Fort Meade Soldiers Inducted in Audie Murphy Club

By Lisa R. RhodesNovember 21, 2013

NCOs Welcomed Into Elite Club
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Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Montgomery and Sgt. Natasha Orslene have joined an elite organization for noncommissioned officers.

On Nov. 14, the two Fort Meade Soldiers were among the six noncommissioned officers inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club at the Military District of Washington.

The 45-minute induction ceremony was held at the Post Theater.

Montgomery serves as the S-6 Help Desk noncommissioned officer in charge at the Asymmetric Warfare Group. Orslene is a planner for the Army's First Cyber Command Mission Team assigned to the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion.

They were inducted along with Staff Sgt. Adony Batista, Staff Sgt. Cedrick Johnson, Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Lampert and Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Howard, all Soldiers serving within MDW.

"The induction and membership into the SAMC is a reward for noncommissioned officers whose leadership achievements and performance merit special recognition," according to the club's website. "The SAMC is a means of recognizing those NCOs who have contributed significantly to the development of a professional NCO corps and a combat-ready Army."

Command Sgt. Maj. David O. Turnbull of the Military District of Washington and Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region hosted the ceremony.

The guest speaker was Command Sgt. Maj. Edwin Rodriquez, former command sergeant major for First Army Division East. He called the inductees "great Soldiers" and credited them for accomplishing "one of the most difficult steps in their Army career. ... To be an Audie Murphy Club member, you must demonstrate commitment, confidence and character."

To qualify for induction, Soldiers must be a rank ranging from corporal to sergeant first class, supervise at least two Soldiers, and be nominated by a sergeant first class or higher or an Audie Murphy Club member.

Soldiers must show a pattern of volunteerism and be willing to participate in future volunteer activities. They also are required to complete a nomination packet and appear before a nomination board led by Turnbull, the club's current president, as well as four command sergeants major.

The club is named after Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated U.S. combat Soldier of World War II. Among Murphy's 33 awards and decorations is the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery. He received every decoration of valor that the U.S. had to offer and was awarded five decorations by France and Belgium.

According to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial website, Murphy is credited with killing more than 240 of the enemy while wounding many others, and became a legend within the 3rd Infantry Division.

The son of poor Texas sharecroppers, Murphy enlisted in 1922 after being refused enlistment in the Marines and Paratroopers for being too small at 5'5''. He attended basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and advanced training at Fort Meade.

Murphy was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division and fought in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. Although he served only three years, Murphy became one of the best fighting combat Soldiers of this or any other century, according to the Audie L. Murphy Memorial website.

After his service in the Army, Murphy was a movie actor, starring in "To Hell and Back," which is based on his autobiography, a writer of country and western songs, and a poet. He was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top near Roanoke, Va., on May 28, 1971.

Rodriquez ended his remarks by reading "Freedom Flies In Your Heart Like An Eagle" the last known poem by Murphy, who had read the poem on July 20, 1968 during the dedication of the Alabama War Memorial in Montgomery, Ala.

After the reading, Rodriquez, Turnbull and Master Sgt. William Haddon, the club's president, presented the Soldiers with the Army Commendation Medal to induct them into the club.

The Soldiers also received a certificate of membership, the book "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell, an Audie Murphy T-shirt, a Visa gift card and a GEICO gift bag.

"I think it is a huge accomplishment in a career," said Montgomery, who joined AWG in February. "Being new to a unit, it's a good way to get the unit's name more out there in a positive way."

Since arriving at Fort Meade, Montgomery has volunteered at food banks at local churches. In the past, he volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Orslene is the first Cyber Soldier to be inducted into the club.

"I think it's a huge honor," said Orslene, who explained that Soldiers of other military occupation specialties, such as infantry Soldiers, are often inducted. "I wanted to show that we could step up to the plate and take the honor as well."

Orslene spearheaded the 781st MI's Partners in Education program; organized the Battalion Volunteer program and Leadership Development Program; and has logged more than 1,300 hours of volunteer time in community programs outside the unit.

Before the ceremony ended, Olivia Hunter, regional manager of the Naval District Washington Regional Community Service Program, helped to present the Navy's Inspired By Example Award to Master Sgt. Erica Lehmkuhl, noncommissioned officer in charge of Division G6 at First Army Division East.

"This young lady is a volunteer who makes things happen," Hunter said. "She is truly deserving of this award."

Turnbull also presented Lehmkuhl with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Lehmkuhl, who has served as the club's vice president, received the awards for helping to organize many of the club's joint service and other volunteer activities.

Lehmkuhl called the recognition "a pleasant surprise" but a responsibility.

"To whom much is given, much is expected," she said.