MILITARY
C
hattanooga is home to a number of
retired senior military officers whose
careers reflect decades of honorable ser-
vice, courage under fire and dedication to their
country. In civilian life, many are successful
businessmen and entrepreneurs who also
dedicate their time to countless volunteer
and charitable activities.
In honor of the men and women who
are currently serving in the armed forces
and those who have so bravely given
their lives for our country, CityScope
magazine recently visited with a num-
ber of Chattanooga’s highest-ranking
military veterans to discuss their
Col. Nathaniel F. years of service, perspectives on
(Frank) Hughes military life, and admiration for
those with whom they served.
Tech Sgt. Charles H. Coolidge (left),
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and
Col. Tom Wert, also from Chattanooga
30 CityScopeMag.com
H E RO E S
Chattanooga Patriots
by m i k e h a S k e w
geN. BURWeLL BaXTeR Combined Forces
Command, which in-
(B.B.) BeLL iii
cluded the South Korean
United States Army (Ret.) million man military
When Gen. Burwell Baxter (B.B.) Bell during any wartime
retired from the U.S. Army last year, he contingency. His de-
Gen. Burwell
was one of only 11 four-star generals in ployments also included Baxter (B.B.) Bell III
the U.S. Army and the commanding gen- Operations Desert
eral of U.S. Forces, Korea. Bell’s military Shield/Desert Storm,
career spanned 39 years with service in as well as Operation
peace and war in Europe, Asia, the Middle Joint Endeavor in the
East and at many posts across the United Balkans. Bell’s awards include the Defense
States. As a career Army officer, Bell and his Distinguished Service Medal, Army
Born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Bell wife, Katie, actually relocated 32 times in Distinguished Service Medal, Defense
received a bachelor’s degree in business 39 years. His experience has provided a Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit
administration from the University of unique opportunity to assess other cul- with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star
Chattanooga and later a master ’s de- tures and their impressions of the United Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with
gree in systems management from the States. One Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army
University of Southern California. “First, foreigners see it (the United Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf
During a military career which States) as a place of freedom and democ- Clusters. Bell has also been awarded the
encompassed four decades, Bell com- racy, where everybody can achieve their NATO Meritorious Service Medal, the
manded various infantry, cavalry and goals and dreams,” he says. “That is a Polish Army Medal (Gold Award), the
armored units in numerous foreign coun- universal belief about America; we are a Spanish Great Cross on Distinguished
tries. His major command assignments revered country in that regard. Military Service, the Knight Commanders
included tenure as the commander of the “All too frequently, on the other end Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal
Army’s Armor Center at Ft. Knox, the III of the spectrum, is a misunderstanding Republic of Germany, and the Order of
Armored Corps in Texas, NATO’s Allied that we are not respectful of the plight of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal,
Land Component in Heidelberg, Germany, the rest of the world, that we are excessive Republic of South Korea.
and commander of the U.S. Army in consumers,” Bell continues. “So it is kind Bell and his wife, Katie (herself a
Europe and Seventh Army. of a dichotomy. Most people that I have recent double lung transplant patient at
From February 2006 until his retire- met have enormous respect for America, Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
ment, he commanded all U.S. Forces in our way of life, and the opportunities we live in Ooltewah. They have one son who
Korea, as well as the U.S. / South Korean provide our citizens.” lives in Florida.
CityScopeMag.com 31
Robert and his
ReaR aDM. wife, Gladys
ROBeRT C. CRaTeS
Supply Corps, United
States Naval Reserve (Ret.)
After 38 years of service, Rear Adm.
Robert C. Crates retired from the U.S.
Naval Reserve in April 2000.
Following graduation from the
University of North Carolina, Crates
served three years of active duty prior to
returning to his hometown of Chattanooga
to work in the family business, SIMCO
(later Crates) Leather Co. Crates was
elevated to flag rank in 1992 and Rear
Admiral (upper half) in 1996. During his
career, he was recalled to active duty four
times, including service as deputy com-
mander and chief of staff of the Navy’s Rear Adm.
