Photo In Uniform |
Service Details |
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Last Rank
Specialist 5
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Last Service Branch
Signal Corps
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Last Primary MOS
32D10-Fixed Station Technical Controller
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Last MOS Group
Signal
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Primary Unit
1968-1969, 32D10, 29th Signal Group
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Service Years
1966 - 1969
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Voice Edition
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
Oklahoma | |
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Year of Birth 1948 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MSG Larry Williams (Ghost Rider)
to remember
Cloud, Jack Harrison (J.C.), SP 5.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Sapulpa |
Last Address TULSA, OK
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Date of Passing Sep 07, 2018 |
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Last Known Activity:
Was in Professional Debt Collections almost 40 years. Forced to retire due to medical problems in 2009
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1966-1966, 11B10, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade (Cadre) Fort Ord, CA
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1967-1967, 32C10, HHC, Southeastern Signal School (Staff) Fort Monmouth, NJ
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1967-1967, 32D10, HHC, Southeastern Signal School (Staff) Fort Monmouth, NJ
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1967-1967, US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)
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1967-1968, Operations Company, United States Army Joint Support Command (USAJSC)
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1968-1969, 32D10, 29th Signal Group
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Reflections on SP 5 Cloud's
US Army Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
| My Basic Training Photo |
My grandfather had served in the Spanish-American War in the Philippines and also served under General Pershing when he crossed into Mexico after Pancho Villa. He further served in WWI and was a recruiter in Joplin, MO after the war. My father was a Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with the Wolfhounds, 27th Inf of the 25th, Tropic Lightning, on 7 Dec. 1941. He saw service through the South Pacific Islands including Guadalcanal. After WWII he was traveling through Oklahoma when he met my mother. They married and he joined the 45th Inf Division. When the 45th mobilized for Korea, he was a MSG and served as the Heavy Weapons Platoon Sgt of Company H. As a boy all I wanted to do when I got out of school was to join the Army.
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
I signed enlistment papers while still 17, with the intent on getting an education in electronics, being an officer and making the Army a career, even having a signed contract for the Signal School at Ft. Monmouth that I wanted. The contract specified I would attend the school after Basic | Basic Training Graduation, Ft Bliss TX |
Training. On graduation day, instead of leave, I was on a plane to Ft Ord CA, for Infantry AIT. Upon arrival the 1Sgt asked if anyone felt they didn't belong. I gave the info as to the contract, was laughed at, and sent to the barracks. It was at this point I was told that to be able to attend OCS I had to have a combat MOS. The recruiter never told me this. HE LIED TO ME!! Just before the last week of AIT, we were being given Christmas leave, and I was 10 minutes from my bus leaving when I was called to the Orderly Room and advised my leave was canceled, I was being sent to the Signal School and to pack all my gear. Three days later I was given 10 Day Delay enroute before reporting to Monmouth. I completed the school I wanted and was ordered to attend another school which I didn't want. Guess what? No choice. As it turned out, that was probably more fortuitous than I'd ever know. The new MOS not only let me see part of Germany but also allowed me, when I went to Thailand, to be run through a promotion board to Spec 5 four months before I actually was eligible. I was then assigned as a Shift NCOIC, holding down an E8 slot, but it's too bad I didn't get the pay to go with the slot. My first duty station was Ft. Ritchie, MD. I was there 2 months (Oct 67) then sent to Pirmasens, Germany on a 90 day TDY to relieve permanent duty personnel so they could attend schooling on a new communication system being installed. Back in the States I was talked to several times about going to OCS, but after what all I had seen, I pretty much decided I'd just do my 3 and get out. In March 68 I got orders for an APO with a 96 on the front, but Personnel couldn't (yet) tell me exactly where. My CO Capt Carr, finally found out (Thailand), but he still tried to get me to go to OCS. Upon arrival I was assigned to USACCCCA. After only 2 weeks the unit had two of the three Shift NCOs leave and I was promoted and assigned to one of the positions. We were a rather unique unit Our CO was a Full Bird Colonel, and we actually had no 1Sgt, but rather a CSM. CSM McConnell was a big burly Irishman with a great sense of humor but no-nonsense when it came to making sure our job was done properly.
