In the summer of 1967, then 18-year-old George Cushman IV was headed off to the University of Florida as the Vietnam War raged. ROTC was mandatory for all freshman and sophomore men given that it was a land grant school. But that did not much matter to George, who came from a long line of military veterans who volunteered to serve the nation. He always knew that would also be his path. Now, nearly 60 years later, he’s still serving his country.
At 76 years old, George Cushman still finds fulfillment in his work. He enjoys knowing that every day, he makes a difference. His career has spanned six decades, both in uniform and as a civil servant, yet his commitment to service remains unwavering.
The military was always in Cushman’s blood. He grew up as an Air Force brat, and his family’s military legacy is extensive. His grandfather, Brig. Gen. Roland P. Shugg, was Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s artillery commander in Korea and a close neighbor of Gen. George S. Patton. His father, Col. George H. Cushman III, was a tank commander who fought through the entire European Theater in World War II, from Operation Torch in North Africa to the Invasion of Sicily, Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge, and beyond. His great-grandfather served as a military governor in Korea. Today, Cushman’s own son, George Cushman V, continues the family tradition as a soldier in the U.S. Army, and there is even a sixth generation named in the lineage.
As a young man at the University of Florida, Cushman witnessed the anti-war protests that swept campuses nationwide. While UF was not as volatile as Berkeley, there were still tensions. As an ROTC cadet and a member of the Gator Raiders, a Ranger-style training unit, he faced occasional hostility. “People would call us names,” he recalled, “but for the most part, kids left us alone.”
After earning a degree in Civil Engineering and Building Construction, Cushman was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. By the time he graduated, and the Army sent him to complete Airborne and Ranger School, the Vietnam War was ending. Cushman’s first assignment was to the 12th Engineer Battalion (Airborne) (Mechanized) in Dexheim, Germany.
But military life was tough in the post-Vietnam years. Many of the Soldiers in Cushman’s unit were draftees who had already served in Vietnam and were simply waiting out the remainder of their service. Drug use was rampant. “You heard about the malaise from the Vietnam era that affected the Army,” Cushman said. “We had to rebuild after that.” His battalion commander, Col. Russell Hewett, was sent in to clean up the unit. At first, the troops resented the discipline, but eventually, they transformed into one of the best units in Europe, Cushman remembered proudly.
Cushman met his wife, Marilla, while attending the Command and General Staff College in 1986. She, too, was an Army officer and an accomplished public affairs specialist. She played a crucial role in the Army’s “Be All You Can Be” campaign, served as the Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was instrumental in the dedication of the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. There’s no denying Cushman’s adoration of his wife who he speaks with deep admiration, calling her “a pretty incredible person” and gushing about her endless volunteer support she provides to the Military Women’s Memorial to this day.
Even after retiring from active duty, Cushman has continued to serve. Today, he works on Base Realignment and Closure initiatives, specifically as the environmental coordinator for closing Fort Wingate in New Mexico. The former ammunition depot, spanning 21,000 acres, is being returned to the Navajo and Zuni tribes. Cushman and his team, including engineers, scientists, and chemists, are dedicated to ensuring the land is clean and safe before its transfer. “This land was taken from the Native Americans in the 1880s,” Cushman said. “It is our duty to return it in a condition where they will not suffer adverse effects.”
Through it all, Cushman remains deeply committed to ensuring that Pentagon policies make sense for soldiers in the field. He recalls being a young lieutenant and receiving directives that seemed detached from reality. “Even then, I said to myself, ‘If I’m ever in the Pentagon, I want to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.’” For the past 34 years, he has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between policy and practice.
Even now, when Cushman could retire completely, but he chooses not to. He still walks the halls of the Pentagon, still guides visitors on history-rich tours, still works to ensure the policies created in Washington make sense for soldiers on the ground. And in doing so, he continues the legacy of service that has defined his family for generations.
“I’ve always been a history buff,” Cushman said. His tours are typically three and a half hours long, though he adjusts based on what visitors want. Cushman takes leave from work to conduct these tours. His last role in the Army while in uniform was conducting General Officer Investigations for the Department of the Army Inspector General, a position that solidified his belief in accountability. He ensures his volunteer work is done on personal time to maintain transparency.
As National Vietnam Veterans Day approaches, Cushman reflects on the evolving perceptions of military service. “In 1971, if you were in the military, you were not popular,” he said. “We were called baby killers and weren’t appreciated. It was a tough time.” But he has seen attitudes shift, particularly after Desert Storm in the 1990s, when public appreciation for service members grew.
Discussing today’s young soldiers, Cushman’s eyes teared up. “These young men and women today are the finest examples of what every American should be. They want to serve their country. Less than one percent of people in this country does that. It’s a beautiful profession.”
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