THE VOLUNTEER STATE

guard

magazine

THE GUARD'S PREAMBLE TO FIG HTING IN FRANCE 

AIRMAN SAVES MAN FROM BURNING HOME IN CARTER COUNTY

VOL. 17, ISSUE 2

I

l

ON THE

BORDER
2 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

ON THE COVER

Soldiers for the 3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment’s Machine 

Gun Company, mobilized from Knoxville, pose for a photograph 

at San Benito, Texas, sometime between January and March 

1917.

Photo Courtesy of 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment 

08

Wildfires in 

the South

14

Patrolman, 

Airman, Hero

20

Smoky 

Mountain 

Rescue

22

Spotlight on 

Leadership

THE VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD MAGAZINE
3

The Volunteer State Guard Magazine is published to provide command and public information about Tennessee 

Guard Soldiers and Airmen throughout the world. Views 

expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official view of and it is not endorsed by 

the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the 

Departments of the Army and the Air Force. This publication does not supersede any information presented in any 

other official Air or Army publication. Articles, photos, artwork and letters are invited and should be addressed to: 

Editor, The Volunteer State Guard, 3041 Sidco Dr., Attn: 

TNPAO, Nashville, TN 37204.

For more information, the staff can be reached by telephone (615) 313-0633, or by email to tnpao@live.com. 

The Volunteer State Guard reserves the right to edit all 

material. Published works may be reprinted, except 

where copyrighted, provided credit is given to The Volunteer State Guard and the authors. Distribution of the The 

Volunteer State Guard is electronic and can be downloaded at: http://www.tnmilitary.org

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTION

SENIOR EDITORS

PHOTOGRAPHY 

VIDEO

WRITERS

Maj. (Ret) Randy Harris

Rob Pennington

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nick Atwood

Maj. Darrin Haas 

Master Sgt. Robin Brown

Staff Sgt. William Jones

Rob Pennington

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nick Atwood

Master Sgt. Kendra Owenby

Tech Sgt. Daniel Gagnon

Tech Sgt. Danielle Hopkins

Tech Sgt. Kurt Mintz

Staff Sgt. William Jones

Sgt. Arturo Guzman

Senior Airman Darby Arnold

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nick Atwood

Maj. Darrin Haas

Master Sgt. Robin Brown

Tech. Sgt. Kurt Mintz

Rachel Miklaszewski

VOLUME 17 

 ISSUE 2

CONTENTS VSG

8 ON THE BORDER

The Guard’s Preamble to Fighting in France. We Take You 

Back to the Conflict on the Mexican Border in 1917.

14 PATROLMAN, AIRMAN, HERO

Tennessee Airman Helps to Rescue an Injured Citizen from a 

Burning Home.

16 ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

164th Airlift Wing Engages the Community with a Base Tour for 

Kids and Adults in the Community.

18 REGION III BEST WARRIOR 

TN National Guard Recruiter, Staff Sgt. Dustin Rottero, Wins 

Region III “Best Warrior” Competition.

19 COMMAND CHIEF CHANGE

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky L. Tackett named Command

Chief Warrant Officer for the Tennessee Army National Guard.

20 MOUNTAIN RESCUE

The Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter 

Battalion Evacuates a Sick Hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains.

22 SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP

This Special Edition of “Spotlight On Leadership” Features an 

Interview with Anne Haston, Spouse of Maj. Gen. Max Haston.

24 DEVELOPING LEADERS

Tennessee’s Adjutant General Hosts Inagural Leadership Academy at Montgomery 

Bell State Park.

25 BOOK REVIEW

Maj. Darrin Haas Gives his Review of 

THE GREAT CALL-UP.

tnmilitary.org
4

A SALUTE TO OLD HICKORY

Mar. 15, 2017 - President Donald Trump tours The Hermitage and places a wreath on 

President Andrew Jackson’s tomb marking the 250th anniversary of Jackson’s birthday. Trump is the first sitting president since Ronald Reagan to visit the site.

PHOTO BY: CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 NICK ATWOOD

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
5 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

4-278TH CHANGE OF COMMAND

April 1, 2017 - The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment welcomes Lt. Col. Foley as the 

incoming commander of 4th Squadron and says farewell to the outgoing commander, 

Lt. Col. Roark. The ceremony was held at the Mount Carmel Armory.

PHOTO BY: SGT. ARTURO GUZMAN

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
6 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

DECORATED VIETNAM VETERAN TOURS

May 10, 2017 - Members of the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, visit with Bobby 

Pridmore as he tours a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Pridmore was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star for his gallantry during the Vietnam War.

PHOTO BY: MASTER SGT. KENDRA M. OWENBY

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
7

JOINT EFFORT

May 11, 2017 - A Tennessee National Guard Soldier and Airman work together to remove a excessively worn tire from it’s rim. The 118th has a shop with the tools able to 

change tires and offered to help the 1-230th with this crippling issue. 

