APRIL 2018 VOLUME 18 ISSUE 2

THE VOLUNTEER STATE

guard

magazine

BORN FOR A STORM: PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON - PG 18

AIRMAN

NEXT-GEN

164TH AIRMAN’S IDEA FOR THE

FUTURE OF THE AIR FORCE
2 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

COVER STORY

Memphis Airman, Master Sgt. Thomas Crider (right), the superintendent for the Maintenance Operations Center at the 164th AW, 

developed a maintenance operations and 

training augmented reality (MOTAR) system. (Cover illustration by Rob Pennington)

08

Next-Gen 

Airman: 

Master Sgt. 

Thomas Crider

18

Born for a 

Storm: Maj. 

Gen. Andrew 

Jackson

26

Patriot 

South 18 

Exercise

14

Saving Lives 

After Death: 

TN National 

Guard Soldier, Matthan 

Fish

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 

WRITERS

ILLUSTRATION

MAJ. (RET) RANDY HARRIS

ROB PENNINGTON

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 NICK ATWOOD

MAJ. DARRIN HAAS 

MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

SGT. 1ST CLASS WILLIAM JONES

ROB PENNINGTON

MAJ. (RET) RANDY HARRIS 

LT. COL. JAY DEASON

SENIOR MASTER SGT. KENDRA OWENBY

SENIOR AIRMAN LEON BUSSEY

MAJ. DARRIN HAAS

MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

SENIOR AIRMAN ANTHONY AGOSTI

SENIOR AIRMAN LEON BUSSEY

GRANT ROBINSON

AJ MAZZOLINI

ROB PENNINGTON

MASTER SGT. JEREMY CORNELIUS

DAVE ROBERTS

VOLUME 18 ISSUE 2

CONTENTS VSG

tnmilitary.org

8 NEXT-GEN AIRMAN APRIL, 2018

164th Air Wing Airman, Master Sgt. Thomas Crider’s Idea for the Future 

of the Air Force using Augmented Reality.

12 FOUNDATION HONORS TAG

Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston Receives the National Guard

Youth Foundation’s Leadership Award.

13 ALWAYS AT THE READY

The Importance of Being Ready for the War Fight.

14 SAVING LIVES AFTER DEATH

Tennessee National Guard Soldier, Matthan Fish, Helps Others 

Even after his Death.

16 PREDS SHOW OF SUPPORT

Nashville Predators Honor Military Generals at Pregame Reception 

during Military Appreciation Week.

18 BORN FOR A STORM

We explore the Military Career of Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson.

25 TRUE STORIES OF VOLUNTEER VALOR

The Illustrated Comic of Sgt. Joseph Adkinson’s Bravery during WWI 

from which he was Awarded the Medal of Honor.

26 PATRIOT SOUTH 18

Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing Participates

in Patriot South 18 Exercise in Memphis.

28 FUTURE VERTICAL LIFT

Tennessee Army National Guard Soldier Selected for the Future Vertical Lift Program.

30 BOOK REVIEW

Maj. Darrin Haas Gives his Review of 

One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine 

Officer.
4 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

BG JOHNSON RETIREMENT

Feb. 10, 2018 - Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General (left), presents 

a certificate of retirement to Brig. Gen. Donald Johnson, former assistant Adjutant 

General for the Tennessee Air National Guard, during Johnson’s retirement ceremony. 

PHOTO BY: SENIOR MASTER SGT. KENDRA OWENBY

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
5

TN GUARD IN THE DEEP SOUTH

Jan. 9, 2018 - Master Sgt. Pat McLaughlin of the 134th Maintenance Group during 

support of OPERATION DEEP FREEZE at the South Pole. As Maj. Gen. Haston 

always says, “the sun never sets on the Tennessee National Guard.” 

PHOTO BY: 134TH MAINTENANCE GROUP

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
6

RAM MISSION IN KNOXVILLE

Feb. 3, 2018 - Remote Area Medical (RAM) missions bring affordable, accessible, 

quality medical services to remote Tennessee areas. Tennessee State Guard’s 3rd 

Regiment provided RAM assistance in Knoxville, Tenn. on Feb. 3 and 4.

PHOTO BY: TENNESSEE STATE GUARD

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
7 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

SUNRISE AT MCGHEE TYSON

Jan. 26, 2018 - A beautiful morning from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in 

East Tennessee.

