O'Neal addressed the RASP 1 class and over 200 family and friends at graduation with the dry wit and charm of a seasoned Ranger that continues to live the Ranger Creed. Throughout his remarks he gave thanks to the parents of the Rangers.
"Thank you for preparing your sons for service as a Ranger," O'Neal said. "Our Nation is safer because your efforts in raising these young men."
O'Neal went on to read from his green leader book that he carries daily. The following quote adorns the cover of the leader book and was recited to the graduation audience.
"I choose to live by choice not by chance; to make changes not excuses; to be motivated not manipulated; to useful not used; to excel not to compete. I choose self-esteem, not self-pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice not random opinions of others. I choose to do the things you won't so I can continue to the things you can't."
O'Neal was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 2010 after a career of nearly 40 years of service from Vietnam through both Gulf Wars. He served as a private, noncommissioned officer, Special Forces warrant officer, and special operations GS civil servant, in conventional and unconventional warfare on land, air, and sea. O'Neal's career is highlighted by Ranger long range reconnaissance patrol duty during Vietnam; duty with the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights; Department of Defense's first antiterrorist teams, Blue Light; and the U.S. Army's initial Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) course.
He has served with every branch of the U.S. military, on every continent in the world. Ranger O'Neal grins wickedly, shrugs humbly, and remarks simply, "I trained hard."
O'Neal lives in Texas where he has earned the title of "Sundancer" among the Oglala Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He is the current president of the World-Wide Ranger Association, Inc., an organization of active duty and veteran Rangers with the mission of providing scholarships, financial direction, and general support for Rangers and their families.
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