STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of MSG Michael Caldwell, U.S. Army (1994-2015)

My Army Recruiter SSG Constantine. He went above and beyond the call of duty to get me to join. I was a hard-headed, troubled teenager.

I joined the U.S. Army in May of 1994 as a 19K10 Armored Crewman. The folks at MEPS lied to me, but I haven’t regretted my decision since the day I made it.

I completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Knox, Kentucky in Echo company, 2-13 Cavalry Regiment. Upon completion of OSUT, I was assigned to 2nd platoon of Bravo Troop (Bandits), 1/3 Armored Cavalry Regiment, which was at Fort Bliss, Texas (My duty description was Tank Driver). The Regiment moved to Fort Carson, Colorado in 1995.

I reenlisted in 1996 for an overseas duty assignment. I was sent overseas to Germany and was assigned to 2nd platoon, 1-37 Armor Battalion out of Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany. I was given a Gunner’s seat as soon as I arrived. Germany was the most memorable duty station.

Those three years captured so many memories. I attended PLDC and BNCOC. I shot at least 5 gunneries. I had two sons. I deployed to Bosnia. I traveled quite a bit around Europe with my family, I spent a crapload of time in the “BOX” at Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr, and met many friends with whom I still communicate to this day.

I reenlisted in 1999 for Fort Lewis, Washington. I wanted to see if it was true what everyone had told me about going back home. It was! I was assigned to 1-33 Armor Battalion. I was given my own tank this time. Yakima here I come. Fort Lewis was where I got to see the Army begin to transform and witness the worst terrorist event to take place on our soil. We put on black berets and got rid of the most important piece of military equipment in my eyes, the M1A1 main battle tank and drew Strykers.

I quickly reenlisted to get out of that soggy, no-tank-having location. Fort Knox, Kentucky here I come. I know there will always be tanks there, I thought at least, LOL. I was assigned to the United States Army Armor Center (USAARMC). My duty description was Senior Training Management NCO. I do not know where that title came from, but I dealt with Army experimentation and worked from the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab (UAMBL). Very fun job. I was able to regain a little humanness.

I cut the fun short by reenlisting INDEF to meet the PCS requirements for Fort Bliss, Texas once again. There was a brigade from the 1st Cavalry Division that was going to stand up at Fort Bliss, and I just had to be part of that. Longknife here I come. What an experience! From sand to an actual footprint that had everything that a traditional BCT had/has. The only difference was that the buildings were/are portable.

I got my first taste of combat with this unit as a Tank Platoon Sergeant. I spent time in 2-12 Cavalry Regiment, 2-7 Cavalry Regiment, and upon redeployment from Iraq, went off to be the Chief Instructor for the Warrior Leader Course at the Fort Bliss NCO Academy (Air Defense). Best job for me, hands down. Great organization.

Selection for MSG brought this assignment to an end. As soon as I made “The List,” I was on assignment for Fort Polk, Louisiana. How the heck did this happen? Well, I got to stand another unit up from nothing to something. I was a First Sergeant for an Artillery battery in the 162nd IN BDE.

Never envisioned myself in a situation like this. I made the most of it, but when an opportunity came to depart that wonderful location, I jumped on it. Fort Bliss, I’m coming back home. I was given a Tank company this time, Comanche company 4-6 IN. This just so happened to be the same Tank company that I served with in Mosul, Iraq in 2006/2007. Different name, but same UIC (WEZEC0). I will never forget it.

I was only given a year in that seat due to a First Sergeant issue. I was sent off to an Infantry company, Baker company, 1-77 Armor Battalion. A month after my Change of Responsibility, I was on COS Adder and learning how Infantrymen do business. My eyes were opened, and I grew attached. Immediately following redeployment, I was placed on an SFAAT team and prepped for an upcoming mission to Afghanistan.

To be continued…

I participated in OIF and OND. Both were very significant to me. In 2006 I deployed with 4/1 CAV to Mosul, Iraq for 15 months. That is a lot of time to spend all day every day with a small group of guys. We saw tragedy but God brought us all back home. I miss you all 4th platoon.

The OND deployment was only a 4-month deployment but I was with a great Infantry company with a great Company Commander and we got to see something happen that I know I never thought I would while still wearing Army Greens. The drawdown and pulling out of Iraq. What a great feeling.

I never once had any doubts about surviving. I always believed that keeping a positive outlook and leaning hard on instinct and training would get me and my guys home. Can’t call that mindset doctrinal, but I can say I deployed three times to combat and didn’t lose one Soldier. Glory be to God!

Every single one of my assignments had wonderful memories with wonderful people. If I had to pick one or two, I would have to start with my time in Germany. NCOs like SFC Russell Obey made the Army what I thought it was supposed to be. He demanded Soldiers perform their duties. I do not know exactly how he did it, but I never got to see failure while he was my Platoon Sergeant. Who knows what he would have done to you or for you.

I got to see other NCOs like SSG Theodore Davis truly teach, coach, and mentor the young Soldiers. He was definitely Tommy Tanker.

