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Michael Jordan's big brother ends Army career
Charlotte Observer ^ | Tuesday, May 16, 2006P | AP

Posted on 06/10/2006 2:09:50 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Retiring sergeant major's service called `slam dunk' for military

Associated Press

FAYETTEVILLE - based at fort bragg He has the same self-confidence, the same cleanly shaven head, the same famous last name as his brother. But James Jordan has always been his own man.

While his younger brother, Michael, made history on the basketball court, James Jordan forged a distinguished career in a different uniform -- Army green.

Now he has retired after 31 years, one more than required because he chose to stay and accompany his unit on a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq.

"The Army was my life," he said recently. "That's why I dedicated myself to it. I felt I could be very successful in it. It didn't require me to be 6 foot. It just required me to be physically fit."

Jordan, who stands about 5 feet 7 inches and is 48, rose to become command sergeant major of the 35th Signal Brigade, the Army's only airborne signal brigade, based at Fort Bragg. That's the top job for an enlisted signal soldier.

"Jordan may be short in height when it comes to his brother, but, man, he scored a slam dunk every time as a sergeant major," said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Allen, the senior noncommissioned officer of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps.

When Michael Jordan became an NBA star in the 1980s, his older brother had already spent about a decade in the military.

He asked himself a question: "OK, what are you going to be? Are you going to ride a coattail or are you going to keep doing like you are doing?"

There never really was much doubt for a man who learned his work ethic during summers in the farm fields of southeastern North Carolina.

"One of the first things I learned before I went into the Army was that I was the oldest of five kids," he said. "My mom told me, `You have to earn everything you get.' "

His troops' dedication to him was evident during a retirement ceremony at Fort Bragg April 13.

"Do you know that, even though Michael Jordan was out there, everybody was still in line to shake Sergeant Major Jordan's hand, not to pay homage to his brother," Allen said. "I thought that was so cool."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anamericansoldier; army; iraq; jamesjordan; michaeljordan
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1 posted on 06/10/2006 2:09:56 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Good for him. He must be tall to be Jordan's "big" brother. Kidding.


2 posted on 06/10/2006 2:11:53 AM PDT by TheWasteLand
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To: MinorityRepublican

I love success stories.


3 posted on 06/10/2006 2:12:50 AM PDT by ChadGore (VISUALIZE 62,041,268 Bush fans. We Vote.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
It seems Mrs. Jordan managed to raise two extraordinary individuals. My hat is off to her.

L

4 posted on 06/10/2006 2:14:12 AM PDT by Lurker ("They still see you as the infidel, the other, and they'll still kill you. " Mark Steyn)
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To: Lurker

5 posted on 06/10/2006 2:19:05 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican (everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: Lurker
It seems Mrs. Jordan managed to raise two extraordinary individuals. My hat is off to her.

No doubt some proud parents there.

6 posted on 06/10/2006 2:20:28 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Thank you James Jordon, for your honorable service. We appreciate it..


7 posted on 06/10/2006 2:42:10 AM PDT by alaskamomma
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To: MinorityRepublican

A real class act. I wish him fair winds and following seas in his retirement.


8 posted on 06/10/2006 2:52:18 AM PDT by BTCM
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To: MinorityRepublican

God bless you, Sgt. Maj. Jordan. While your brother is a phenomenal individual and has rightfully become a sports legend, what you gave to your country was FAR more valuable ......and appreciated.


9 posted on 06/10/2006 3:04:08 AM PDT by RightOnline
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To: MinorityRepublican
Thank you for this post....what a neat family, both men have had extraordinary impact on peoples lives....
10 posted on 06/10/2006 4:16:36 AM PDT by Kimmers
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To: MinorityRepublican
Command Sergeant Major James R. Jordan

CSM Rank

Sergeant Major James R. Jordan's most recent assignment was Command Sergeant Major of the 327th Signal Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, since September 1998. He was born in Rose Hill, North Carolina, on 13 September 1957. His military career began in June 1975 where he attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He received Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in the Signal Corps at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

His CONUS assignments include the 24th Trans Co, Fort Eustis, Virginia; 2/6 Cav, Fort Knox, Kentucky; 1/20 FA, Fort Carson, Colorado; 2/5 FA, Fort Riley, Kansas; CECOM, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; 327th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Command Sergeant Major Jordan has served four overseas tours, these include the 304th Signal Battalion, Republic of Korea; 271st Avn Co, Camp Humphreys, Korea; 2D Eng Bn, 2ID, Camp Pelham, Korea; and 2/5 FA, Neu Ulm, Germany.

Command Sergeant Major Jordan has served in every noncommissioned officer leadership position to include Team Chief, Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major. His military schools include training at the Transportation Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Fort Eustis, Virginia; numerous signal electronic schools; ANCOC; First Sergeants Course; and the Sergeants Major Academy. Command Sergeant Major Jordan is working toward a degree in Business Administration.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (10th award); Army Achievement Medal (5th award); Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Ribbon; NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4th award); and Good Conduct Medal (7th award). He also earned the Army Parachute Qualification Badge as a First Sergeant.


11 posted on 06/10/2006 4:17:34 AM PDT by Sandy
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To: MinorityRepublican

Thank you for your exemplary service to our Country, James Jordan ! Who is Michael Jordan? (just kidding)


12 posted on 06/10/2006 4:21:50 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776
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To: Lurker

"It seems Mrs. Jordan managed to raise two extraordinary individuals. My hat is off to her."

yup, but wasn't there a Mr Jordan too?


13 posted on 06/10/2006 4:25:59 AM PDT by driftdiver
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To: driftdiver

The Jordan father was murdered several years ago and the skunk that did it was captured


14 posted on 06/10/2006 4:32:22 AM PDT by rkbliss
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To: MinorityRepublican

Rush was saying (yesterday?) that Michael is a huge Dem and when approached he declined to lend his name for support to their party b/c Republicans buy Nikes too.

Too bad more "celebs" don't follow his lead. Not b/c of their (lack of) stature, but just so we don't have to listen to them!


15 posted on 06/10/2006 4:32:59 AM PDT by synbad600
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To: rkbliss

It was a group of skunks.....very brutal little pieces of sh*t. None of them got what they deserved, imo.


16 posted on 06/10/2006 4:36:25 AM PDT by funnynurse
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To: driftdiver

Good point.


17 posted on 06/10/2006 4:39:35 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: funnynurse

The elder Jordan was only 57 when he died....

LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) -- An ex-convict was convicted Thursday of murdering basketball star Michael Jordan's father, who was shot during a holdup as he awoke from a nap along a dark highway in his $40,000 luxury car.

Daniel Green, 21, could get the death penalty for shooting 57-year-old James R. Jordan in the chest in 1993.


18 posted on 06/10/2006 4:40:18 AM PDT by rkbliss
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To: MinorityRepublican

God bless James Jordan!


19 posted on 06/10/2006 4:50:04 AM PDT by Guenevere
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To: rkbliss

It was a group of them....they shot him in the head,ditched his body in a swamp or a creek or such, stole his Lexus and then drove it up here to Fort Bragg/Fayetteville. During the trial, it was reported that they realized the identity of their victim b/c of the ring he was wearing......a championship ring earned by his son. I beleive the exact quote was "I think we just shot Micheal Jordan's daddy".

I don't think any of them got the death penalty, but its been years and I could be wrong.


20 posted on 06/10/2006 4:54:40 AM PDT by funnynurse
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