Table Of ContentThe NCO, Adam Glenday, 1990
David W. Hogan, Jr.
Arnold G. Fisch, Jr.
Robert K. Wright, Jr.
General Editors
Center of Military History
United States Army
Washington, D.C., 2007
U.S. Army Center of Military History
Brig. Gen. John S. Brown, Chief of Military History
Chief Historian Jeffrey J. Clarke
Chief, Histories Division Richard W. Stewart
Editor in Chief John W. Elsberg
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The story of the noncommissioned officer corps : the backbone of the Army / David W.
Hogan, Jr., Arnold G. Fisch, Jr., Robert K. Wright, Jr., general editors.—Rev. ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. United States. Army—Non-commissioned officers—History. I. Hogan, David W.,
1958– II. Fisch, Arnold G. III. Wright, Robert K., 1946–
UB408.5.S76 2003
355.3’38—dc21
2003043520
Revised Edition—CMH Pub 70–38
F
oreword
This volume originally appeared in 1989 as part of the U.S. Army’s commemoration
of The Year of the NCO. The purpose was to capture the history of the noncommissioned
officer—a rich history that continues to evolve. Today’s generation of NCOs and
Soldiers is the Next Greatest Generation. With the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November
1989, the Cold War came to an end because of the model democratic government the
Greatest Generation helped stand up after World War II in Germany. That model
democratic society contributed to lowering the Iron Curtain and served as an example
to countries that have since become democracies and members of the European Union.
Fast forward to what our Next Greatest Generation is doing today in the Middle East,
where they are cultivating democratic societies that in turn will serve as role models
for their neighbors. Our Soldiers are answering the call to duty, giving freedom and
stability to our world, just as the Greatest Generation did after World War II. Although
our Army today is, in many respects, a very different force than the Army of 1989 or
1945, many things stay the same. Our Soldiers still serve the people of the United
States and live the Army values. They embody the Soldier’s creed and our warrior
ethos, which states, “I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I
will never quit, and I will never leave a fallen comrade.”
Army NCOs trace their roots to the beginnings of American military history.
They helped Washington preserve the Continental Army at Valley Forge, stood with
Winfield Scott at Chippewa, and directed Zachary Taylor’s guns at Palo Alto. They
carried the nation’s colors at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, fought yellow fever in Cuba
with Walter Reed, and led Pershing’s and Eisenhower’s legions into Germany. Whether
helping local populations build a village in Southeast Asia or teaching young Iraqi
soldiers to conduct operations, American NCOs are leading from the front and are
some of our nation’s best ambassadors. Over time, through various changes in tactics
and technology, Army NCOs have emerged as the Army’s small-unit leaders, trainers,
and guardians of standards.
Our NCO Corps is unrivaled by any Army in the world, envied by our allies, and
feared by our enemies. Throughout the Army’s history, the NCO has been a pivotal
figure, but never more so than today with our spectrum of operations: full combat,
tank-on-tank fighting, as during the invasion of Iraq; the guerilla/insurgency war
ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan; peacekeeping operations in Kosovo; and humanitar-
ian support for survivors of the tsunami in Asia, hurricanes in the southeast, and fires
in the southwest. Our Army must be ready for this broad range of operations in the
years ahead. As NCOs embrace their ever-growing responsibilities in the twenty-first
century, this volume will help them remember how they came to be the “backbone
of our Army.”
Washington, D.C. KENNETH O. PRESTON
1 July 2005 Sergeant Major of the Army
v
P
reFace
Fourteen years have passed since Brig. Gen. William A. Stofft first published and
prefaced The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps in commemoration of the Year
of the NCO. Since that time the book has proved extraordinarily popular as a source
of inspiration and anecdote, as a repository of history and heritage, and as a compen-
dium of documents, paintings, and photographs relevant to the contributions and
experiences of our Noncommissioned Officer Corps. Indeed, it consistently numbers
among the Center of Military History’s “best sellers.” This popularity and continuing
utility make it even more appropriate that the Center of Military History update and
republish The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps, an updated and expanded
edition that we are proud to release on the Army Birthday, 2003.
This new edition of The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps preserves the
format, attention to anecdote, and mixture of art and text that made the original so
popular. We have added chapters on Desert storm, the Army during the 1990s, the
Army in Afghanistan, and a new Epilogue to carry the story forward. We have also
added a chapter on the critical role of NCOs to the success of the famous Lewis and
Clark Expedition, an event whose Bicentennial Commemoration coincides with a 2003
publication date. We also have worked with text and supporting materials throughout
the manuscript to assure its continuing correspondence to contemporary scholarship.
We believe the new version will prove even more popular than the old.
The American noncommissioned officer is a timeless icon, representing the
strength and resolution of the American people. With ample reason, we affectionately
refer to them as “the backbone of the Army.” We truly hope that you will enjoy and
profit from this updated version of their inspiring story.