Also, officers like CPT Roderic Spencer who led from the front and displayed a human characteristic for all to appreciate. We trained hard, but in between training, we had fun. And those who deserved it were rewarded for their merits.

The other assignment I would say had great memories was my short tour at the Fort Bliss NCO Academy. The Commandant, CSM Gary Hall, and the Deputy Commandant, 1SG Robert Navarro, were the picture-perfect team. I thought I would be treated as an outsider since I was not an Air Defender, but this was never the case. I was given all of the assistance that a person could ask for. I had all professional cadre. I will not list all of their names here, but they all know who they are. It was tough at first, but we all grew to appreciate each other and the positions we held. The students were great also. I still hear the term “hello Chief” from time to time.

The memory that stands out the most in my head is when I first reported to Fort Bliss back in September 1994. I remember feeling so alone and just a tad bit scared until I saw Ronnie Evaro in the reception center. We were nearly enemies during OSUT but when we saw each other that night we were best friends for life. This is no joke. Ronnie and I were assigned to the same platoon. We were roommates. He introduced me to my wife and even though the U.S. Army did not work out for him, we still are great friends 18 years later.

The most meaningful award I received was an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) that was presented to me during Spring Gunnery 1995. I was a PV2 at the time and had loaded for three tanks already that day. I remember walking in the debrief shack on range 51 in Dona Ana, New Mexico when a strange-looking man with a bird on his collar said: “Where is the loader!”. Everyone pointed at me and he came and shook my hand and asked me if I had been lap loading. I had no clue as to what that meant but my Tank Commander said “No, sir” pretty quick. When I caught on to what it meant, I showed the Full Bird my hands. I had blisters and cuts that showed that there was just a whole lot of grabbing and slapping going on in the turret. At the end of our debrief he had my crew and I come to the back of the room where he presented me with the ARCOM.

BTW… Lap loading is when a Tanker holds a round in his lap in between engagements so that he can load another round quicker. Not a safe act.

This would go to SFC Russell Obey. He was a one of a kind Platoon Sergeant. You could tell which tank was his because it had a weight bench on the turret. He slept on that weight bench. He could read the Stars and Stripes while we were shooting Tank Table VIII. He was fluent in who knows how many languages and it got all kinds of stuff for us in Germany. His greatest attribute to me though was that he knew his Soldiers more than they knew themselves.

There was a handful of us young NCOs that were for sure getting out and going to do other things with our lives. We did not want to attend any boards or take any college courses. We were not given a choice. SFC Obey made us appear before boards. From Soldier of the Month to promotion boards. We all were taken to the Education Center and supervised as we signed up for ANY class.

He told me to always keep doors of opportunity open because if you allow them to close all of the ways you most likely will never get them open again. He was so right. Who knows where I would be right now. Thanks, Russell.

I will never forget a particular day during OSUT when we returned from dinner chow and one of the guys in my bay had some Skittles that he had hidden. Well the Drill Sergeants had found the Skittles and spelled out “OH S&*T” on his bunk and he just so happened to be the first one to walk in the bay and the first words out of his mouth were written on his bunk. I remember knowing that we were all going to get smoked but it was funny and constantly talked about for the rest of the cycle. Crazy to think that candy was not allowed.

That would get a Drill Sergeant relieved today I am sure.

I am still serving proudly. I am a First Sergeant on a Security Force Advise and Assist Team. We are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this summer.

I am a member of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, the Association of the United States Army, and the Armor Association. These associations bring numerous benefits to Soldiers and I strongly encourage any Soldier to become a member. The price is tiny compared to what most of us blow money on. Do a little research and see what they have to offer. I am only a member of a few. There are many more out there.

The United States Army has made me who I am today. I do not know what people would say to me if I had not joined but I am positive that I wouldn’t be looked at the same by my family, friends, and strangers. I am almost at the end of my career and I can honestly say I will not feel like there is something that I should do to feel complete. I have had the opportunity to do things that I would never have imagined. I was able to start a family at 19 years old and not be on welfare or homeless.

My wife would say that my Military service has made me way too rule or policy-based. I have a hard time breaking rules. It still drives me crazy that there are Soldiers who are comfortable with putting their hands in their pockets.

My Drill Sergeants were too good I guess. I don’t even do it in civilian clothes. Good order and discipline equal satisfaction. My opinion.

Hang tough. As the Military begins to downsize it will be a little tougher to advance and stay in. Do your best and go for the Gold medals. 300 on the APFT is going to be the standard again in the near future. Don’t focus on the past. Expect the unexpected and try to smile as often as you can. Put your family first whenever you get the opportunity. They know you have to put the Army and Soldiers first most of the time but when the Army gives you a break go run with the family. When the Army spits you out all beat up you will have nothing but family. Don’t be that single 40 something year old at the bar feeling bad because the NFL got all of your free time.

Togetherweserved is a great way for us older guys to link up with guys that we knew before the World Wide Web. I have found guys that I thought would never see again. I had already forgotten their names but I didn’t have to know their names. I knew they were Tankers.