Cargo Handling Force during Operations Robert C. Crates
Desert Shield / Desert Storm. During that
deployment, he worked closely with fel-
low Chattanoogan Rear Adm. Vance H.
Fry, who commanded the Cargo Handling
Force.
As a flag officer, Crates has held
numerous logistics billets, including
Deputy Commander, Logistics Task
Force Atlantic; Commander, Naval
Expeditionary Logistics Support Force;
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for
Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance, U.S. 5 percent of the cargo is moved by air.” serving as chairman of the board of the
Pacific Fleet; Commander, Logistics Task Also a former member of the Navy Chattanooga Area Food Bank, a volunteer
Force Pacific; Commander Naval Logistics Seabees (Construction Battalions), Crates at the Episcopal Metropolitan Ministry,
Forces, Korea; and Assistant Commander is the current regional and past area chairman of the Chattanooga Board of
for Mobilization, Naval Supply Systems president of the Navy League and past Sign Appeals, past president of the World
Command. president of the Sixth Naval District, Trade Council of Chattanooga, past chair-
“Really, the most gratifying experi- Naval Reserve Association, the Tennessee man of the East Chattanooga Council of
ence was the 1990 to1991 period in Desert Department of the Reserve Officers the Chamber of Commerce, past vice pres-
Shield and Desert Storm,” he recalls. “The Association, and vice president-elect ident and board member of the Hosanna
Reserve component was called on heav- of the Chattanooga Chapter, Military Community of Chattanooga, and a board
ily for expeditionary shore-based logistic Officer’s Association of America. member of Chattanooga Area Crime
support, and it was gratifying to see how Crates’ military decorations include Stoppers. In 2004, he received a McCallie
the Reserve component worked so well. the Legion of Merit with Three Gold School Alumni Achievement Award.
We essentially had a steel bridge between Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy The father of two sons, Crates was
the East Coast and Saudi Arabia, taking Commendation Medal, and the Seabee married to the late Dr. Gladys Crates
about 95 percent of all cargo movement Combat Warfare Officer designation. for more than 46 years. He lives in
by ship. That was true then, and it is true Crates is active locally in numer- Chattanooga.
now in Iraq and Afghanistan. Only about ous charitable and civic organizations,
32 CityScopeMag.com
COL. BiLLY g. eDeNS missions against U.S. and United Nations Distinguished Flying Cross with Three
forces. Although Edens was not credited Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal
United States Air Force with a single victory, his gun camera film with Three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple
(Ret.) recorded hits on as many as 11 enemy Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster. His mili-
U.S. Air Force Col. Billy G. Edens’ planes. tary background has been recorded for
military career spans more than 30 years After flying 153 combat missions Timeless Voices of Aviation, a major video
of service as a fighter pilot in combat during World War II and the Korean War, history project of the EAA AirVenture
assignments that included three major Edens completed two tours of duty in Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (www.
wars - World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. timelessvoices.org).
the Vietnam War – as well as other minor “I call myself a survivor after that Edens moved to Chattanooga in 1974
confrontations. many years – I had well over 500 combat and worked as a financial planner and ad-
Within weeks of joining the 62nd missions,” recalls Edens. “I have been shot visor for 30 years. He retired at the age of
Fighter Squadron of the famous 56th down five times in enemy territory, cap- 80. Today Edens stays busy with family
Fighter Group, known as the “Wolfpack,” tured three times, escaped twice, and was and is active in the Lions Club.
Edens became an ace, shooting down a POW for almost a year in Germany.” Edens has been married to his wife,
seven enemy aircraft between April and Edens’ military decorations in- Kitty, for 64 years and they have four
June of 1944. clude the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, children.
During his military career,
Edens flew legendary fighter
aircraft, including the Republic
P-47 Thunderbolt, a propeller-
driven plane; the Republic F-84
Thunderjet, a turbojet aircraft;
and the jet-powered North
American F-100 Super Sabre.