PHOTO BY: TECH SGT. DANIELLE HOPKINS

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
8 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

STORY BY MAJ DARRIN HAAS

THE GUARD'S PREAMBLE TO FIG HTING IN FRANCE 

I

l

ON THE

BORDER
9

As combat raged for its 

second year in Europe, 

in what we now call 

World War I, the United 

States still maintained 

strict neutrality in 

the spring of 1916. President Woodrow Wilson 

worked to keep the U.S. 

out of a war costing 

millions of lives. But, as 

the war was happening 

“over there,” threats to 

U.S. security came from 

just across its southern border, in Mexico. 

Soldiers for the 3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment’s 

Machine Gun Company, mobilized from Knoxville, 

pose for a photograph at San Benito, Texas, sometime between January and March 1917..
10 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

 Tensions between the U.S. and Mexico grew the years prior to 1916. But by 

that spring, Mexico was in the throes of a civil war as rival leaders fought for 

control of the government. For a short time, Francisco “Pancho” Villa became 

the Mexican President, but was overthrown in a coup supported by the American government. Angry, Villa wanted to draw the U.S. into the civil war, so he 

attacked elements of the 13th U.S. Cavalry stationed near Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9, 1916. After killing 14 Soldiers, he raided Columbus, burning 

portions of the city and killing ten civilians. 

 Within days, President Wilson responded by ordering Brig. Gen. John Pershing to lead a “punitive expedition” into Mexico to kill or capture Villa and his 

raiders. With nearly 10,000 Soldiers, Pershing began a futile, 9-month campaign 

and never captured Villa.

 To protect the U.S.-Mexico border from continuing raids and a Texan fear 

that Germans were conspiring with the Mexicans to reclaim U.S. territory, Wilson mobilized a portion of the National Guard on May 9, followed by the rest of 

the Guard, to include Tennessee, on June 18. More than a 150,000 guardsman 

were mobilized to defend the border from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas.

 Tennessee National Guardsmen were quick to serve and responded swiftly 

to the mobilization. Every unit currently organized (except Separate Company 

G, an African-American Infantry Company in Nashville) were ordered to rendezvous at their home armories and prepare for deployment. The units would 

drill, issue equipment, recruit new soldiers, and ready their families for their 

departure. 

 Each unit also had a “war envelope” from the Adjutant General, Charles 

Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

Bain Collection/Library of Congress

Washington, D.C.

President Woodrow Wilson
11

Rogan, issued prior to the mobilization. Prepared months ahead of time, it was detailed 

instructions for commanders to follow if the Tennessee National Guard was mobilized. 

Once the President issued the order to muster for service, the Adjutant General ordered 

the envelopes to be opened and followed. 

 On June 27, all Tennessee Guardsmen, except Company G, entrained to their mobilization camp at Cumberland Park in Nashville, even though the Mayor of Memphis 

made a bid to have the West Tennessee troops train in Memphis. Named Camp Tom 

C. Rye, after the Governor, the 3rd Tennessee Regiment, as well as various separate 

units like the cavalry, came together to train, receive equipment, ensure everyone was 

medically fit, and organized their forces. The 1st Tennessee Infantry also arrived, but 

it was not fully organized. It contained just two separate battalions and three separate 

companies that were recently organized. Overall, roughly 1,800 Soldiers were ordered 

to Camp Rye. 

 The 1st Tennessee Infantry immediately began to build a full regiment, first organizing a missing infantry company to round out the battalions. It then transferred Soldiers 

from the line companies to create a machine gun company, regimental headquarters, 

and a supply company. Another problem with the regiment is that it did not have a regimental commander, with the election of a new commander being problematic. 

 During the election process, the regiment elected Capt. W. N. Hughes, a Regular 

Army officer who was also the state Instructor-Inspector. But Governor Rye refused to 

commission him because he was not a Tennessee resident and was attached to the Adjutant-General’s Office. Eventually, the regimental officers held a caucus and elected Maj. 

Harry S. Berry of the Nashville battalion to be Colonel. He was a West Point graduate 

and farmer. 

 The troops spent over two months in Nashville, much longer than anticipated. Kitchens, latrines, bath houses, and water pipes needed to be built for the camp. There were 

problems equipping troops. In one instance, underwear was ordered and the units received only boys’ sizes. But the Soldiers did manage to receive 12 Victrolas which they 

took with them to the border. 

 Also, new Soldiers still needed to be recruited because hundreds of Soldiers were 

failing their physical exams, mostly for physical disqualifications and illiteracy. The 1st 

Regiment lost 300 in the first month. One Soldier was discharged because he had no 

right arm. The medical examiner recalled that “there were five of six belonging to the 

Guard who had glass eyes.” For example, Chattanooga’s Company K, 3rd Infantry, arrived to camp with roughly 100 guardsmen, but 35 Soldiers were discharged, 28 for 

physical disqualifications and seven for family dependency. 

