found ways to enjoy myself.

I had intended to apply for flight school at my first assignment, but upon arrival, I found I liked Hawaii, and so did my wife. By the end of the tour, I had been promoted to Sergeant and developed astigmatism, making me ineligible for flight school. But, I decided to reenlist for six years to get the 3X bonus and to go to Colorado. Before enlisting, I had never been west of Kearney, Nebraska.

Our daughter was born in Colorado Springs. By then, I was an SSG and on an unaccompanied levy to Korea within six weeks of placing my daughter on DEERS. I wasn't the only one. Upon arrival, I found at least four others in the same boat. I don't know who the sick jerk was who did that, but I hope Kharma found him.

The ROK was fascinating, and I enjoyed the year there. I explored Seoul, formed a Rugby team, and mostly helped to keep my fellow married soldiers on the straight and narrow. It worked for the two of us; thanks be to God. And it was on my mid-tour leave that our son was conceived.

I next went to Ft. Lewis, Washington, where our son was born 2 months after we arrived in Washington. I was assigned to 3/9 Aviation and participated in the inactivation of the 9th ID. I also volunteered to go to Operation Desert Shield but was not picked up - they only wanted E-5s and below. I asked my 1SG to bust me to E-5, but he refused.

After ODS/DS, the US Army was reduced by around 40%. After discussions with the wife, we decided to leave the Army. I enlisted in the IRR, and we went home. After a couple of months, I looked at enlisting in the Coast Guard Reserves, Naval reserves, Air Force Reserves, and the Air Guard, but all of them required a reduction to E-4. I finally looked at the USAR and incredibly found a nearby unit looking for an E-6 in my MOS. So I enlisted in the Reserves.

I spent 2 years in the Reserves. But rumors began circulating that USAR Aviation was to be eliminated with all reserve assets going to the National Guard within the Army's reorganization in the mid-'90s. Being the proactive type, I transferred to the SC Army National Guard, taking a drop to E-5, where I would spend around 17 years. In the Guard, I deployed to Kuwait for Operation Southern Watch and Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. I became a full-time Department of the Army (DA) civilian technician.

I became a published professional author in the Guard, published in 'Flightfax,' 'Army Aviation,' and 'Countermeasure' magazines around a dozen times.

Finally, after giving my life to the Lord, completing my Bachelor's Degree, making E-7, and getting my Master's Wings, I was offered a contractor's position in Germany with Dyncorp. I retired from the Guard and from the Federal Government and headed overseas.

The eight years overseas were wonderful. My wife was able to be with me for the vast majority of that time. We lived in Germany, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. And we traveled to 29 different counties and one British Crown Territory.

And that all happened because we went to see "An Officer And A Gentleman." (No s#!t.)

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
The biggest impact that deployments and operations had on me was witnessing so many's desire to be free. Whether it was mama-san selling snacks and sodas to GIs in the field during Team Spirit or Kuwaitis and Iraqis so thankful to be free of the yoke of a dictator. It made me so thankful to be an American.

That being said, the direction the US has taken in the past decade-an-a-half frightens me. So many people believe that communism, socialism, and fascism are some sort of panacea, and it is frightening and downright bizarre.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
The one time that I TRULY feared for my life was while we were being transported in a deuce-and-a-half through Seoul. The traffic was insane, and I honestly believed that we could all possibly die. Moreso even than the times we were rocketed and mortared in Iraq.

Strange, I know. Go figure.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Hawaii.

I was a cavalryman in paradise. My wife and I loved Hawaii and made lifelong friendships there. I was a member of the Oahu Rugby Club of the Combined Armed Services (ORCAS), a club that would become legendary in military rugby circles. I also volunteered at the Hawaiian Railway

Oh-58A 68-16329 and I on the beach LZ at Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii.

Society almost weekly. I vacationed or deployed to all but one major island. I watched Kilauea erupt to my left while I watched hurricane-whipped waves crashing onshore to my right. I watched the sunrise over the clouds on Haleakala.

Additionally, I flew as a non-rated crewmember in the front and back seats of OH-58s more than I would ever get to again.

The worst part was that it was my first duty station, and I had no idea how good I had it.

My least favorite was when two of my pilots were killed in an accident at Mosul Airfield during OIF III. We would lose no one to enemy fire during our deployment. But a fully preventable accident took the lives of two truly outstanding and highly respected pilots.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.

