Reserve Officer Training Corps – Page 17

Eastern Washington University to Host 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

09/10/201907/19/2019 by jstafford3

During the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York City, first responders had to run up the stairwells in the World Trade Center buildings to rescue people before the building collapsed. In honor of the first responders that lost their lives that day, a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb has been organized on the Eastern Washington University by the campus police department.

Dressler Hall on the EWU campus.

The stair climb will begin on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 07:00 AM at Dressler Hall. The World Trade Center had 104 floors and Dressler Hall has only 11 floors. To match what first responders experienced during the 9-11 attacks, participants in the stair climb will run up the main stairs in Dressler Hall and down the fire escape 10 times.

First responders and military personnel are encouraged to run the stairs in uniform, but the general public is welcome to attend as well in gym clothes. Parking for the event will be free in Lots P-12 and P-16.

Free parking locations at lots P-12 and P-16 for the EWU 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

EWU ROTC encourages everyone to please come out and support first responders this upcoming 9-11 anniversary by participating in the stair climb.

Go Eags!

Eastern Washington University ROTC Cadet Completes Internship at the National Forensic Science Technology Center

07/16/2019 by jstafford3

Congratulations to Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet, Valentino Olmstead for recently completing his summer internship with the at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) located in Largo, Florida on the campus of Florida International University.

Valentino Olmstead holding his certificate of completion for his internship.

During his internship Cadet Olmstead was exposed to the latest cutting edge technology utilized for biometric and forensic identification. Some of the skills students learn at NFSTC is to examine and develop fingerprints, chemical detection and analysis, media/cellular exploitation, and improvised explosive device (IED) investigations.

Cadet Olmstead was selected for the Forensic Internship Program through a Cadet Command sponsored competitive nomination process that required him to demonstrate academic excellence, physical fitness, and high character.

You can learn more about the internship process at the below link:

The Cadet Command Internship Process

Once again congratulations to Cadet Olmstead for successfully completing this prestigious internship.

Go ROTC! Go Fighting Eags!

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Randy Turner

07/15/2019 by jstafford3

RANDY VAN TURNER

(U.S. Army)

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Adjutant General

Born: 23 February 1944

Death: 25 September 1969

Location: Bien Hoa, Vietnam

Silver Star

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 17W–Line 8

In the Army, when a family loses a member in war, we refer to them as a “Gold Star Family.” Each of our Eastern Washington University (EWU) Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduates that were killed in action we consider them a “Gold Star Alumni” because they are part of our ROTC family.

Randy Turner graduated from Eastern in 1968 and commissioned into the Army’s Adjutant General Corps. He deployed the following year to Vietnam and was killed in action on September 25, 1969. He was posthumously recognized with the Silver Star. After his death Randy left behind a wife and a daughter. He was 25 years old.

Randy during his time at Eastern was a founding member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In remembrance of Randy, his fraternity established the annual Randy Van Turner ROTC Scholarship.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of First Lieutenant Randy Turner and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Randy Turner, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

History of Army ROTC’s Professors of Military Science at Eastern Washington University

02/07/202407/15/2019 by jstafford3

Since the creation of the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion at Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 1952, the Army has assigned a Professor of Military Science (PMS) to lead and administer the program. The PMS who also serves as the Chair for the Military Science Department, executes the important role of developing future Army officers and being a liaison to the local community and the EWU faculty, staff, and senior leadership. Below is a chronological listing of all Professors of Military Science that were assigned to Eastern Washington University since 1952.

Note: If you have any specific memories you want to share about any of the PMS’s listed below please leave a comment and share it with us.

Benjamin J. Van Meter

Lieutenant Colonel, Signal Corps

2021-present

Jonathan Stafford

Lieutenant Colonel, Air Defense Artillery

2018-2021

Michael Eliassen

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

2016-2018

Jason Pape

Lieutenant Colonel, Armor

2012-2016

Michael Kirkland

Lieutenant Colonel

2009-2012

David Millet

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

2005-2009

Kevin Arbanas

Lieutenant Colonel, Aviation

2002-2005

Charles Green Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel, Finance

2000-2002

Alan Westfield

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

1996-2000

James McMullin

Lieutenant Colonel, Armor

1993-1996

William Zorn

Lieutenant Colonel, Aviation

1990-1993

Douglas Morgan

Lieutenant Colonel, Field Artillery

1985-1990

Ronald Walter

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

1983-1985

George Massey

Lieutenant Colonel

1981-1983

Thomas Coonelly Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel, Engineer

1978-1981

Emilio Zamora

Lieutenant Colonel, Transportation

1974-1978

Darrell Irvin

Colonel, Field Artillery

1972-1974

Andy Pribnow

Lieutenant Colonel, Air Defense Artillery

1967-1972

Edgar Fenstemacher

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

1963-1967

Erwin Nilsson

Colonel, Infantry

1959-1963

Eccles Scott

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

1955-1959

Daniel Carter

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

1952-1955

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: Ronald Wolfe

07/14/2019 by jstafford3

RONALD GALE WOLFE

(U.S. Navy Reserve)

Rank: Lieutenant

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Branch: Navy

Birth: 05 November 1939

Death: 20 October 1966

Location: Phouc Tuy, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 11E–Line 93

Lieutenant Ronald Wolfe graduated from Eastern in 1961 and decided to attend Officer Candidate School and become an officer in the Navy. He successfully completed OCS and was serving with a naval advisory group in Vietnam when he was killed on October 20, 1966. He was 26 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Lieutenant Ronald Wolfe and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about Ronald Wolfe, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.

EWU ROTC Gold Star Alumni: William Wall

07/14/2019 by jstafford3

WILLIAM PENN WALL III

(U.S. Army Reserve)

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Hometown: Tekoa, WA

Branch: Field Artillery

Born: 02 January 1946

Death: 01 April 1970

Location: Thua Thien, Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 12W–Line 77

William Wall from Tekoa, Washington who went by the nickname of “Bink”, was an All-American linebacker who helped lead the Eastern football team to the 1967 national championship game. He graduated in 1968 and commissioned into the Field Artillery branch. Less than two years later while serving in Vietnam, “Bink” was killed on April 1, 1970. “Bink” left behind his wife Linda and his two daughters. He was 24 years old.

The Department of Military Science offers condolences to the family of Second Lieutenant William Wall and commemorates his service for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Note: If any friends or family have any memories they would like to share about William Wall, please leave a note in the comments section because we would love to learn more about him.