Ranger Roach from Colombia

Ranger Roach · Post by **Ranger Roach** » March 5th, 2006, 8:00 am

I spent five interesting and formative years in the Ranger Department (now called the Ranger Training Brigade) in the early 70s. I am a graduate of Benning School for Boys (Infantry OCS in 1967) and had two infantry tours with the 3rd Bde of the 101st in Viet Nam before I got back to Benning for the Advance Course and Ranger School. After I graduated from the Infantry Officers Advance Course I attended the Ranger Course in the fall of 1971 and on graduation was immediately assigned to the Department Headquarters as the Senior Tactical Officer. All of the Ranger Cadre keep callling me Ranger Roach, since I had just graduated from the course, and they knew me first as a student, and the nickname stuck - throughout my military career, and I still use it.

After two years of Senior Tac I slid over to the Coordinator of Instruction position, in the Departments Operations Division.

David E. Grange was the Department Director when I arrived, and he was followed by Col Bowers... can't remember his first name... who we called Kojak 6 - he was bald as a billard - spoke in a loud voice, frequently and loudly and always in military terminolgy. Example: Captain why aren't you wearning your Belt, black one each with buckle! What a character!

When I left the Ranger Department it was for a year of the Army "Boot Strap" to finish my Bachelors degree. During my assignment to the Ranger Department I also was doing some night school, since I had joined the Army as a college drop out. My boot strap year at Saint Martins College was great, because after seven years of active duty I was interested in academics, and really enjoyed my year of college.

After completing my college degree I went through the Army Special Forces Training, and was assigned to Bad Toelz Germany for three and and a half years. Great tour!

But when I returned to the United States I was assigned to ROTC in Springfield Missouri, and knew that my military career was in trouble, because I was still a reserve officer and hadn't been selected for Command and Staff College. However that year the Army implemented a new Officer Management System, which resulted in all officers with more than 10 years of commissioned service (including me) being integrated as Regular Officers, and also I was selected for Command and Staff College. I was sent to the Marine Corps C&GSC at Quantico Virginia, and became a first class citizen. What a dramatic change of status.

Then off to Spanish Language School, and onto the Southern Command Headquarters at Quarry Heights Panama. After a year in the "salt mine" I escaped to be a trainer in El Salvador. Spent two years there, and am very proud that the US trainers were an important catalyst in helping the Salvadorans break out of bad counter insurgency habits, and win that insurgency war.

Then we were off to Fort Lewis where I was the Commander of 2nd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group... the "frozen chosen". The 2nd Battalion had responsibility for Korea and Northeast Asia, so we had lots of Winter Warfare Training during those two years. Also made 14 trips to Korea in those two years, which meant that every time I started to get back into a good sleep cycle, I was off for another trip to Korea.

After the War College in Carlise I was assigned to Office of Military Support, known to many of us as the Secret Army of Northern Virginia. Only spent a year there before I was selected by Gen "Mad Max" Thurman to be the Defense Attache in Bogota Colombia. After 18 months in Colombia I returned to the states, and spent a year in Special Warfare Center as the Director of Doctrine and Training before assuming Command of the 7th SFG.

Retired from the Army in the Summer of 1995, and have been working as an independent contractor since. During the last four years have been working in Colombia with the Christians in Action as a Liasion Officer with Colombian Units in the remote corners of the country.

We have three adult children: Steve who is a CW2 Blackhawk pilot in the 82nd Abn Division, Marianne who is a lawyer in Washington (and if you have a pilot, you're probably going to need a lawyer! So we're ready! And Patricia who is looking for a job!)

We are living in West Grove Pennsylvania, and would love to have old friends visit. We can go down the road to the east to visit the Revolutionary War Battlefield of Brandywine, or a few hours to the West to visit the Civil War Battlefield of Gettysburg.

Best wishes to all of my old Ranger Buddies! Hope life is treating you well! Jim (aka Ranger Roach)

Gordo173 · Post by **Gordo173** » March 5th, 2006, 8:03 am

Welcome Ranger

Earthpig · Post by **Earthpig** » March 5th, 2006, 8:21 am

Impressive resume, Sir. Welcome home!
RLTW
EP

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » March 5th, 2006, 8:33 am

Welcome aboard Jim. There's another Jim on board here with whom you may be acquainted.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » March 5th, 2006, 8:59 am

Welcome, Ranger Roach, think we know each other.

Slowpoke · Post by **Slowpoke** » March 5th, 2006, 9:24 am

We're probably about the same age, so it's........Welcome you old fuck. :D

hit_it · Post by **hit_it** » March 5th, 2006, 9:42 am

Welcome, Sir.

IDon'tCare · Post by **IDon'tCare** » March 5th, 2006, 9:46 am

Welcome Sir.

AbnRgr289 · Post by **AbnRgr289** » March 5th, 2006, 9:54 am

Welcome.

Black 6 · Post by **Black 6** » March 5th, 2006, 10:24 am

welcome sir

msg_dman · Post by **msg_dman** » March 5th, 2006, 11:17 am

Welcome

Hoover · Post by **Hoover** » March 5th, 2006, 11:18 am

Welcome Sir!

fireranger · Post by **fireranger** » March 5th, 2006, 1:17 pm

Welcome Sir.

Steadfast · Post by **Steadfast** » March 5th, 2006, 1:29 pm

We've complained to the civilians making a long intro but yours Sir was a pleasure to read - very impressive too. Glad to have you here Sir!

Wellycome