FORT BENNING, Ga., (March 9 2016) -- Staff Sgt. Jacob Arnold earned his Ranger tab March 4 at Victory Pond, adding to his Family's proud and rich Ranger legacy.
Arnold was pinned by his father Col. Hank Arnold and was accompanied by his grandfather, Henry Arnold, who served as a captain in the Army. All three Arnolds now have their Ranger tab.
The tradition began with Harry Renner, who was part of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Normandy in 1944, Hank Arnold said. Renner was Jacob Arnold's great uncle.
"Like most of them, he (Renner) was badly wounded," Henry Arnold said, who took on the Army Ranger Course in the winter of 1965.
"I wanted to be a Ranger because I knew bad things were going to happen and what was going on back in my day," Henry Arnold said. "I felt it would best prepare me to go to Ranger School. It just proved to be the right thing to do."
All three Arnolds participated in the winter Army Ranger Course, said Hank Arnold.
"Winter Rangers are the best Rangers," Jacob Arnold said.
Hank Arnold said he was proud to be part of the tradition.
"None of this ever happened on purpose," Hank Arnold said. "I was never influenced to follow his (father's) footsteps and I never influenced him (son) to do it ... we fortunately were all able to go through this."
The Arnolds gave some special advice for future rangers.
"Don't quit," said Jacob Arnold.
"Drive on," Henry said. "No matter how tired you are, no matter how miserable, no matter how cold, no matter how hungry - drive on."
"Rangers lead the way!" they all said.
Jacob Arnold serves in a Special Forces group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Hank Arnold is stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Henry Arnold resides in Atlanta.
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