During one memorable
mission in the skies above war-
torn Korea, Edens found himself
alone and confronted by what
he thought were North Korean
MiG-15 fighters, heavily armed
and faster than his own plane.
He damaged several of the
enemy aircraft before they broke
contact.
years later, he received
a letter from members of a
Communications Unit stating
that the voice of a Soviet pilot
had been heard during the dog-
fight urging his comrades to “get
out of there and leave that crazy
Col. Billy G. Edens
American alone! He’s already
shot three of us down and he’s
going to get the rest of you!” The
voice of the Soviet pilot confirms
that although the Soviet Union
did not officially participate in
the Korean War, Red Air Force
pilots did fly many combat
34 CityScopeMag.com
Area Anti-Submarine Warfare Navy Commendation Medal with One
Forces, U.S. Sixth Fleet. Gold Star, Joint Service Commendation,
Ashore he served as Head of Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious
Submarine Officer Personnel Unit Commendation, Navy “E,” Navy
Distribution and Director, Nuclear Expeditionary Medal, National Defense
Power Personnel Programs, Office Service Medal with One Bronze Star, and
of the Chief of Naval Operations; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
D i re c t o r, A t t a c k S u b m a r i n e Eytchison is a ruling elder of Signal
Division and Coordinator Attack Mountain Presbyterian Church and serves
Submarine Programs, Office of the
as president of the Cherokee Area Council,
Chief of Naval Operation; and as
Boy Scouts of America. He is a board
Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy
member of the Public Schools Bible Study
Division, Office of the Chief of
Committee and has served on the person-
Naval Operations.
nel and playground committees for the
“My last duty station was as
Town of Signal Mountain.
Director of Strategic Targeting, in
Admiral Eytchison and his wife,
which I was responsible for target-
Patricia, have three sons and live on Signal
ing all of the nuclear B-52 bombers,
Mountain.
ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic
missiles) and submarine ballistic
Vice Adm. Ronald M. Eytchison
missiles,” Eytchison says. “I was ReaR aDM.
responsible for the three legs of the vaNCe H. FRY
viCe aDM. strategic nuclear triad, for prepar-
United States Navy (Ret.)
RONaLD M. eYTCHiSON ing the war plans, assigning the weapons
When he was selected for flag rank
to targets and coordinating the whole
United States Navy (Ret.) thing. It was all for the purposes of deter- in 1987, Rear Adm. Vance H. Fry took
By the time he retired from the U.S. ring the Soviet Union, but if we ever had command of the Navy’s Cargo Handling
Navy in 1991 following 33 years of active to use the weapons, to use them Force. Three years later, he was engaged
service, Vice Adm. Ronald M. Eytchison effectively.”
was perhaps as familiar with the nuclear E y t chis o n w as als o re -
deterrent capability of the nation’s stra- sponsible for annually briefing
tegic forces as any other military officer. President George H. W. Bush
Graduating with distinction from the on the comprehensive nuclear
United States Naval Academy in 1958, he targeting plan. “Strategic sub-
served aboard the destroyer USS Leonard marines were designed to deter
F. Mason and nuclear submarines USS nuclear war,” he remarks. “They
Skipjack, USS Sam Houston, USS Abraham and the other nuclear forces ac-
Lincoln, and USS Skate, which he com- complished that. There could
manded for four years. He was an Olmsted very well have been a World War
Scholar at the University of Sao Paulo and III if it had not been for them – a
is a graduate of the American University terrible thing to contemplate, but
School of International Service. it is a fact.”