 By September, the Tennessee Guard had increased its strength to over 2,400, and 

was ready for service on the border. On September 16, the 3rd Infantry Regiment left 

Nashville for Pharr, Texas, arriving on September 29. They were brigaded with the 74th 

and 23rd New York Infantry, forming the 6th Division commanded by Maj. Gen. John 

F. O’Ryan of the New York National Guard. The 1st Infantry also left on the 16th and 

arrived at Eagle Pass, Texas, on the 20th. The rest of the Tennessee National Guard units 

were sent to El Paso, Texas.

 For the next three months, Tennessee’s 3rd Infantry practiced marching, drilling, 

and rifle marksmanship while encamped at McAllen, a town of 1,000 people, just next 

to Pharr. They conducted tactical exercises and established outposts, conducted patrols, 

and covered a section of the boundary line. Many were disappointed that they were 

forbidden to enter Mexico and directly participate in Pershing’s Punitive Expedition. 

ON THE BORDER

More than 

a 150,000 

guardsman 

were mobilized to 

defend the 

border from 

San Diego, 

California, 

to Brownsville, Texas.
12 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

Federal law restricted guardsmen to “repelling invasion,” and they could not be used on 

foreign soil. So, they were only allowed to maintain defense of the border, but some still 

crossed for a few minutes to say they served in Mexico. 

 While encamped, the Tennessee and New York Guardsmen didn’t always get along. 

Many fist fights broke out between the troops, sometimes escalating into near riots. The 

Military Police were excited to hear that on January 12, the Tennesseans were being transferred to San Benito. After a 40-mile march, the Tennessee troops spent the rest of their 

deployment there perfecting their marksmanship and on duty covering a section of the 

border. Some believed that the friction between the Tennessee and New York troops was 

the reason for the transfer. 

 When the 1st Infantry arrived in Eagle Pass, they moved into a camp recently evacuated 

by the Kansas National Guard. They then joined the 1st and 5th Maryland Regiments to 

form a brigade. It then went through three weeks of intense training followed by a ten day 

field exercise. Following their training, the 1st Infantry were assigned to guard the bridges 

and banks of the Rio Grande River. They covered an area 100 miles long and looked for 

raiders, smugglers, and inspected citizens for contraband. One night a band of raiders 

attempted to cross the river and the guardsmen on duty fired at the raiders, killing one of 

them. 

 The rest of the Tennessee National Guard mobilized would serve in El Paso. The cavalry 

troops, hospital, and ambulance detachments were assigned to Fort Bliss at Base Hospital 

Number Two. 

 Even though Guardsmen were defending the U.S. border, their deployment was one 

of routine and boredom. One Guardsman said that “being stationed in such a god-forsaken dreary place in Texas – dry, parched, uninteresting, and infested with rattlesnakes, 

scorpions, and tarantulas – inspired me to join the Navy,” for service in World War I. The 

Soldiers were also subject to disease, contracting measles, dysentery, pneumonia, and a 

slew of other ailments. 

 They also quickly realized that much of their training focused on probable involvement in trench warfare. They spent many hours building, attacking, and defending hastily 

built trenches. The Guardsmen also constantly worked on rifle marksmanship at live-fire 

ranges. Artillery units were given plenty of ammunition to fire on specially built ranges. 

In their off-time, the guardsmen established athletic events and competitions as well as 

went hunting for snakes, rabbits, and ducks. They also went to nearby towns to drink and 

ON THE BORDER

While encamped, 

the Tennessee and 

New York 

Guardsmen 

didn’t always get 

along. 

New York National Guard on duty at McAllen, 

Texas in 1916. (Courtesy New York State Military Museum)
13

Funeral in Pharr for a 3rd Tennessee Infantry private who 

drowned. Courtesy of Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives, 

Museum of South Texas History.

see movies. Some snuck across the border into Mexico to watch 

bullfighting. 

 It wasn’t long before relations with Mexico cooled down and 

Guard units began to return home. By February 19, the War Department announced the demobilization of the entire National 

Guard. The medical units in El Paso were the first to return. On 

March 7, Tennessee’s 3rd Infantry entrained to Knoxville and 

arrived on March 11. By March 14, the guardsmen were mustered out and returned home. Next, the cavalry troops departed 

El Paso. Then the 1st Regiment remained on the border until 

March 15 and then was entrained to Memphis and mustered 

out of service on March 24. 

 Large crowds turned out and many of the units held parades 

and celebrations to commemorate their service. Unfortunately, 

at least seven Guardsmen died during the deployment due to 

sickness and accidents. 

 Many of the Guardsmen returned home disillusioned about 

their service, feeling it was a waste of time. Pancho Villa was 

never captured and troops felt they accomplished very little. 

