Posted on 06/30/2012 1:02:41 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Creating a legacy when there isn’t much of a past is difficult.
Just ask retired Army Col. Jim Kelsey.
But in the military, when an order — or at least the desire of a general is expressed — it’s “yes sir,” followed sometimes by a “now what?” Kelsey, formerly a lieutenant colonel, found himself in that quandary as did others in the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence (OCMI), some time before the Military Intelligence Corps was established on July 1, 1987.
There had to be symbolism when it came to the establishment of the Corps, which 25 years earlier, on July 1, 1962, was established as an Army branch, Kelsey said.
With the Corps establishment, a regimental crest had to be created.
That’s when Kelsey heard the simple but direct “no,” word coming from Maj. Gen. Julius Parker about the first design Kelsey showed him.
It would be one of many times he would hear “no” from the general and others.
Looking at the audience Friday morning for a joint recognition ceremony of the Military Intelligence Corps Founders and the dedication of the Military Intelligence Solider Heritage Walkway, the retired colonel had the people laughing as he related the MI Corps legacy establishment road he and his staff had to travel.
And, one of those enjoying the light moments was Parker, who was the first chief of the MI Corps.
Kelsey thought the initial design was perfect, the crest had a sphinx on it, plus other items, and the colors were gold, blue and silver, and he had 200 of them made.
Actually looking at the first design, the sphinx was more orange than gold, and with Parker’s disapproval the 200 crests became — in a phrase — historically worthless.
When Parker said, “No, that’s not it,” Kelsey said it was back to the drawing board, in the days when computer designing was not one of the Army’s fortes.
Two more times he walked into Parker’s office with new designs.
And, twice more it was no.
On the fourth try it was a new word he heard — yes.
Phase one completed.
Next was designing a certificate to be presented to MI soldiers. It meant obtaining the approval of the Army’s adjutant general. The proposal was for a three-color certificate, silver, gold and blue.
No, was the word from the adjutant general’s office.
The certificate could only have two colors. But Kelsey and his OCMI staff found a work-around. Fort Huachuca had it’s own printing press and three-color certificates were printed.
Kelsey said when it came to the work, he ensured his entire staff of a baker’s dozen — 13 — were involved.
“I wanted to spread the blame,” he said.
But looking at some of his staff of those days long ago, who were at the event, Kelsey said it was not he who made the legacy attempt successful.
“It just didn’t happen because of me, it happened because the people made it happen,” he said of the OCMI staff.
The last thing was the design of the Corps flag and Kelsey turned to the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official design was approved but then when he asked if the Corps could have more than one flag he heard the no word again.
Only one flag per Corps was authorized to be made by the heraldry institute. However, a solution was found and it was in South Korea where he sent some of his staff to have the flag duplicated.
Fortunately those who went to South Korea returned with an example which “did not pass the muster,” Kelsey said.
After his speech, he clarified to the Herald/Review it would be kind to just say the eagle on the flag was “obscene.”
Now, a quarter of a century after the establishment of the MI Corps, the little legacy of those days 25 years ago, has grown and will continue to do so, Kelsey said.
Regardless of the trials in creating the heraldry for the MI Corps — and after he spoke, Parker said, “he finally got a yes,” leading many in the audience to laugh as the two men hugged — Kelsey said in the end it was not only unusual work the OCMI staff had to do, it was important.
While there are no photos of those days, the retired colonel, who returned to Fort Huachuca later to become the garrison commander, and at the same time to be the intelligence center’s chief of staff, the MI Corps is an integral part of him, as it is to all who are intelligence soldiers.
“To me it’s always about the Corps,” Kelsey said, ending his comments with “Always Out Front,” the Corps’ motto.
It was 1967 when I saw it, is it still there?
I miss it.
The reason why:
“Next was designing a certificate to be presented to MI soldiers. It meant obtaining the approval of the Army’s adjutant general. The proposal was for a three-color certificate, silver, gold and blue.
“No, was the word from the adjutant general’s office.”
Depending upon when the word was expected from The Adjutant General’s Office (aka TAGO), one reason for “no word” being received was that in 1986 the TAGO was ordered to be dis-established by the end of 1987. The reason for this was that records management was transferred to the Signal Corps, which had computers and the Army of the future would be paperless (laugh here). Because of that move, the G-1s stopped inspecting unit records and ensuring that records were properly retired.
That move resulted in the loss of many records during the 1st Gulf War and no Army organization collecting the official original copy unit records during OIF & OEF.
The reason why:
“Next was designing a certificate to be presented to MI soldiers. It meant obtaining the approval of the Army’s adjutant general. The proposal was for a three-color certificate, silver, gold and blue.
“No, was the word from the adjutant general’s office.”
Depending upon when the word was expected from The Adjutant General’s Office (aka TAGO), one reason for “no word” being received was that in 1986 the TAGO was ordered to be dis-established by the end of 1987. The reason for this was that records management was transferred to the Signal Corps, which had computers and the Army of the future would be paperless (laugh here). Because of that move, the G-1s stopped inspecting unit records and ensuring that records were properly retired.
That move resulted in the loss of many records during the 1st Gulf War and no Army organization collecting the official original copy unit records during OIF & OEF.
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