Eytchison reached flag rank in 1982 Eytchison’s military dec-
and achieved the rank of vice admiral in orations include the Defense
1988. Among his command positions were Distinguished Service Medal,
those of Commander Submarine Squadron Legion of Merit with Four Gold
Six and Commander Submarine Group Stars, Commendator of the Naval
Eight; NATO Commander Submarines Merit Order of the Republic
Mediterranean; Commander Submarine of Brazil, Meritorious Service
Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet; and Commander Medal with One Gold Star,
Rear Adm. Vance H. Fry
36 CityScopeMag.com
in the deployment of hundreds of thou- Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga,
sands of troops and millions of tons of Medal. Inc.
supplies during Operations Desert Shield As a civilian, Fry worked for IBM Fry and his wife, Charlynne, live in
/ Desert Storm. Eight of his command’s Corporation and later founded Electronic Harrison.
14 Cargo Handling Battalions, the Combat Computer Programming College in
Stevedores, were mobilized during the Chattanooga and served as its president. COL. NaTHaNieL F.
effort. He graduated in 1980 from the University (FRaNK) HUgHeS
“One of the most stressful times of my of Tennessee College of Law and has prac-
Naval career was as we deployed all of
United States Marine
ticed estate planning, probate and real es-
these reservists in Desert Storm,” Fry re-
Corps. (Ret.)
tate, and has provided consulting services
members. “young men and women - who “It was a privilege to serve with
for small business owners.
a few weeks prior worked in banks, hos- 120 Marines who went out there and
A tireless volunteer, Fry was selected
pitals and factories - were now headed to did their job,” states Col. Nathaniel F.
as the Tennessee Bar Association’s “Pro
support the Marine Corps’ amphibious in- (Frank) Hughes of his experience during
Bono Attorney of the year” in 2004. He is
vasion of Kuwait city. The Marines were Operation Desert Storm. “It was some-
also active in Christian mission work, hav-
predicting 30 percent casualties. I went thing that no one actually wanted to do,
ing traveled several times to the Ukraine,
to meet with the family groups in New but everyone decided to bear down and
Philippines, Hungary, Azerbaijan, the
Orleans and San Francisco. The families said, ‘We’re going to get this done.’
did not know the location of their loved Czech Republic and China. He cur-
“I was in-country for three or four
ones. I knew… but could only tell the rently serves as chairman of both the
months, and the total time away from
families they were okay and Chattanooga Area Crime Stoppers and
home was about six months,” Hughes
that we were in touch every continues. “We were part of the assault
day.” on Kuwait, and the tactic the senior com-
Col. Hughes and other
Subsequently, Fry was marines honor their manders used was like a hammer and
selected to lead the Naval hometown while at anvil. The Marines were the anvil and
Operation Desert Storm.
Reserve component dur- assaulted and fixed the enemy so they
ing the operation’s victory could not move. The Army units were the
parade held in Washington, hammer.”
D.C., in May 1991. Rear
Adm. Robert Crates, also a
Chattanooga resident, served Col. Nathaniel F. (Frank) Hughes
as deputy commander of the
Cargo Handling Force and
chief of staff to Fry during
photo by med dement
the same period. Prior to
Fry’s departure in 1992, his
command had transitioned
into the Navy Expeditionary
Logistics Support Force, encompassing
numerous additional logistics units.
A 1960 graduate of the U. S. Naval
Academy at Annapolis, Fry served 35
years, including active and reserve service.
His five-year active duty career included
a tour on the destroyer USS Maddox and
three years as an instructor at the Navy
Supply School.
Among Admiral Fry’s individual
military decorations are two Legions of
Merit, the Joint Service Commendation
38 CityScopeMag.com
While serving as execu-
tive officer of Chattanooga-
based M Battery, attached
to the 2nd Marine Division,
Hughes and his unit ad-
vanced to within five miles
of Kuwait City during the
liberation of that coun-
try. The battery deployed
155 mm self-propelled guns
and fired more than 500
rounds in action.