But, they did more than just haplessly sit on the U.S. border. 

They learned valuable skills and trained as large units. The 

Army Service of Supply was exercised. They conducted patrols 

in hostile environments. The Tennessee Guard was enlarged 

and strengthened with fit and experienced soldiers. These were 

all things they would need soon, because in just four weeks, 

Congress would declare war against Germany and the entire 

Tennessee National Guard would be mobilized again. This time 

for France. 

- MAJ DARRIN HAAS

Fort Bliss Post Hospital constructed in 1893.
14 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

AIRMAN

HERO

PATROLMAN

Staff Sgt. Michael Bean, a knowledge operations manager 

in the 134th Commuications Flight stands at the front gate of 

McGhee Tyson Joint Base Mar. 3, 2017. (Photo by Tech Sgt. 

Daniel Gagnon)

Tennessee Airman helps 

rescue an injured citizen 

from burning home.
15

VIDEO: Staff Sgt. Bean

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An Airman with the 

Tennessee Air National Guard’s 134th Air 

Refueling Wing in Knoxville, Tenn., rescued 

a 57-year-old man from a burning home Jan. 

20 in Carter County, Tenn.

 “I started my shift that evening as I normally do. Around 8:30pm, we were advised 

by 911 that there was a fire at a residence 

with a disabled man still inside,” said Michael Bean of the Carter County Sheriff ’s 

Office in Elizabethton, Tenn. Bean is also 

a staff sergeant with the 134th ARW and 

serves as a knowledge operations manager 

with the unit’s Communications Flight. 

 “Fortunately, myself, Deputy Robert 

Hughes and Sgt. David Caldwell were close 

by to assist,” he said. “My first thought was I 

hope we can get to the home in time because 

house fires normally move rapidly. Upon arrival we noticed a woman in the driveway 

who told us that the man was still inside.” 

 

Hughes and Bean made an attempt to enter 

the home through the back door, but were 

initially unsuccessful to locate the man due 

to heavy smoke. 

 “On our way out, we noticed several oxygen tanks inside the doorway and began 

throwing them outside. Then we wrapped 

our jackets around our faces and made a second attempt,” Bean explained. “The heavy 

smoke made it very difficult to see what 

was in front of us. There were small fires 

throughout the home, which smelled like 

burning chemicals.”

 This time they found the man lying on 

the floor.

 “I noticed he had injuries from the fire 

and smoke. We picked him up and carried 

him outside. Sgt. Caldwell and another deputy, Christian Carrier, helped us carry him 

to a safe location,” he said. Shortly after, the 

fire department and rescue squad arrived on 

scene to render aid to the victim. “I am very 

grateful that the man is recovering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.”

 Bean has been a member of the Tennessee 

Air National Guard since November 2003. 

 “I have always been part of a team,” he 

said regarding various sports he played in 

high school. “I wanted to continue that experience, gain an education and set a foundation for my life. The Air Guard is a much 

bigger team with far greater responsibilities 

that have helped shape my life.”

 He is currently a patrol lieutenant with 

the Carter County Sheriff ’s Office, but will 

soon be moving to the Criminal Investigations Division as an investigator. He is also 

currently attending East Tennessee State 

University, working on his bachelor’s degree. 

Bean said he later plans to become an officer 

in the National Guard.

 “The Air Guard has taught me to have 

a sense of service and commitment. I have 

been able to handle stressful responsibilities 

when faced with adversity,” Bean said. “Situational awareness and attention to detail 

have helped me in my civilian career.”

- MASTER SGT ROBIN BROWN
16 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

MEMPHIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD 

BASE, Tenn.- The 164th Airlift Wing gave 

tours to three groups of kids and adults Dec. 

3, 2016. The groups were touring the base to 

show the youths various opportunities they 

can have in their lives.

 “My motto is to keep looking up, so my 

hope is to provide an opportunity to see the 

different things they can do and they can be 

in their lives,” said Thelma Rudd, chief executive officer of A Taste of Aviation. “I want 

them to see people like Guardsmen and 

know they can be successful.”

 A Taste of Aviation is a non-profit organization that offers youth and adults an introduction and exposure to the aviation and 

aerospace industries.

 “We want to introduce aerospace and aviation to young people and to adults because 

our whole thoughts are no matter where you 

are in life, that you’ll keep looking up,” said 

Rudd.

 “We do adults as well, that’s why you see 

a mixture of adults here. And our long term 

goal is to do a Saturday flight school for senior citizens, because a lot of time people 65 

164th Airlift Wing Engages the Community with a 

Base Tour for Kids and Adults.

ENGAGING THE 

COMMUNITY

164TH AW

A C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft 

From the 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, Tennessee (Photo by Master 

Sgt Kendra Owenby) 
17

years or older will not have any idea of how 

an airplane flies and know nothing about the 

airport,” said Rudd.

