Pershing Rifle Company R-1
Eastern Kentucky University

A Bit of History - Mine

I chanced to grow up in a period of history when the United States found itself in a protracted conflict in Southeast Asia. You can read that as we were at war in Viet Nam. My father was a civilian employee of the US Army Material Command so I had grown up around Army officers. In my family alternatives were not even discussed, I would fulfill my obligations by serving in some way in the military. And being an officer seemed the best way to do that.

During that time the path was simple, the draft was on and if you thought being an officer was a better idea, then a college degree was almost a necessity. It also delayed the inevitable. If you could find a college/university with an ROTC program, so much the better. ROTC did many things, besides preparing you to be an officer in the Army. If you were an optimist, it provided 20% of your college wardrobe as we were provided with uniforms that could be worn all day on Fridays, our drill day. If you completed the first two years and decided not to continue, you were guaranteed your first stripe in basic training if/when you were drafted; however, if you completed the first two years and were allowed to continue, you were actually paid something, I think it was $85 a month, in those days a princely sum for a college student. After your four years and upon graduation, you were commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and your job future secure for at least a few years , if you survived.

I couldn't help but notice there were a few of the cadets that simply stood out. They were above the fray. Proud of the uniform, proud of their place on campus and in the future. And quite frankly, the girls seem to notice them just a bit more. If you're going to be in ROTC, why not strive to be the best. Those guys had more medals, ropes, and other decorations on their uniforms, which were also better pressed, held more starch, and their boots/shoes held a greater shine. They were the men of the Pershing Rifles, Company R-1, a national military honor fraternity and I wanted to be a part of that.

After a "rigorous" pledge semester and a "week of concentrated skills enhancement," I made it! We had precision drill teams, a suicide squad that drilled with rifles with bayonets mounted. Although it was really a brigade function, the PRs dominated the school's Color Guard so I tried out for the Guard, supposedly an exercise in futility for a freshman, the guard was a sophomore position as you automatically became a Cadet Master Sergeant upon selection to the squad. But I made it anyway.

Hence began an era of unparalleled "gung-ho activity" in my life. In the color guard we led every parade, special activity, and college sports function, which I got to do for a year and a half. The PRs' drill teams brought honors to the school including a Regimental Championship and a 2nd Place in the National drill meet in Chicago. But alas, it was not to last, at least for me . . .

While pretty much excelling at everything military, scholastically the ROTC folks had held higher hopes for me and so "released" me from further obligation after three years. I continued to help train our pledges and the straight drill teams, but pursued other avenues for my commission. Finally being accepted by the U.S. Air Force where against all odds I became a pilot, a pretty successful operations officer, and completed a combined career in the Air Force and Air National Guard of West Virginia. I have also managed to acquire a Masters Degree and more than 60 post-graduate hours along the way.

But this page is for my brothers in Company R-1. A few hard working souls thought that it was time to get together back in 2006. A reunion that I definitely looked forward to but was unable to attend. But now it's 2008 and they tried again. this time I was able to attend.

We had about 20 members show up with regrets from a few more. Here are a few notes and photos from this year's reunion of Pershing Rifle Company R-1 from Eastern Kentucky University.

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