“The way Chattanooga
treated its returning Marines,
soldiers and sailors made
the experience probably one
of the most fulfilling experi-
ences in my life,” Hughes Col. Roger Dean Ingvalson
says. ”It was a great honor to
be part of a group of people
who performed so well.” and get some altitude, but then the aircraft
A Baylor School graduate, Hughes COL. ROgeR really blew.
was a running back for the University of DeaN iNgvaLSON “It was instinctive to reach for the
Kentucky Wildcats and graduated with a ejection seat handle,” he continues. “you
United States Air Force pull that thing and it shoots you out of the
degree in finance in 1980. He was one of
(Ret.) plane and the seat goes with you. I should
three brothers commissioned as second
lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Upon Few military personnel are forced have been killed or badly injured at that
graduation, Hughes held numerous to endure the harrowing experience speed, but I floated down unconscious
posts, eventually rising to command the of enemy captivity. Col. Roger Dean until just before I hit the ground.”
4th Battalion, 14th Marines. He retired in Ingvalson was held as a prisoner of war Almost immediately, soldiers, guer-
2003 after 23 years of active and reserve in North Vietnam for nearly five years, rillas, women and children – most of them
service. surviving torture, deprivation, and 20 armed – were surrounding the dazed
Hughes’ military decorations include months in solitary confinement. His ca- Ingvalson, whose Christian faith sus-
the Meritorious Service Medal, Combat reer in the U.S. Air Force spanned 26 years tained him as a prisoner of war.
Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service as a fighter pilot and in various command During his time in captivity, his wife,
Medal, Kuwait Service Medal, Select roles. He retired in 1976. Jacqueline, succumbed to complications
Reserve Service Medal, Reserve Medal, Ingvalson was shot down over from multiple sclerosis. He thought often
Service Medal and Overseas Deployment North Vietnam during his 87th combat of his son Craig, in the care of an aunt and
Ribbon. mission while flying a Republic F-105 uncle, who was only 8 years old when he
Hughes, who has a master’s degree in Thunderchief fighter-bomber on May 28, lost his mother.
business administration from Vanderbilt 1968. A strong Christian, Ingvalson won-
University, has enjoyed a successful bank- “I was on a strafing mission firing a dered why the Lord sustained and pro-
ing career. He currently serves as president 20 mm Gatling gun at a convoy of trucks tected him during such a difficult period.
and chief operating officer of Cornerstone and was most likely hit by anti-aircraft “I thought He must have had a plan for
Bancshares. He is active locally with the fire,” he recalls of that harrowing day. “I me,” he says, “and I kept thinking and
Boy Scouts of America, Allied Arts and the was flying very low - probably about 40 praying about that. When I had been
Chattanooga Rotary Club. or 50 feet off the ground - and traveling home a while, a good friend told me that
Hughes and his wife, D’Arcy, have about 550 knots. I flew over the target and, a prison ministry was needed here and
three children and live on Lookout while in the process of holding down the asked me to pray about starting and di-
Mountain. trigger, felt an explosion. I tried to pull up recting that. I said, ‘Wow! That was the
40 CityScopeMag.com
College in Norfolk, Virginia; ReaR aDM.
Industrial College of the Armed
NOaH H. LONg JR.
Forces at Fort Leslie McNair,
Washington, D.C.; the Inspector United States Navy (Ret.)
General’s School at the Pentagon; Rising to a high level of responsibil-
and the NATO Defense School in ity in both military and civilian life, Rear
Rome, Italy. Adm. Noah H. Long Jr. retired from the ar-
“The Army made me grow chitectural and engineering firm of Rosser
up – in a hurry,” Levi remembers. International Inc. in 2006, having served
“I got drafted, and then after I as president and CEO. He also completed
came back to Chattanooga and 31 years of service with the U.S. Navy and
graduated from the University the U.S. Naval Reserve, five of those on
of Chattanooga, I went back in active duty.
the Army as a second lieutenant. Long served in a Naval Construction
Then I joined the National Guard Battalion during the Vietnam War and re-
and went to work for the City of tired from the service in 1996 after serv-
Chattanooga. ing as Commander of the Second Naval
“My best assignment was as Construction Brigade and achieving the
commander of the 196th Field rank of rear admiral in the U.S. Navy Civil
Artillery Brigade,” says Levi, “and Engineer Corps. During both his military
the most rewarding thing was and civilian careers, he has supervised
Brig. Gen. Carl E. Levi
when they named the drill hall numerous major construction and devel-
plan.’ ” Ingvalson founded Chattanooga at the National Guard Armory in opment projects.