Washington, D.C. JOHN S. BROWN
1 April 2003 Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Chief of Military History
vi
P
reFace to the
F e
irst dition
The publication of The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps culminates the
Center of Military History’s contribution to the Year of the NCO. The Secretary of the
Army and the Chief of Staff directed this year-long consideration of the special respon-
sibilities and accomplishments of the noncommissioned officer so that members of
our Army might come to appreciate better the vital role they have played and continue
to play in the defense of the nation.
For its part in this commemoration, the Center used its Army Artist Program to
commission three enlisted artists to prepare eighteen paintings that depict American
noncommissioned officers exercising their historic responsibilities in peace and war.
These paintings, with detailed captions that explain the historical significance of the
NCO’s traditional roles as small unit leader, trainer, and guardian of Army standards,
were recently published as a print set and are available through the Army’s Publication
Center.
The Center also published Time-Honored Professionals, a booklet describing the work
of today’s NCOs as part of a long tradition of military service. Aimed specifically at recent
graduates of the Primary Leader Development Course, this illustrated essay describes the
evolution of the NCO’s duties through two hundred years of our nation’s history.
Expanding on these preliminary efforts, The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer
Corps attempts to place the corps in its wider historical context. The emergence of
NCOs as recognized professionals, a development whose importance is being com-
memorated this year throughout the Army, is a stirring story of accomplishment,
perseverance, and dedication to the highest military standards. As General Vuono says
elsewhere in this volume, “The noncommissioned officer is the standard bearer of our
Army.” I believe that the aptness of his statement is amply demonstrated in the pages
that follow.
We in the military history community are acutely aware of the need for a detailed,
scholarly study of the American noncommissioned officer and look forward to see-
ing such a project launched in the near future. Meanwhile, I recommend these three
projects to the members of the Total Army, especially to its company grade officers
and noncommissioned officers, those most intimately involved in leading and train-
ing the men and women of the Army. Our goal, as expressed in these publications, is
to foster a better understanding of the difficult tasks routinely assumed by the NCO
and of the continuing need for excellent small unit leaders, trainers, and guardians of
our Army’s standards.
Washington, D.C. WILLIAM A. STOFFT
13 June 1989 Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Chief of Military History
vii
a
cknowledgments
Although only three names appear on the title page, this volume was very much a
collaborative effort. Thirteen contributing historians wrote this book. Three Army spe-
cialists created the series of paintings that were the original basis for the essays in Part
Two: Anita Y. Sonnie, Theresa L. Unger, and Manuel B. Ablaza; and one of CMH’s own
NCOs, Sfc. Marshall T. Williams, designed and drew the NCO insignia that enhance
this volume as Appendix A.
We also wish to acknowledge the important contributions made by John W.
Elsberg, Editor in Chief, who designed and directed the production of both versions
of this book; Morris J. MacGregor, Jr., Acting Chief Historian at the time of the first
edition; Albert E. Cowdrey, Acting Chief of the Histories Division at the time of the
first edition, Richard W. Stewart, Chief of the Histories Division during the preparation
of this revised edition, and Jeffrey J. Clarke, Chief Historian at the time of the revised
edition, who served as exacting readers; Arthur S. Hardyman, Chief, Graphics Branch,
who directed the selection and placement of the illustrations for the first edition; Beth
F. MacKenzie, who as acting Chief of the Graphics Branch directed the selection and
placement of the many additional illustrations for this edition; Linda M. Cajka, who
designed the photographic essays and prepared the final layout for the first edition;
Howell C. Brewer, Jr., who did the original photographic research; Teresa K. Jameson,
who digitized the NCO insignia and designed and prepared the final layout for this
edition; Julia Simon, Roger Wright, and Gene Snyder, who prepared the artwork for the
revised edition; Bianka J. Adams and Erik B. Villard, who assisted with the preparation
of the appendixes in the revised edition; Walter H. Bradford and David C. Cole, who
helped with the revision of the section on grade insignia and the section on Army val-
ues; Catherine A. Heerin, Chief, Editorial Branch, who worked on both manuscripts;
Barbara H. Gilbert, who edited the original manuscript into final shape; Diane M.
Donovan, who edited this edition; James B. Knight and Mary L. Haynes, who provided
stellar support in the CMH Library; and Shelby Stanton, Peter Harrington of the Anne
K. Brown Collection, Marie Yates of the Defense Audiovisual Agency, M. Sgt. David
N. Schad of the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army, Leslie D. Jensen of the West
Point Museum, the staff of Soldiers magazine, and the staff of the Special Collections
Branch at the National Defense University Library, all of whom assisted in the search
for pictures. Maj. Les A. Melnyk of the National Guard Bureau History Office and
Edwin Larkin, Director of Public Affairs, General Services Administration, provided
photos for the Leadership section.
Special thanks to Robert Bouilly, historian at the Sergeants Major Academy;
Larry Arms, director of the Army Museum of the Noncommissioned Officer; Judy
Bellafaire and Britta Granrud of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial
Foundation; and Amy Hill of the U.S. Army Women’s Museum for their input. The
draft of this work was read and critiqued by Col. Robert A. Doughty, Head, Department
of History, USMA; Roger A. Beaumont, Texas A&M University; and Maj. Christopher
G. Clark, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. We would also like to thank William
viii