 Parents who wish to find out more information about A Taste of Aviation can contact Ms. Rudd via their website tasteofaviation.org.

 The non-profit group was joined by the 

Sea Cadet Corps, a mentorship program 

from the United States Navy. The Sea Cadet 

Corps is a nationwide program that allows 

youth 10-17 years of age to experience military training.

 “We have summer trainings where the cadets can go through their boot camp training and advanced training after that,” said Lt. 

Cmdr. Yancey Black, USN Sea Cadet Corps 

commanding officer in Naval Support Activity-Mid South, Millington. “And if they have 

interest to go to the Coast Guard trainings 

where they’ll have opportunity to train with 

the Coast Guard.”

 The visiting groups were also joined by a 

local Cub Scout troop.

 Programs like this are important for today’s youth said Capt. John Conger, the executive officer of the 164th AW, assisted with 

setting up tours for the groups.

 “Being a father of four myself, I look 

for opportunities within the community to 

broaden the knowledge of the child to what 

opportunities are around them in the private 

sector and what interests they may have. To 

be able to give them a tool to further their 

knowledge and career,” said Conger.

 By becoming a part of the Sea Cadet 

Corps, members can enter the armed services at a higher rank.

 “Cadets entering the military from this 

program may receive an advanced rate up to 

an E-3 with the Navy and E-2 in the other 

military branches,” says Black. “It’s mentoring. To give them better citizenship, patriotism, and encourage them to stay in college 

and make better choices. Hopefully they’ll 

leave the program at 18 and stay in college.”

Information about the Sea Cadet Corps can 

be found at www.seacadets.org.

- TECH SGT KURT MINTZ

SSgt. David Wilbur instructs the 

tour group ‘A Taste of Aviation” 

about the Radio Frequency antennas in use at the 164th Airlift 

Wing in Memphis, TN Dec.3, 2016. 

‘A Taste of Aviation” is a regional 

non-profit that mentors youth and 

introduces them to aviation and 

aeronautics. (Photo by Tech Sgt. 

Kurt Mintz)
18 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Staff Sgt. Dustin Rottero, originally of Gladeville, Tenn., was 

recognized as the Region III “Best Warrior” 

during a ceremony at the Wendell H. Ford 

Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky. 

on April 26, 2017. Rottero, a member of 

Tennessee’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, edged out fellow competitors to earn the 

prestigious title and secured a spot at Camp 

Ripley, Minn., where the Army National 

Guard will hold the national competition in 

July.

 “From the beginning, Staff Sgt. Rottero 

set the standard, always showing a level of 

professionalism and discipline unmatched 

by others,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Heath 

Young, the Command Sergeant Major for 

the RRB of the Tennessee Army National 

Guard. “It wasn’t easy, but he never quit and 

always gave maximum effort.” 

 Currently, Rottero is one of only a handful 

of Tennessee Guardsmen trained as a drill 

sergeant, a highly demanding assignment 

charged with training the Army’s newest 

Soldiers. Due to his professionalism and 

performance while attending the U.S. Army 

Drill Sergeant Academy, he earned the Leadership Award. It is no surprise he has once 

again found himself atop the heap of those 

vying for first place.

 To aid in handling the pressures of each 

task, every Soldier is assigned a sponsor. 

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Bryant, also a drill sergeant with the RRB, supported Rottero by 

coaching, training and sometimes providing 

a much needed morale boost.

 “Through the long days and nights, he 

was never distracted,” added Young. “He remained focused at every turn. It was tough 

and we had some competition, but in the 

end Tennessee prevailed.”

 The Best Warrior Competition recognizes 

Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to 

the Army values, embody the warrior ethos, 

and represent the force of the future. Over 

the course of four days, it is designed to test 

aptitude during urban warfare simulations, 

board interview skills, physical fitness levels 

and warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to 

today’s operating environment.

 Each year, Soldiers across the U.S. Army, 

Army National Guard and Army Reserve 

compete locally, statewide for the National 

Guard and regionally to determine which 

individual will represent their respective 

command at the culminating event in late 

September. - CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 

4 NICK ATWOOD

Staff Sgt. Dustin Rottero, a recruiter 

with the Tennessee Army National 

Guard, earns the title of Region III 

“Best Warrior” during competition at 

the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training 

Center in Greenville, Ky on April 26, 

2017. Rottero advances to the Army 

National Guard’s national competition 

at Camp Ripley, Minn. in July. (Photo 

by the Tennessee National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.)

BEST WARRIOR

TN National Guard Recruiter, Staff Sgt. Dustin Rottero, 

wins Region III “Best Warrior” Competition.

REGION III
19

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky L. Tackett named Command 

Chief Warrant Officer - TN Army National Guard.