Prison Ministries and was active with the Chattanooga after me when I retired in “For me, a couple of things that
organization for 15 years. 1987.” stand out in my military career were
Ingvalson’s military decorations in- Levi’s military decorations include during my command of a Reserve Naval
clude the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Construction Battalion for two years,”
Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Long recalls. “We won ‘Best of Type’ that
Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Army Commendation Medal.
Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with Six Levi was recently recognized
Oak Leaf Clusters, and the POW Medal. by trustees across the state of
Ingvalson and his wife, Booncy, have Tennessee as “Trustee of the year.”
four sons and live in Chattanooga. He is currently the president of
the Tennessee County Trustees
BRig. geN. CaRL e. Levi Association and commander of
American Legion Post 14. He is a
United States Army (Ret.)
Mason and past state commander
Thirty-five years after entering the and national executive committee-
U.S. Army as a recruit, Brig. Gen. Carl man of the American Legion.
Levi, whose civilian occupation has been Levi is also active with local
that of Chattanooga City Treasurer and Armed Forces Day activities and
Hamilton County Trustee since 1978, re- chaired this year’s luncheon, not-
tired from the Tennessee Army National ing proudly that he believes no
Guard. other city has continually ob-
During his years of military service, served Armed Forces Day as long
Levi participated in the Field Artillery as Chattanooga.
Basic and Advanced School at Fort Sill, Levi and his late wife, Peggy,
Oklahoma; the U.S. Army Command and have one daughter. Levi lives in
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Chattanooga.
Kansas; the U.S. Armed Forces Staff
Rear Adm. Noah H. Long Jr.
42 CityScopeMag.com
second year. That meant we were the best
Construction Battalion in the Navy.
“Another highlight was at the change
of command when I was commander of a
Construction Support Unit,” he continues.
“All the junior enlisted men chipped in a
quarter apiece, bought a plaque, and pre-
sented it to me with the inscription, ‘Best
Damned CO in the Seabees.’ ”
Long’s military decorations include
the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service
Medal with One Gold Star, the Navy
Commendation Medal with Combat “V”
and Two Gold Stars, and the Combat
Action Ribbon.
Long currently serves as chairman-
elect of the Chattanooga Area Veterans
Council, first vice president of the Navy
League, chairman of the Tree Board for
the Town of Signal Mountain, and chair- Maj. Gen. William B. Raines Jr.
man of the Seabee Memorial Scholarship
Association.
Long and his wife, Marilyn, have
two adult sons and reside on Signal
Mountain. Loc. The base came under fire from Viet 10 million square feet of commercial prop-
Cong mortars and the young captain, who erty in six states. In 2001, Raines founded
MaJ. geN. WiLLiaM was unarmed and without a flak jacket, Commercial Network Magazine, which
was told to seek cover under his bunk. “I is published monthly and received by a
B. RaiNeS JR.
thought to myself that this was certainly readership of more than 75,000. He contin-
United States Army (Ret.) going to be a long year if every night was ues to serve as the magazine’s publisher.
A native of Chattanooga and alum- like that one,” he recalls. Raines’ military decorations include
nus of Red Bank High School, Maj. Gen. Later, Raines commanded an Artillery the Defense Superior Service Medal,
William B. Raines Jr. is a 1968 graduate Battery at Dong Ha near the Demilitarized Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with
of the United States Military Academy Zone, and the experience of leading other One Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service
at West Point. Upon his retirement on men in a combat situation has stayed with Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air
April 15, 2000, his military career spanned him through the years. “There were many Medal, Army Commendation Medal with
nearly 32 years on active duty and in the nights that we came under attack by rock- One Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement
Army Reserves. ets and mortars and I had to make sure Medal, Army Reserve Components
In addition to combat experience in that everybody was in their place and Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf
Vietnam, Raines commanded the 3397th doing what they were supposed to do,” Clusters, National Defense Service Medal
U.S. Army Reserve Garrison at Fort he says. “you pray that God gives you the with Service Star, and the Parachutist
Campbell, Kentucky, which facilitated the strength to show the character needed to Badge.
