Adjutant General Corps Hall of Fame adds 7 to its ranks

Fort Jackson welcomed seven men and women into the Adjutant General's Corps Hall of Fame last week, a roster that represented a healthy sampling of Soldiers from across the corps' varied missions.

Established in 2010, the Hall of Fame honors leaders from the Army's human resources ranks and recognizes "extraordinary members" who have made significant contributions to the corps.

"Today's ceremony is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of seven Army professionals, known to us all as a dedicated ensemble of forward-thinking and creative leaders," said Col. Neal McIntyre, commandant of the Adjutant General School. "Who, day in and day out, operated with an edge toward a common goal: to enable their commanders by providing efficient, predictable and effective personnel support to Soldiers and Families.

"So, this week, as our corps celebrates its 242nd birthday, we celebrate them," McIntyre said.

Welcomed into the ranks last Friday at the Soldier Support Institute were Col. Thomas Palmatier, Col. Joseph E. Pedone III, Col. Arthur A. Strange III, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tommy Daughtry, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Edwin Nieves-Beauchamp, Command Sgt. Maj. Darlene C. Hagood and Command Sgt. Maj. Freddie Lash.

The ceremony also welcome 23 "Distinguished Members of the Regiment," selected by the chief of the Adjutant General Corps based on nominations made throughout the year, charged with assisting the leaders with perpetuating the corps' history.

While there were enough guests to pack both the SSI auditorium presentations and the following unveiling ceremony at the Adjutant General School's Hall of Honor, many of the comments from this year's inductees focused on those who were unable to attend.

"Maj. Gen. (Kathryn ) Frost, one day, she decided she wanted to have a small working group that was going to redesign the entire HR world," Palmatier recalled. "So she put then Col. Gina Farrisee and I in a room and said, 'You can't come out until after you redesign the entire HR world.' Not know, of course, that Gen. Maude (would) soon show us the way ahead."

After learning that he would be joining the corps' Hall of Fame, Pedone said he spent some time reflecting on his career had led him to this moment.

"It had very little do with me," Pedone said. "And it had everything to do with the influence of faith and the individuals around me who, through their support, love and examples set the conditions for this day."

"So, who am I as a Soldier?" asked Daughtry. "For my first train ride, the Army paid for my ticket ... to Fort Jackson, right here. Vietnam was still going on; my best friend was in Vietnam. He asked, 'Why not join the Army?' I said I'd have to think about it."

That was 45 years ago, he said.

"I want to say thanks to the Soldiers, NCOs, officers and civilians who I worked with in my 29 years of service," said inductee Nieves-Beauchamp. "Without them, I would not be here today. And I'm sure you guys can relate to that."

"I took a village to get me here today," said Hagood, the first African American woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. "A village of Family and friends."

"As a leader, I learned that you had to set and be the example for your Soldiers," said Lash, who currently serves as the Adjutant General Corps Honorary Regimental Command Sergeant Major. "As I was given, I gave back. I thought that was my charge. That was what I wanted from my leaders."

Strange was absent from last week's ceremonies. See the next page for the complete biographies for this year's inductees.