The Story of the The Backbone of the Army David W. Hogan, Jr. General Editors Center of Military History U.S. Army Center of Military History Brig. Gen. John S. Brown, Chief of Military History The story of the noncommissioned officer corps: the backbone of the Army / David W. Hogan, Jr., Arnold G. Fisch, Jr., Robert K. Wright, Jr., general editors.—Rev. ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. 1. United States. Army-Non-commissioned officers-History. I. Hogan, David W., 1958- II. Fisch, Arnold G. III. Wright, Robert K., 1946 UB408.5.S76 2003 355.3'38-dc21 Revised Edition-CMH Pub 70-38-1 2003043520 Lepus 118/03 FOREWORD This volume originally appeared in 1989 as part of the U.S. Army's commemoration of The Year of the NCO. Much has happened in the fourteen years since then. The Cold War came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet empire. Working with its fellow services and allies, the Army fought and won a major ground campaign against the Iraqi forces of Saddam Hussein. American soldiers deployed to Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, and numerous other regions around the globe to serve as peacekeepers and to provide humanitarian aid. As a result of the terrorist strikes directed against the United States on "9-11," Army units fought halfway around the world to destroy al Qaeda base camps and the Taliban regime that harbored them. Even as I write these words, our soldiers are valiantly fighting yet another campaign in Iraq. The Army of today is, in many respects, a very different force from the Army of 1989. The time has come to bring this work up to date and to acknowledge the contributions of the NCOs of the past thirteen years as part of the overall history of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps. What a distinguished history it has been! Army NCOs trace their roots to the very beginnings of American military history. They helped Washington preserve the Continental Army at Valley Forge, stood with Winfield Scott at Chippewa, and directed Zachary Taylor's guns at Palo Alto. They carried the nation's colors at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, fought yellow fever in Cuba with Walter Reed, and led Pershing's and Eisenhower's legions into Germany. Whether helping natives build a village in Southeast Asia or teaching young Saudi soldiers to operate computerdirected weapons systems, they have been some of our best ambassadors. Over time, through various changes in tactics and technology, they have emerged as the Army's small-unit leaders, trainers, and guardians of standards. Throughout the Army's history, the NCO has been a key figure, but never more so than today, with the demands of the revolution in military affairs and the war on terror. As NCOs ponder their ever-growing responsibilities for the twenty-first century, this volume will help them remember how they came to be the "backbone of our Army." Washington, D.C. 1 April 2003 JACK L. TILLEY Sergeant Major of the Army PREFACE Fourteen years have passed since Brig. Gen. William A. Stofft first published and prefaced The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps in commemoration of the Year of the NCO. Since that time the book has proved extraordinarily popular as a source of inspiration and anecdote as a repository of history and heritage, and as a compendium of documents, paintings, and photographs relevant to the contributions and experiences of our Noncommissioned Officer Corps. Indeed, it consistently numbers among the Center of Military History's "best sellers." This popularity and continuing utility make it even more appropriate that the Center of Military History update and republish The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps, an updated and expanded edition that we are proud to release on the Army Birthday, 2003. This new edition of The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps preserves the format, attention to anecdote, and mixture of art and text that made the original so popular. We have added chapters on DESERT STORM, the Army during the 1990s, the Army in Afghanistan, and a new Epilogue to carry the story forward. We have also added a chapter on the critical role of NCOS to the success of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, an event whose Bicentennial Commemoration coincides with a 2003 publication date. We also have worked with text and supporting materials throughout the manuscript to assure its continuing correspondence to contemporary scholarship. We believe the new version will prove even more popular than the old. The American noncommissioned officer is a timeless icon, representing the strength and resolution of the American people. With ample reason, we affectionately refer to them as "the backbone of the Army." We truly hope that you will enjoy and profit from this updated version of their inspiring story. PREFACE TO THE The publication of The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps culminates the Center of Military History's contribution to the Year of the NCO. The Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff directed this year-long consideration of the special responsibilities and accomplishments of the noncommissioned officer so that members of our Army might come to appreciate better the vital role they have played and continue to play in the defense of the nation. For its part in this commemoration, the Center used its Army Artist Program to commission three enlisted artists to prepare eighteen paintings that depict American noncommissioned officers exercising their historic responsibilities in peace and war. These paintings, with detailed captions that explain the historical significance of the NCO's traditional roles as small unit leader, trainer, and guardian of Army standards, were recently published as a print set and are available through the Army's Publication Center. The Center also published Time-Honored Professionals, a booklet describing the work of today's NCOs as part of a long tradition of military service. Aimed specifically at recent graduates of the Primary Leader Development Course, this illustrated essay describes the evolution of the NCO's duties through two hundred years of our nation's history. Expanding on these preliminary efforts, The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps attempts to place the corps in its wider historical context. The emergence of NCOs as recognized professionals, a development whose importance is being commemorated this year throughout the Army, is a stirring story of accomplishment, perseverance, and dedication to the highest military standards. As General Vuono says elsewhere in this volume, "The noncommissioned officer is the standard bearer of our Army." I believe that the aptness of his statement is amply demonstrated in the pages that follow. We in the military history community are acutely aware of the need for a detailed, scholarly study of the American noncommissioned officer and look forward to seeing such a project launched in the near future. Meanwhile, I recommend these three projects to the members of the Total Army, especially to its company grade officers and noncommissioned officers, those most intimately involved in leading and training the men and women of the Army. Our goal, as expressed in these publications, is to foster a better understanding of the difficult tasks routinely assumed by the NCO and of the continuing need for excellent small unit leaders, trainers, and guardians of our Army's standards. Washington, D.C. 13 June 1989 WILLIAM A. STOFFT Brigadier General, U.S. Army vii |