2nd from left at 60th Doolittle Raider reunion

After 28 years, there are so, so many. Flying over Oahu at 10,000 feet in an OH-58A and seeing just how small that island was. Watching whales and rays dive away from the sound of a helicopter 2000 feet over the water. Flying through a pass in the Rockies and having barely 100 of the altitude above ground level. Watching a trainee in basic training lose it and punch a drill sergeant, take off running and then punch a metal box on a pole. We saw him the next day out processing with a cast on his hand. Receiving a gift from the Kuwaiti Army firefighters at Camp Doha after working with them as the unit fire safety NCO. Escorting COL. Jack Sims, the co-pilot of the 14th aircraft to launch the Doolittle Raid on Japan in WWII during their 60th reunion. Being one of only three personnel in my battalion to be awarded Gold Spurs from a detachment supporting us in Iraq. There are so many more.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Being published in "Army Aviation Magazine" seven times.

Being co-founder and organizer of the Jimmy Doolittle Chapter of the Army Aviation Assn of America.

Being a charter member and founding Match Secretary of the Oahu Rugby Club of the Combined Armed Services.

Being the "Go-To Guy" for soldiers of mine and other companies when they were being misguided or lied to by the chains of command in the National Guard.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
My Master Aircrew Wings. My Gold Spurs. The handshake from LTG Calvin Waller after briefing him (in the days before the Challenge Coin craze).

But, most of all, I received the Army Achievement Medal (AAM) for my service in Iraq.

I had always clashed with the chain of command in D Company. In every other company I served in, I had a little problem. But D was a whole different issue, as it was with many others.

So, with a reserved determination, I learned of my transfer to D Company prior to deployment to OIF III. While in-country, I built 2 brand new Aviation Life Support (ALSE) shops, which I managed solo for the whole of the task force during the deployment. I was also assigned as the 18th Aviation Brigade Sergeant of the Guard for six months and managed the task force's flight line licensing during the transition to USAF control. I normally worked 16-18 hours a day, seven days a week.

At the end of the deployment, we had no security breaches in my sector, all but one soldier was licensed, and all ALSE was inspected, repaired, and operable for every flight.

I received an AAM. Several others, who were a part of the head shed, received the unit's allotment of Bronze Stars and MSMs.

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them." Mark Twain.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
1SG Burr Elmer Tolles.

The Top was, without a doubt, the single finest First Sergeant of my 28-year career. He was the consummate teacher and leader and taught me more in the year I was in his company than all the others combined.

1SG Tolles Wouldn't scream or yell, but he

Ruppert Baird & Burr Tolles at his home.

would chew your butt while telling you WHY he was chewing and what needed to be done to correct the problem. And he followed up.

Additionally, he was ferocious in his care and caring for his soldiers, from LTC to PVT. I saw him tear into a bill collector foolish enough to call him concerning a soldier's debt. He then took that soldier to Army Emergency Relief to help him escape his predicament.

When I applied to warrant officer school, I asked him on a Friday to review the application I had carefully filled out by hand. He showed up the next Monday with a typewritten application that he had filled out and instructed me where to initial and sign before he placed it in an envelope and sent it out. (I wasn't selected, though I was one of 12 finalists for the six positions. 130 applied.)

I had the distinct blessing of being able to visit with him at his home months before his passing from cancer due to his Vietnam service.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
SGT Tomas Gonzales, C Trp, 3/4 Cav, Schofield Bks, HI. "Gonzo" and I got along famously. He was an outstanding friend originally hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, and LA, California. He married an Army nurse at Tripler AMC during convalescence from a motorcycle crash, and they had at least one child, a daughter. We lost track when he was in Texas.

SSG Tim Commerford, C Co, 1/4 Avn, Ft. Carson, CO. Tim and I served together under 1SG Burr E Tolles (see above), played Rugby for Ft. Carson, and have stayed in touch through the years. He retired at Mother Rucker as a CH-47 Instructor Pilot with the rank of CW3 or 4. I forget.

SGT Chris Ferarra, HHT, 3/4 Cav, Schofield Bks, HI. Chris was a UH-1H crew chief and a former crop duster pilot before enlistment. We have stayed in touch over the years, and he retired and now lives in Alabama.

SGT Jim Roberts, 1/25 Avn (I think), Schofield Bks, HI. Another good friend, Jim, was RIFfed at 15 years when circumstance dictated Huey mechanics were no longer needed, and they were no slots for him in UH-60s. He lives in Colorado today.

SSG James McCauley, Det. 1, D Co, 1/228 Avn, W. Columbia, SC. James and I became friends during my time in the USAR. I was a TI, and he was a Section Sergeant for the OH-58s. We served together in support of the Georgia Governor's Counterdrug Task Force Mission in the early-mid-90 and our mission was featured in an issue of Aviation Digest. He is now retired with his wife and living in Hawaii.

