Posted on 03/04/2009 3:21:09 PM PST by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — One of the legends in the enlisted military intelligence community honored a young soldier on Tuesday afternoon.
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Douglass S. Russell presented the award named after him to 23-year-old Sgt. Julian M. Jones at a ceremony in Fitch Auditorium, where a worldwide conference of senior intelligence noncommissioned officers is being held this week.
Deciding who would receive the 2009 Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Russell Award was difficult, said Command Sgt. Maj. Gerardus Wykoff, who is the Military Intelligence Corps, Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca senior NCO.
There were eight candidates for the honor, which is presented to a NCO at the grade of sergeant or below.
“Every one of them were deserving,” Wykoff said of the candidates.
The award honors Russell, who retired from the Army after 32 years, serving during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Of Jones, Russell said he is an example of the exemplary young NCOs in today’s Army intelligence force. This is the ninth year the award has been given.
After hearing Jones’ biography, Russell said it clearly describes why “the NCO standing before you today” was chosen.
Wykoff said the award requires outstanding achievements with direct impact on the Military Intelligence Corps.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the noncommissioned officer standing before you today, Sgt. Jones, has met the criteria and more. Sgt. Jones’ contributions have been nothing less than impressive,” Wykoff said.
He then listed some of the young soldiers accomplishment that included:
• Serving as a tactical human intelligence team leader during a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan in a position normally filled by a senior NCO.
• During the deployment, Jones conducted more than 40 interrogations and was responsible for maintaining a field detention site.
Jones was wounded in Afghanistan. During his deployment, the soldier received a Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge, Wykoff said.
The young soldier was born in Boone, Iowa, and enlisted in the Army in 2003.
He is proficient in the Korean language and was serving in South Korea when he deployed to Afghanistan.
“Sgt. Jones is the epitome of professionalism and has a take charge, mission first attitude,” Wykoff said.
And Jones is the type of young NCO who should be recognized, especially in 2009, the Army Year of the NCO, Wykoff said.
Jones also was recognized by GEICO, and he was presented the Knowlton Award from the Military Intelligence Corps Association.
The soldier’s parents, Bob and Lisa Jones of Boone, watched as the honors were presented to their son.
Jones accepted the accolades, noting “to receive this award is truly an honor.”
On the net
• U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Web site: http://www.tradoc.army.mil/schools.htm
Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
Gee, I wonder if he tortured anybody--the socialist in chief better get Murtha on it.
My alma mater. As an E-1, I was slotted as an E-6 (but did the work of an O-4) at I Corps G-2. You get a LOT of responsibility put on your shoulders in Military Intelligence!
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