Four NCOs inducted into Sgt. Audie Murphy Club

By Esther GarciaApril 22, 2015

Four NCOs inducted into Sgt. Audie Murphy Club
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Left, Staff Sgt. Amy Davis, President of the Sgt. Maj. of the Army Leon Van Autreve Chapter of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Richardson, Sgts. 1st Class Marcus Knight, Thadenia Leach, and Hugo Roman, with Southern... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Four NCOs inducted into Sgt. Audie Murphy Club
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Southern Regional Medical Command, Command Sgt. Maj. Jayme Johnson, presented each new inductee with the Sgt. Audie Murphy Medallion and the Army Commendation Medal. Above, Johnson presents Sgt. 1st Marcus Knight, SRMC, the Sgt. Audie Murphy Medalli... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Sgts. 1st Class Marcus Knight, Thadenia Leach, and Hugo Roman, with Southern Regional Medical Command and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Tune, Brooke Army Medical Center, Warrior and Transition Battalion, became the newest members of the prestigious Sgt. Audie Murphy Club during an induction ceremony held March 25 at Blesse Auditorium, Willis Hall, Army Medical Department Center and School, US Army Health Readiness Center of Excellence, with host Command Sgt. Maj. Jayme Johnson, Southern Regional Medical Command.

Johnson presented each new member with the SAMC Medallion, the Army Commendation Medal and the SAMC Certificate of Achievement. The blue ribbon on the medallion represents the color of the infantry.

Guest speaker, retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Richardson, spoke about commitment. Richardson gave examples of commitment. For instance, he said a twelve girl named Katie Francis was committed to do her best by selling 18,107 boxes of girls scout cookies, breaking her record of 18,000.

Richardson said, "Katie Francis was committed to doing her best and giving it her all, as did Audie Murphy with his commitment to be the best Soldier that he could be. Like these four Noncommissioned Officers."

Richardson also spoke about Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, who displayed successful leadership abilities in commanding the allied troops in the Persian Gulf War and his heroism or his commitment to saving a Soldier's life during the Vietnam War.

Richardson then spoke about each Soldiers goal, challenges and why they wanted to become SAMC members.

"Combined they have 65 years of service, 12 combat deployments, and they spent a total of two years preparing to become members of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club," said Richardson.

When Roman joined the Army he could not speak English. For many years he carried an English-Spanish dictionary to help him learn English. He now has a good grasp of the English language. Roman has two combat deployments. He wanted to become a member so he could challenge himself, be with NCOs that wanted to make a difference for Soldiers and the NCO Corps. His goal is to be become a Sergeant Major and get his Bachelor's degree in Public Health.

After 3 combat tours in Iraq, Tune was medically evacuated out of Iraq to Brooke Army Medical Center and was deemed unfit for duty. He submitted a continuation of active duty packet and was approved in 2014. Tune wanted to become a member so he can remind himself and others that all Soldiers deserve the best leadership possible. His goals are to retire with twenty years and become a First Sergeant.

Leach, a single parent with four deployments wanted to become a member after reading about Audie's military career and the impact he still has on Soldiers. Leach strives to be the best NCO she can, as a mentor, leader and peer. Her goals are to continue to influence those around her and obtain the rank of Command Sergeant Major and finish her Master in Sport Medicine.

Knight has three combat tours, two to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. He finds fulfillment as a leader when he makes a positive difference on someone else's life. He wanted to become a member for a number of reasons, from leadership to serving as an advocate for Soldiers with disabilities. His goals are to become a Command Sergeant Major, attend a nursing program and when he retires to work in underserved and rural areas of the United States to provide people with adequate healthcare.

Audie Murphy only lived 46 years but he made a lasting imprint on American history. He was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division and fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He earned a battlefield commission for his courage and leadership and more than 33 military awards, citations and decorations, including three French and one Belgian medal. Murphy was also awarded this nation's highest decoration for gallantry and bravery, the Medal of Honor.

After he left the service Murphy starred in several Hollywood films and wrote and published several poems. Murphy was killed in a plane crash on May 28, 1971. His body was recovered two days later on Memorial Day. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club was started in 1986 by Lt. Gen. Crosbie Saint at Fort Hood, Texas. It was intended to recognize outstanding noncommissioned officers who showed exemplary leadership traits and attributes. The Fort Sam Houston Sergeant Audie Murphy Club was established in 2000, when then installation Command Sergeant Major Adolph Arista directed the formation of a local chapter. In 2002, the Fort Sam Houston Sergeant Audie Murphy Club was redesignated as the Sergeant Major of the Army Leon Van Autreve Chapter, named after the fourth Sergeant Major of the Army.

Soldiers inducted in the club exemplify the characteristics of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. They represent the Be, Know, Do - the epitome of professionalism and serve as examples of excellence to the community and their Soldiers.