FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- I met with retired Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Kyzer on a beautiful sun porch overlooking an immaculate back yard filled with dozens of blooming roses at his Columbia home.
After a few minutes of conversation, I realized that his success, happiness and contentment evolved over many years. Kyzer served 26 years in the Army, receiving two purple hearts for injuries sustained in Vietnam. After basic training, he headed to catch the train for Advanced Individual Training at Fort Hood, Texas, and looked over his shoulder to see a tear flowing down his father's cheek. This would be the last time he would see his father alive, but not the last time he would see him.
After AIT, he headed to Fort Campbell, Ky. for tough airborne training and wondered if his decision to enlist was a mistake. Trouble quickly followed, but as soon as he realized his actions affected his unit, he straightened up. Facing numerous medical bills after his child was born with a club foot, Kyzer re-enlisted for four more years.
He moved on to Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he met Sgt. 1st Class Powers who taught him leadership, responsibility for family and unit, strength and confidence in all his actions, and having pride in self and team. After Alaska, he went to Fort Dix, N.J., and later received orders to Vietnam, where he would use all the lessons he learned to survive.
The challenges came early for Kyzer as he served with the 101st Airborne Division, 1 Corps.
Kyzer recounted one particular experience he had in Vietnam.
"Traveling by truck to Firebase Salley with troops returning from R&R, we encountered an ambush, jumped off the truck and buried our heads in the sand."
Quickly, he took charge, started firing at the Viet Cong and encouraged his fellow Soldiers to do the same.
He was assigned as platoon sergeant of Company B, 501st and on his second fire fight, the image of his father appeared and would reappear every time he closed his eyes.
Kyzer stated, "My father would always fall before reaching me, as his leg brace was a hindrance. I thought if my father caught up to me, I would die."
On four different occasions, he faced the grim reaper, but survived.
Later, he returned to Fort Jackson and served 18 months as a drill sergeant before orders sent him back to Vietnam, assigned to Military Assistance Command Vietnam, or MACV, in II Corps as an adviser to an Army Republic of Vietnam battle.
Two weeks after arriving, he was back in the fight, facing death everywhere, and dealing with napalm so close it came over the sand bags. It lasted 13 days, and he had to deal with his own mortality, visions of his father and the stress of combat. Strength, courage and determination carried him through the rest of his assignment. Although the fight in Vietnam had ended for him, the battle at home would continue.
There would not be any parades, warm welcomes or grand gestures of appreciation to add closure to his pain.
After his time in Vietnam, Kyzer again returned to Fort Jackson, this time as a senior drill sergeant. He was promoted to first sergeant, followed by acting command sergeant major and later, he attended the Sergeants Major Academy and was assigned to Bamberg, Germany. He also served at Fort Benning, Ga. as command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized); in Schweinfurt, Germany in 2nd Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment; and in Wuerzburg as the community command sergeant major. Later, he served as the commandant of the 1st Army NCO School at Bad Toelz, Germany.
He again returned to Fort Jackson, where he served as commandant of the Drill Sergeant School.
Ultimately, back surgery led to his retirement from the Army. Fueled by his devotion and love of Soldiers, he turned down several lucrative jobs to become a Noncommissioned Officers Association counselor in Columbia. The position led to his becoming the regional general manager of all NCOA service centers in South Carolina and eastern Georgia, where he met a wonderful lady.
The images of his father finally disappeared after he told his girlfriend - now his wife, Inge - that he loved her. For Kyzer, time has provided him with a sweet sense of peace, and serenity proving that strength, courage and resiliency can calm even the strongest storm.
Kyzer continues to share his lessons learned and experiences with units on post and is willing to talk to young Soldiers about living and coping with post traumatic stress disorder. He continues to serve active duty military, veterans and their families by being involved with the American Legion Post 182, adjutant of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment of the Combat Infantrymen's Badge Association.
He believes that if he could change the life of just one Soldier or family member, it would be all justified and worth it.
His advice: Sit back and listen to your subconscious and it will guide you in the fates of enrichment to your life.
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