COMMAND 

CHIEF CHANGE

WARRANT OFFICERS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Chief Warrant Officer 

4 Ricky L. Tackett, of Ashland City, took the 

reins as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Tennessee Army National Guard 

today during a change of responsibility ceremony in the Hall of Flags, at the Guard’s 

Headquarters in Nashville. Maj. Gen. “Max” 

Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, conducted the ceremony in the presence of family and friends making Tackett only the fifth 

person in Tennessee Guard history to hold 

this key position.

 “There were many highly qualified candidates up for consideration, but I believe 

Ricky is the right man at the right time for 

the job”, said Haston, “and I look forward 

to the future impact he will make on all our 

Soldiers, not just warrant officers.” 

 As CCWO, he serves as the principal warrant officer advisor to the Adjutant General 

and Assistant Adjutant General-Army, responsible for the supervision, training, and 

well-being of all Tennessee Army National 

Guard warrant officers. Tackett has been on 

the job since April 7, but due to scheduling 

conflicts, the ceremony was pushed back. 

Prior to his appointment, he served as the 

detailed inspector general for the Tennessee 

Army National Guard.

 In 1984, Tackett enlisted in the Army 

and served as a combat engineer until his 

acceptance into the warrant officer flight 

program in 1986. Upon earning his wings, 

he was assigned as a UH-1 Huey pilot with 

the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, 

Ky., where he deployed to El Salvador. His 

second deployment was in 1991 in support 

of Operations Desert Shield/Storm as CH47 Chinook pilot-in-command. 

 Tackett is a master-rated Army aviator, 

having flown nearly every helicopter in the 

Army’s inventory. His qualifications include 

instructor pilot, instrument flight examiner 

and both, a safety and accident investigation 

officer just to name a few. As a Tennessee 

Army National Guardsman, he deployed a 

third time in 2009-10 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a 

UH-60 Blackhawk pilot-in-command. 

 Tackett replaces Chief Warrant Officer 5 

Robert V. (“R.V.”) Davis, who has held the 

post since December of 2011. Davis, an east 

Tennessee native, retires next month having held numerous positions of increased 

responsibility throughout his more than 37 

years of distinguished service in uniform. - 

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 NICK ATWOOD

(L to R) Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky L. Tackett, the incoming Command Chief 

Warrant Officer, Tennessee Army National Guard, alongside outgoing CCWO, Chief 

Warrant Officer 5 Robert V. (“R.V.”) Davis during a change of responsibility ceremony at Tennessee National Guard Headquarters on May 12, 2017.
20 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

MOUNTAIN 

RESCUE

EVACUATION

Story by MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

The Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault 

Helicopter Battalion Evacuates a sick hiker in the 

Great Smoky Mountains.
21

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - The Tennessee 

Army National Guard rescued a sick individual from Silers Bald Shelter, near the 

Tennessee state border, in the Great Smoky 

Mountains on the afternoon of April 7. 

 This is the third rescue this year for the 

1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The 

unit rescued another sick individual from 

the same location on March 29. 

 Each mission, the patients were hoisted 

into an HH-60 medical evacuation helicopter and flown from the shelter to the University of Tennessee hospital.

 In the March rescue, the National Guard 

helicopter departed Joint Base McGhee-Tyson in Knoxville, Tenn., at 9:15am and the 

entire mission was complete within an hour. 

Due to weather in April, it took about an 

hour and a half.

 Last year, the Tennessee aviators completed five rescues, an airplane crash recovery, 

and performed medical evacuations in South 

Carolina in response to hurricane relief efforts. - MASTER SGT ROBIN BROWN

Staff Sgt. Giovanni DeZuani, a 

flight paramedic with the 1/230th 

Assault Helicopter Battalion, and 

the patient are hoisted to the helicopter with Sgt. 1st Class Tracy 

Banta, also a flight paramedic 

with the 1/230th AHB tending 

the tag-line to keep them steady 

during a rescue mission from 

Silers Bald Shelter in the Great 

Smoky Mountains on April 7. 

(Photo Courtesy 230th AHB)

Staff Sgt. Giovanni DeZuani, a flight paramedic with the 1/230th Assault 

Helicopter Battalion, prepares a sick individual to be hoisted on board 

one of the unit’s medical evacuation helicopters on April 7. The individual 

was rescued from the Silers Bald Shelter in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

(Photo Courtesy 230th AHB)
22 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

What is the relationship between the military and 

national security in general and education?

Anne Haston: A strong well-equipped military is vital to today’s defense. Especially in today’s work when we have so much technology 

– today’s Soldiers and Airmen are much more educated. The requirements for their jobs have changed so much with cyber missions and 

new technology. Education is a really big piece to being able to serve 

in the military.

How does the Military Child Education Coalition 

(MCEC), help military families?