deployment of over 8,000 soldiers to Saudi command other men.” Raines has been active in numerous
Arabia during Operations Desert Shield / As a commercial real estate profes- local civic and charitable organizations,
Storm. His last assignment was with the sional since 1973, Raines formed The including the Chattanooga Association
Joint Forces Command, interacting with Raines Group Inc. in 1984 with for- of Realtors, United Way of Greater
U.S. and NATO officers. mer U.S. Ambassador to France, Joe M. Chattanooga and Rotary International.
Raines recalls vividly his experience Rodgers. He purchased the company in Raines and his wife, Dr. Jerrie J.
in Vietnam, particularly spending his first full in 1988 and has since provided pro- Raines, D.D.S., have five children and live
night there at a small U.S. fire base at Xuan fessional real estate services to more than in Chattanooga.
44 CityScopeMag.com
LT. geN. THURMaN duties as commander of Fort Huachuca, places, I will tell you that we have the
Arizona, and Global Information Systems
D. (DON) RODgeRS Command. He was responsible for the
most unbelievable military in the world,”
Rodgers explains. “It is superior to any-
United States Army (Ret.) world’s largest military communications thing else I came in contact with anywhere.
“First, I will tell you that it was a and automation organization of its kind,
The British, French and Germans are good,
real honor to serve our country and to as well as for 50,000 military personnel.
but nothing like us.”
serve with such great people,” says Lt. In 1990, Rodgers assumed the duties
Rodgers’ military decorations in-
of director of the Defense Communications
Gen. Don Rodgers about his 36 years of clude the Distinguished Service Medal,
Agency and manager of the National
military service with the U.S. Army. “I am Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious
Communications System. In that role, he
really biased about the military. They are
assisted the president of the United States Service Medal, Army Commendation
the finest young men and women I have
in the planning and provisioning of na- Medal, Defense Distinguished Service
ever had the chance to work with, and I
tional security and emergency prepared- Medal, French Order of National Merit,
am convinced that the soldier, sailor, air-
ness telecommunications for the federal several awards from Vietnam, the Joint
man or marine can do anything asked of
government. Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Army
them. They never disappointed me one
“I had many years overseas: a year General Staff Identification Badge, Ranger
time. It was amazing to serve with such in Korea, two in Vietnam, four in Italy Tab and Parachutist Badge.
men and women.” and five in Germany,” says Rodgers. “In
Rodgers and his wife, Dr. June
A native of Cookeville, Tennessee, Vietnam, I was attached to the III Marine
Scobee Rodgers, are both members of the
and a graduate of Tennessee Technological Amphibious Force during my last year.
University, Rodgers rose to general rank board of directors of Guideposts maga-
We had sites all over the region and had
in 1981, received his second star in zine. Rodgers also serves on the board
to provide our own security, and there
1983, and was appointed to lieutenant was never a dull moment. of the Tennessee Tech Foundation and
general in 1986. His career included “After serving overseas in several has contributed many years of service to
Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise.
W hile these individuals have each
shouldered great responsibility as
Lt. Gen. Thurman D. (Don) Rodgers high-ranking military officers, they are all
quick to recognize the men and women
who have bravely given their lives for our
country and those who are currently serv-
ing in the military today. Each of these
men served their country with distinction
and valor and each has made a tremen-
dous contribution to our national security
and to the defense of freedom around the
world. They are patriots and military he-
roes at home in Chattanooga.
For more information about our
country’s military veterans, be sure to
check out the Veterans History Project
through the Library of Congress at www.
loc.gov/vets.
46 CityScopeMag.com