Posted on 03/25/2003 5:52:32 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Capt. Christopher Seifert of Williams Township was a phenomenal student, leader and ROTC cadet, said retired Lt. Col. Robert Wolfenden, who recruited, trained and commissioned him.
"He was one of the best we've ever commissioned out of the program," Wolfenden said.
Wolfenden was head of the Lehigh Department of Military Science and Leadership from 1995 to 1999.
Army ROTC students from Lafayette, Moravian and Muhlenberg colleges come to Lehigh University for training, Wolfenden said.
Wolfenden said that he got to know Seifert, his parents and his wife while Seifert was at Moravian College.
Wolfenden said that during Seifert's sophomore year at Moravian, he approached Wolfenden about joining the program.
Seifert then went to Camp Challenge in Fort Knox, Ky., a place for potential cadets to see if they are serious about joining the program, Wolfenden said.
Seifert did so well at Camp Challenge that the Army offered him a scholarship, Wolfenden said.
During the three years Seifert was a cadet, his ROTC finished first in the Ranger Challenge, Wolfenden said.
The Ranger Challenge is a competition among Army ROTC units from schools in New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Wolfenden said.
The challenge is a series of eight different events, one of which is a grenade assault course, Wolfenden said.
Also while a cadet, Seifert was the Cadet Battalion Operations Officer, one of the top positions in the program, Wolfenden said.
One of Seifert's responsibilities was to develop training programs for Army ROTC cadets, Wolfenden said.
After graduating, Seifert was selected for a program through which he became a military intelligence officer, Wolfenden said. Only the best Army ROTC cadets are selected for the program.
Wolfenden said Monday he is trying to get in touch with people who were Army ROTC cadets at the time Seifert was with the program.
"When he passed, the Army lost an outstanding officer and an outstanding person, and my condolences go out to his wife and family," said retired Sgt. 1st Class Tom Gleason.
Gleason was Seifert's sergeant during Seifert's last two years in Army ROTC. He said he helped Seifert train in areas such as field training and marksmanship.
"He was one of those cadets, and I'm sure he turned about to be the same kind of officer, who was always there to help someone when he needed help," Gleason said.
Gleason said Seifert's training could not possibly have prepared him to avoid his fate.
"We don't really cover protecting yourself when you're asleep from grenade attacks when your own soldier throws it," Gleason said.
Reporter Jeff Schogol can be reached at 610-863-4025 or by e-mail at jschogol@express-times.com.
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