Anne Haston: The Military Child Education Coalition is a nonprofit 

that focuses on the military child’s educational experience. They create programs to support the military student and the parent and they 

have a professional development series for educators. It’s important 

that military students receive additional support because military 

families move on average every 2-3 years and a child can attend 6-9 

schools on average. During all those times of separation, especially 

deployments, they can go from an “A” student to a “B” or “C” student.

Are there things that schools and teachers should 

think about when they have children making that 

transition? 

Anne Haston: Without program-creation, if the teacher can just be 

sensitive to the fact that a new student needs to be connected to other 

students right away. The last thing you want to see is a student eating 

alone in the cafeteria.

But MCEC creates programs like that – the student-to-student program is specifically about transitioning students – not just military, 

but any students that are new to a school – partnering them with 

Mrs. Anne Haston, Spouse of TN’s Adjutant General. 

SPOTLIGHT ON 

LEADERSHIP:

INTERVIEW

In this special edition of “Spotlight On Leadership,” Rachel 

Miklaszewski of the Tennessee 

SCORE Program, interviews 

Anne Haston, spouse of TN’s 

Adjutant General and youth 

education advocate.

Anne Haston serves on the Military Child Education Coalition’s Board of Directors. As a child and youth education advocate since 1997, Mrs. Haston focuses most of 

her volunteer time on the ‘force behind the force’ – the 

military child and family. She currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Tennessee Expect More, Achieve 

More Coalition, and is president-elect for the Knoxville 

Region University of Tennessee Alumni Association Network Board. She is a mentor for the Tennessee National 

Guard Youth Action Council and serves as the Military 

Child Family Liaison for the Knox County Council PTA. 

She is married to Maj. Gen. “Max” Haston, the Adjutant 

General of the Tennessee National Guard, and they have 

one son, Travis, a recent college graduate, and one shelter 

rescue dog, Harley. Mrs. Haston is being interviewed by 

Rachel Miklaszewski, of the Tennessee SCORE Program.
23

another student so they can make friends 

more quickly. They also have parent-to-parent programs that educate the parents on 

how to best help their child – from how 

to prepare for pre-K, to how to fill out the 

FAFSA. Many of those programs go hand in 

hand with the Tennessee Promise, the Drive 

to 55. We have been in conversation with 

state leaders with implementing programs 

for Tennessee.

Your husband is a military general. Did you go through any of 

these challenges that military 

families face?

Anne Haston: [Laughs] I have been married 

to the military for 35 years. We have had the 

benefit to see what it’s like to be an active 

duty, a traditional Guard family, and a fulltime National Guard family. It’s good we 

have all three perspectives.

Our child was in middle school when his dad 

deployed to Iraq – he did not want anyone 

to know about it. If the child is in elementary school, there is a lot of talking about it, 

but in middle school, they don’t really want 

to be the center of attention. It is worrisome. 

These children grow up spending more time 

paying attention to the nightly news than 

your average child.

SCORE had an event on the connection between military and education issues – what do events 

like that do for the conversation 

in Tennessee?

Anne Haston: Anytime we come together to 

work collaboratively, that inspires us to keep 

moving forward. Our military service members truly value education for themselves 

and their children. We also noticed that 

several who attended the SCORE summit 

in December were really pleased to learn 

things they didn’t know before. We’re looking to keep moving that conversation forward with the AIM High TN initiative. It’s 

a new partnership to raise awareness of the 

importance of high-quality education and 

aligned assessments and it is also to raise 

awareness across the state about what a big 

military student and family state we are.

Finally, what’s your go-to work 

day pick-me-up?

Anne Haston: Ginger turmeric tea – but if 

I’m being really bad – it’s a chocolate mocha.

Anne Haston with her husband, 

Major General Max Haston, at the 

2015 SCORE Prize.
24 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 17 / ISSUE 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Tennessee Military Department is conducting the inaugural Adjutant General’s Leadership Academy 

this year at Montgomery Bell State Park to 

develop future leaders within the Military 

Department. 

 “With so many of our people currently 

in supervisory and management positions 

ready to retire, the Academy helps develop 

more people to be ready to step up and take 

on those leadership positions in the future,” 

said Tom Simmons, Talent Management Director for the Military Department.

 The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Max 

Haston, himself selects which applicants will 

attend the academy. Ten were selected this 

year for the one-year program that began in 

January. Other State agencies in Tennessee 

have been offering leadership academies of 

their own, but this is the first for the Military 

Department.

 “The course is designed to teach priority 

setting; determining what is urgent and what 

is important,” said Steve Chester, the Learning Facilitator Supervisor for the course.

 Overall, the Academy is designed to develop leadership abilities in ten different 

competency areas. Those areas are problem 

solving, creativity, time-management, command skills, managing vision and purpose, 

active listening, action orientation, organizational agility, integrity and trust, and developing direct reports and others.