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IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
| Vietcong, breakfast of Champions |
While I never actually saw combat (yeah right), I had occasion to put my advanced infantry training to use when, in '68, we were firing for familiarization on the M60. I had qualified Expert in '66 and had even been solicited to join the cadre at Ft Ord as an instructor. I was still hoping to get the Signal School I wanted and pretty much incurred their wrath by telling them I wasn't interested. During the familiarization one of the weapons started "cooking off". The guy firing backed away and I was fortunate enough to be close enough to twist the belt and stopping it.
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OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
So much to tell, so little space. Ft. Monmouth: I was asked (told) to volunteer to escort young ladies to dinner. Turned out to be a Father-Daughter dinner for Girl Scouts whose dads were overseas. Body surfing in the Atlantic Ocean at Ft Hancock beach. Watching guys from Hawaii jumping | Ft Hancock Beach, NY June 67 |
off second floor eaves, wearing only skivvies and combat boots, into 4 foot snow drifts. Ft Ritchie: Germany TDY, Post Soldier of the Month. Germany: civilian status, living in a hotel in town. The day I left Ft Ritchie (and the east coast), was 4 Apr 1968. I boarded the plane, flew home to Tulsa, OK. As my folks were driving back to Sapulpa I overheard on the radio of someone being killed. That was the day Martin Luther King Jr was killed. Ritchie went on lock down and many of my friends were sent to DC for security and riot control. It was mixed emotions when I came back to the states. Waiting for a plane to Tulsa, I was approached by punks calling me names and one spit on me. I got two good shots in on him before the cop stopped me. Luckily the cop just ran me off. I heard many of my Brothers went to jail for the same thing. I arrived in Thailand in May '68 and within a month I knew I'd be getting an early out but I chose not to tell my family or fiancee. Five days before I left, I wrote a letter to my folks and told them I'd sign it when I got home. I got a ride from the Tulsa airport to Sapulpa and was knocking on the front door at 8:30am. I visited with my family for about an hour, then had my sister take me to my fiancee's house. Her mom had to wake her up. It was good to be home.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
| Horton and Dicks in Thailand |
Overall, my service forced me to grow up. Specifically I was put into leadership positions which proved very beneficial in civilian life. Flying into Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Being met by jeep with mounted M60's; seeing caskets lined up to be brought home.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
| Honor Guard Formation |
After my return from Germany I was approached to be a part of Ft. Ritchie Honor Guard and further encouraged to to compete in the post Soldier of the Month program. Although it may sound trite, I'm most proud that I can say I'm a Veteran of our great country. I never did anything that brought disrespect to my character, family, unit or country.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
Although OFFICIALLY I was never in Nam, even though I was, and being able to wear the VSM and VCM has more meaning than I can describe in words. They didn't mention this to me during AIT.
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IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
| Bullshirt |
Capt Carr from Ft Ritchie, Capt Green at USACCCA, CSM McConnell also from USACCCA. Capt Carr helped me to realize there was much more to my duties than just showing up for shift hours. He encouraged me to "step up" and take on more responsibilities while working. Capt Green helped me to improve, not only my job responsibilities, but also making me more comfortable in communicating with subordinates and those of higher rank. CSM Mac, well he showed me what a real NCO was. He had long passed that point where NCO's think theirs don't stink. Although he made it clear he'd never be our friend, he took the time and effort to listen to our problems and provide direction. Even if that direction was accompanied by a size 14 in the back side. And I guess I have to add Zenner. Zenner was just..Zenner!!