SSG David "Hump" Humphies, HHC, 5/501 Avn, Camp Eagle, ROK. We met the day I arrived at Cp Eagle, and we became immediate friends. I've lost track of him, and try as I might, I can't find the man.

SPC Bill Anstett, D Co, 5/501 Avn, Camp Eagle, ROK. Bill and I bonded over the Rugby club I formed at Cp Eagle, the 501 Old Blues RFC. He now lives in Connecticut, where he was born and raised, and we've visited on quite a few occasions despite our geographical separation.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Perhaps not quite what some of you might be expecting, but here goes:

During Team Spirit '85, I was an SP4 in 3/4 Cav of the 25th ID out of Hawaii. We were encamped north of Uijongbu at R-222 tactical airfield.

We had completed a successful field exercise, the last before the 25th Division's and the squadron's impending reorganization. Our troop's 1SG had spent previous tours in Korea, married a Korean woman, and spoke Korean well. He organized a troop party in the ville at one of the clubs. This village had placed banners at each of the two main entrances to the town welcoming the 3/4 Cav. One of these banners was placed outside the club on the night of our party.

During the party, someone overheard a group of guys from one of the locally-based US units saying that they were going to cut down 'our' banner and burn it. So, my friend SP4 Ray 'Ski' Stobinski came up and told me what had been said. We decided we would get the banner before 'those other guys' could get it.

Now, the 25th ID CG had determined that we would not be allowed to wear civvies while in-country, and I think he decided that it would be easier to ID his troops since all the other GIs in Korea would be wearing civvies. Anyway, Ski and I stepped out of the bar and into the street.

After a cursory recon, we determined that one of us would have to get on the roof of the attached building to cut down the upper ropes on the banner. We stepped into the alley, and since Ski was a bit taller, we decided to hoist him onto the roof. I stepped out front onto the sidewalk to act as a lookout.

Unfortunately, Ski's knife was dull, and the ropes were tough. So, what we thought would take just a few moments took quite a bit longer.

Suddenly, I saw MPs from the 2nd ID, 25th ID, and the ROK Army converging at the three-road intersection in front of us. I signaled Ski to get down, and he turned to run off the roof as it gave way under him. He found himself sitting on the roof with a flight suit-clad leg dangling into a Korean family's living room. He quickly extricated himself, jumped off the roof, and slipped next to me on the sidewalk beneath the now-dangling banner. And we calmly began strolling toward the club entrance.

At that moment, the homeowner burst onto the street screaming in Korean and pointing at us frantically. That's when an American MP called to us to stop. We turned, acting surprised. My heart sunk, and visions of the interiors of Korean and military jail cells danced in my head. The three groups of MPs, along with the irate civilian, converged upon us.

We explained that we were standing outside to get away from the cigarette smoke in the club, heard a commotion, saw the MPs, and decided to get out of the way by returning to the party. After some minutes of discussion between the MPs and the justifiably irate civilian, a soldier standing at the bus stop across the street stepped up. He told the MPs that Ski and I were standing on the sidewalk when he saw a guy jump off the roof and run down the adjacent alley.

It was at this moment that our 1SG stepped out and stepped in, asking what the problem was. After repeated explanations and discussion, he volunteered to take us into his custody. After speaking to and thanking the MPs in English and Korean, he quickly ushered both of us inside the club.

"I know what you two were trying to do. Nice job. Now stay in here and don't go outside till we leave."

For quite a few minutes, my pucker factor was through the roof. Ski and I are still in touch, and we've reminisced and laughed about that incident.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I continued to work in military aviation, first in Germany, Spain, and Belgium with Dyncorp, at Ft. Bragg with L-3, in the UAE with AMMROC, and then in Uganda with ATSC. I am now retired and backing my son's business.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the US (Life Member)
National Guard Association of SC (Life Member)
25th Infantry Division Association (Life Member)
The American Legion - Larry Jeffers Post 195, Lugoff, SC (Paid Up For Life)
Army Aviation Association of America - Jimmy Doolittle Chapter

Mostly, the benefits are information and camaraderie.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I'm not sure that the military has influenced me as much as I feel my life has influenced how I served. Certainly, I've had experiences that have given me insight and knowledge that I would not have gotten elsewhere. But all of life is a journey, as well as a class.

I miss the daily interaction with people with a common goal, and a high one at that - to serve the nation and defend her.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
NEVER be discouraged. There is sadly a negative vibe that permeates the service, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Stay focused on your job and what you need to do to be a leader and a positive influence. I've never really met a former or retired servicemember who regrets their service.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It's helped to stir a few memories, but so has my association with the veterans' groups to which I belong, as well as some Facebook pages.

KC 12.14.22