 “The leadership abilities learned are introspective to each individual,” said Simmons. 

“It is an interactive process, not just attending a class.”

 Students are required to attend six 2-day 

summits, held every other month that are 

managed by the Department of Human Resources. In between summits, they have several books to read. Students are then placed 

in groups and must present on topics from 

the books at the summits. The second of 

these summits was conducted Montgomery 

Bell State Park in Burns, Tenn., April 10-11. 

 “The students are usually very geographically separated, so they must find a way to 

work together to accomplish this even when 

unable to meet in person,” explained Simmons. 

 “The goal is to break down the silos,” he 

added. “It enables the individuals to see 

where they fit in the bigger picture – more 

than just what they see about what they do 

in their own work areas.”

 There is a focus on two of the competency 

areas during each summit.

 Anyone who is interested in attending 

next year’s TAG Leadership Academy can 

begin applying in October 2017. It is open 

to all Tennessee National Guard members 

and Military Department State employees 

who manage people and/or programs in the 

State. - MASTER SGT ROBIN BROWN

Tennessee’s Adjutant General Hosts Inagural Leadership 

Academy at Montgomery Bell State Park.

DEVELOPING 

LEADERS 

LEADERSHIP

The class members of the inaugural 

Tennessee Adjutant General Leadership Academy at Montgomery Bell State 

Park in Burns, Tenn., on April 11. (Photo 

by Staff Sgt. William Jones)
25

 Roughly 100 years ago, more than 2,400 Tennessee Guardsmen returned to Tennessee from 

protecting the southwest border of the United 

States from Mexican raids and bandits. As part 

of a massive build-up in the summer and fall 

of 1916, they were just a few of the 150,000 

Guardsmen mobilized from across the United 

States deployed from Texas to California. 

 In The Great Call-Up, Charles Harris and 

Louis Sadler, both professors of history at New 

Mexico State University at Las Cruces, examine this mobilization and chronicle the training, missions, logistics, and impact that this 

deployment had on the Guardsmen and the 

nation, just weeks before the United States declared war against Germany and enter World 

War I. 

 Often overshadowed by the U.S. entry into 

World War I, the conflict with Mexico in 1916 

was a critical and important precursor to combat in France. Guardsmen were deployed to 

protect the border from possible incursions by 

Mexican bandits during the Mexican Revolution and a fear that Germans were conspiring 

with Mexico to reclaim U.S. territory. 

 Often told as part of Gen. John Pershing’s 

“Punitive Expedition” to hunt down and capture the Mexican Revolutionary Francisco 

“Pancho” Villa, after he crossed the border 

into Columbus, New Mexico and killed fourteen U.S. Soldiersand ten civilians on March 9, 

1916, Harris and Sadler set out to correct this 

error. They demonstrate that the border service was a significant, and separate, event from 

the Punitive Expedition and it “transformed 

the National Guard into a much more effective 

fighting force, for it was as close as the United 

States came to large-scale military maneuvers.” (8) It 

also showed the Mexican government that the United States was serious about protecting its southern 

border and citizens.

 In order to examine this event, Harris and Sadler 

break their 559 page volume into two parts. First, the 

“Border Problem,” looks at the crisis and the reasons 

for why and how the guardsmen were deployed. At 

only 62 pages, it explains that by the time the Guardsmen arrive in the southwest, much of the border crisis was over. There was little threat remaining and 

the Guardsmen were disappointed that they could 

not enter Mexico and participate in the Punitive Expedition, because federal law prohibited Guardsmen 

from leaving the United States. 

 The second part of the book, “Border Service,” 

makes up the bulk of the work and is painstakingly 

detailed in the training and service of the 47 different states that served. Almost encyclopedic, it thoroughly looks at what the various states did, how they 

impacted the communities that supported them, and 

how their training was important to prepare them 

for the war in Europe. 

 Overall, this work is a very detailed text that fully covers the massive topic in just one volume. With 

its readable style and pacing, the authors masterfully 

synthesize a tremendous amount of primary sources 

that have rarely been used before. 

 I would strongly recommend this work to anyone 

interested in the history of the National Guard’s service along the U.S.-Mexico border in 1916 as well as 

those interested in the history of the National Guard 

in World War I. It is well written and thoroughly researched, and will stand as a key work in the historiography of National Guard history.

- MAJ DARRIN HAAS

THE GREAT CALL-UP

The Great Call-Up:

The Guard, the Border, 

and the Mexican 

Revolution.

By Charles H. Harris III 

and Louis R. Sadler. 

Norman: University of 

Oklahoma Press, 2015. 

BOOK REVIEW

Maj. Darrin Haas Gives his Review of:

* Maj. Darrin Haas is the Historian for the Tennessee Military Dept.
Produced in collaboration with the Tennessee Military Department 

and the Tennessee National Guard