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ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
While at Ft Monmouth, another guy and I were both from Okla and were the "resident blanket warmers", his name was Redeagle, I think. We decided one night to put an end to it. We went to a TG&Y and bought headbands with feathers, a rubber hatchet and a bow | Ed Face Webb. USACCCCA Camp Friendship RIP |
and arrows with rubber suction cups. After nights out, we snuck into the latrine, rigged loin cloths from towels, put on war paint and ran out into the bay, screaming and carrying on. My pal with the hatchet, jumped on one guy in an upper bunk. He started screaming just as someone turned on the lights. The guy in the bunk thought he was going to get scalped. We were never hassled again. While at Ft. Ritchie I went to the NCO Club for dinner before the graveyard shift. I encountered a man in civvies who offered to buy me a beer; shortly thereafter I reciprocated. We did this "for awhile" and I finally realized I had to RUN or miss the Site Bus; didn't make it. I immediately called the Comm Center and NCOIC told me to just go to bed. Next morning I'm "invited" to see the CO. Throwing on my uniform, I rush down to the 1Sgt's Office. We had just gotten a new Top and that was his first day. I pretty much knew my luck of missing "special duty" was over. He turns around and it's my drinking buddy from the night before; yep, my life is over!! He starts laughing and hollered to the Captain I was there. The Capt was definitely a good guy. I got reamed, but that's as far as it went. Two weeks later my Great grandmother passed away and I got emergency leave. This was a week before payday and the Capt GAVE me $100 and Top drove me to DC to catch my plane. Also at Ritchie, I hitched a ride to Lancaster PA to visit a young lady I met. Hitching back I got caught in a snow storm that ended dumping 4 feet. It took me 4+ Hours. I HATE snow to this day!!! Part of our duties at USACCCA required our reporting system outages to 1st Sig Bde with some being written by the NCOIC and others by the Shift Officer. We would hand write the report then give it to the TTY operator to prepare. My first week there I met Zenner, our shift TTY operator. He was given a report by the Lt, regarding an Air Force weather balloon tether line wrapping around power lines shorting out the system, and to paraphrase typed "System out to weather drifting into power lines". LT proofread it, yelled at Zenner and said "When you f* up, you really f*& up, don't you?" Obviously we all got a good laugh out of it. Zenner went through a FULL three foot tall trash can and found the handwritten copy from the LT. Yep, he typed it exactly as the LT had written. In his own classic style, Zenner takes the paper to the LT, and rather loudly states, "With all due respect, Sir, when YOU fuck up, you REALLY f*&A# up, don't you?"
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
I tried to get into electronics, but there were no positions readily available, but found a position as an assistant manager in a finance company. Within a year I became the youngest Office Manager the company ever had, but discovered I didn't care to loan money to people who I knew really didn't want to repay, but I did enjoy the challenge of collecting. I gravitated to collecting delinquent student loans, then branched into all aspects of debt collections.
From 1970 through 2009 I was involved in professional debt collections, even owning my own agency for a period of time until medical problems forced me to retire. During that time I attained both Fellow and Scholar Degrees in Professional Debt Collection from the American Collection Association. I was also elected to serve as State President of the Oklahoma Collection Association.
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IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
I'm with Tulsa Chapter 524 of the VVA, and also Creek County Chapter 9 of the DAV. Being able to be with others who "were there". TogetherWeServed has helped me to reconnect to my military past.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
| Camp Friendship Korat Thailand |
Leadership techniques, both good and bad, as well as leadership opportunities were afforded me in the service in which I dealt with men from different parts of the United States, some even older than me. This helped to provide me a solid platform in which to not only advance myself but train others to be do the same.
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IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Listen to what you're told, learn to take instructions. Get as much education you can. Don't put a target on your back by questioning authority; do your job to the best level you can. Surround yourself with positive people.
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HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
| TWS and the US Army |
Although there have been a few bad memories recalled, for the most part events from 66-69 have been positive and even brought to mind some details that had been long lost. TogetherWeServed has helped me to reconnect to my Military Past. DS 3/29/17
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