Posted on 03/29/2007 3:05:36 PM PDT by Rodney King
One of 10 draftees still in Army retires by By The Associated Press Print Story Email Story FORT BLISS, Texas -- Robert Rangel was a college student trying to "fly below the radar" when his draft number came up in 1967.
"I got caught," he said with a wide smile.
Caught, as it turns out, for 40 years.
Chief Warrant Officer Rangel was one of just 10 draftees still in the Army when he retired Wednesday, according to Fort Bliss officials. It was unclear whether the other draftees have served as long as Rangel; the draft ended in 1973.
Rangel, of El Paso, said the prospect of being drafted was terrifying after watching numerous friends "coming home in coffins."
But he opted to stay well beyond the required two-year hitch because "I started enjoying my job and the people I worked with."
He's been deployed to nine combat zones, from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. Maj. Gen. Robert Lennox, the Fort Bliss commanding general, described Rangel as the "foremost expert" on air defense systems at the West Texas post, the current home of the Air Defense Artillery Center.
Michael Zaborowski, a retired lieutenant colonel who has known Rangel for more than a decade, said he has long been impressed by his dedication. "I did 20 years and I thought that was a lot," he said.
Rangel retired a few months before his 62nd birthday, when he would have been forced to do so under Army regulations.
His mother, who attended his retirement ceremony, was relieved the day had finally come. "That was a long time that I worried," Adelina Rangel said softly.
Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia, time in battle zones, a firsthand view of the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and a tour in the first Gulf War.
Now his priority is to take care of his mom and tackle some projects.
Tops on the list is restoring a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. He parked it in his mom's barn when he went off to basic training.
He's about on par with a Major / Lt Colonel ... he just does not have a commision and is not in the officer chain of command.
Think of him as a Master Plumber, Master Electrician or master machinist.
Some men just stand a little taller than other equals and here is one of them.
Found his spot ,,did'nt he,,,?
You needed 60 hours of college to get into the warrant program.
There are only 4 levels of warrent officer.He is at the top rank, can't go any higher unless he went to OCS and was commissioned as an officer.
There are 5 levels now in the Army. CWO-5 is a rank.
Would like to see that Plymouth..?
All you had to do was enlist and pass the Officer Candidate test with a score of 120. I did, and went to helicopter pilot school instead of OCS. Never regretted it.
What's the equivalent rank of a Chief Petty Officer?
An old saying went, "You can always tell a Warrant. You just can't tell 'em much."
E5 CW2 & 04.
Ok, I haven't been in for a few years and WO-4 was it when I got out. Thanks for the info.
Warrant Officers can be in command under certain circumstances.
Not Navy, but I believe CPO can go to E-9 today..
One of the smartest and best educated groups I ever met were all Warrant Officers in the CID. They have PHDs on staff.
Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia
I re enlisted from civilian and did the same thing.
WORWAC 66-11.
If you train a commissioned officer to job, they have "up or out" rules and are kicked out if they don't get promoted. But they don't get promoted if they don't go to different schools, and don't hold several jobs demonstrating wide competence. Either way, the Army loses the member from the technical slot, and has to train a replacement. Warrant Officers, WO1-WO5, are supposed to have the perks on an officer, but still be able to just do their job and not worry getting their ticket punched by holding a new position every 18 months.
People who should be Warrant officers, but aren't, for historical reasons, are JAGs, Chaplains and Doctors.
You needed 60 hours of college to get into the warrant program.
Not always,,I was offered the School(was a Spec 5),turned it down,,dumbest thing I ever did,,this was in '77,still can't think of anything dumber,,but the packet was ready,kind of want to think it was an honor to be selected..
My uncle used to claim that warrant officers were the only people in the Army that retained their balls as (he claimed) they were to be addressed as “mister” rather than “sir.” Maybe that was just “at the time”…
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Or a Master Detective.
Thanks for posting this great story! Wonder what the total number of Viet Nam era draftees went on to serve until retirement.
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