FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Noncommissioned Officer Academy operations branch first sergeant was inducted into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club during a brief ceremony May 20 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
"(First Sgt. Jeffrey Herzog) portrays an image of leadership NCOs and Soldiers should emulate," club President Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Beauchamp Beauchamp said. "He leads from the front, is confident and always has a command presence."
Herzog said it was a "major honor" to be become a club member.
"Everything Audie Murphy stands for - integrity, courage, selfless service - it's my goal to instill (these attributes) into younger NCOs so they can become members, too," he said.
Having only been a first sergeant for a matter of months, Herzog has worked hard to earn this award, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Marlin Smith, retiring NCO Academy commandant.
"He's an outstanding NCO. He leads by example (and) sets the standard personally and professionally," he said. "I can see how he impacts his students, cadre and instructors."
Herzog has a genuine compassion for Soldiers and knows how to be a leader, Smith noted.
"He knows how to build a team and likes to be part of a team," he said.
Murphy is remembered as a war hero, actor, song writer and poet, according to Beauchamp. The late Soldier's courage and dedication to the military are attributes noncommissioned officer club members must embody to be inducted, he noted.
Murphy was born June 20, 1924, in Texas and enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days after his 18th birthday, Beauchamp said.
Assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, he fought battles in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He was the highest decorated Soldier in American history after being discharged in September 1945.
After his military career, Murphy moved to California to pursue Hollywood and acting, starring in 39 films, many of them westerns. Murphy was killed in a plane crash near Roanoke, Va., on May 28, 1971, and his body was recovered shortly thereafter on Memorial Day, Beauchamp said.
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