PHOTO BY: 134TH AIR REFUELING WING

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
8 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

Memphis Airmen, Master Sgt. Thomas Crider, the 

superintendent for the Maintenance Operations 

Center at the 164th AW, developed a maintenance operations and training augmented reality 

(MOTAR) system. (Illustration by Rob Pennington)

AIRMAN

NEXT-GEN

STORY BY MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

164TH AIRMAN’S IDEA FOR THE FUTURE OF THE AIR FORCE
9

An Airman from the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th 

Airlift Wing was one of six finalists in the Air Force’s 

Spark Tank Competition and showcased his idea at the 

Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium on Feb. 

22, in Orlando, Fla. 

 Memphis resident, Master Sgt. Thomas Crider, the superintendent 

for the Maintenance Operations Center at the 164th AW, developed 

a maintenance operations and training augmented reality (MOTAR) 

system. The system is like something you would expect to be developed by Tony Stark in “Iron Man”.

 “It involves using augmented reality goggles, which are worn over 

the eyes, that allow you to see through them and still interact with 

your environment while having data and graphics over what you are 

seeing,” said Crider, who has been part of the aircraft maintenance 

career field since he joined the Air Force in 1991. He also worked as 

an IT programmer, implementing computerized radiography for six 

years between his time serving with the active component and when 

he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard in 1999.

 With MOTAR, when a maintainer is performing a task, they will 

save time from having to look at manuals or a computer by having the 

information right in front of them while they are working. 

 “Time is a commodity that we cannot produce more of; but we 

can implement innovations that reduce the time required to perform 

certain tasks,” he said.

OFF THE SHELF TECH

While this seems like futuristic technology, Crider’s innovation is 

based on off-the-shelf, already commercially available merchandise 

systems such as the Microsoft HoloLens and the HTC View. By using what is already available, integration is cheaper and production is 

faster. Interfacing existing augmented reality systems with interactive 

electronic technical manual data unveils a host of new possibilities to 

maintainers, operators and trainees by enhancing ergonomics in the 

work environment.

 “We’re not reinventing the wheel. We are moving forward with 

technologies we’re already using and that our maintainers are already 

familiar with,” he said. “I have started to develop the actual applications that will be used to bring this from my vision to a reality.”
10 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

CONCEPT TO REALITY

Crider can speak to the utilization of 

this technology in his Air National 

Guard career field because he has already conducted some proof of concept 

testing. He is also working with a consultant in Silicon Valley to further produce MOTAR and get it into the hands 

of military maintainers faster.

 “I came up with the initial concept 

back in the late 1990s,” he said. “I was 

very interested in virtual reality applications.” 

 After some technological advancements over the years, he was able to start 

developing concepts and putting his 

ideas to work in 2010. He first proposed 

the MOTAR concept in 2011 and began 

presenting it for the C-17 maintenance 

community in 2012.

 Due to overwhelming support from 

his command on his idea, he was able 

to continue to develop his concept and 

practice with an actual 

product in his work area. 

He has also put it into the 

hands of his fellow Airmen.

 “Because of the visual and audible cues, there 

will be a reduced likelihood of missed steps,” said 

Lt. Col. Johnny Howard, 

commander, 164th Maintenance Group. “It will greatly enhance aircraft system 

troubleshooting procedures, and has the potential 

to change the way we do 

business in aircraft maintenance.”

 The system keeps the user’s hands free to perform 

their work. This is a huge advancement for the safety of 

personnel not only in maintenance, but in other career 

fields as well. Augmented 

reality systems restore readiness by improving mission 

safety, efficiency and capability across 

multiple weapons systems.

 By superimposing computer graphics 

and technical data over the real-world, 

while still allowing the user to interact 

with the world around them, augmented 

reality provides tangible benefits to Airmen performing technical tasks, making the delivery of technical data seamless and non-obtrusive. For example, 

through the use of overlaid graphics, 

text and video, maintainers can highlight dangerous areas to avoid around 

aircraft.

 “When approaching a running engine, you can have a red line rotating 

around the engine, showing you where 

the danger zones are,” said Crider. “Or, 

when an aircraft is running radar, you 

could have a virtual coordinate to keep 

people from wandering into an area that 

they’re not supposed to wander into.”

Master Sgt. Crider’s innovation is 

based on off-the-shelf, already commercially available merchandise systems such as the Microsoft HoloLens.

Master Sgt. Thomas Crider

NEXT-GEN AIRMAN
11

SPARKING THE FUTURE

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson first announced the 

Air Force’s Spark Tank competition during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 18, 2017.

 The competition was conducted in a multi-step approach 

starting with participants submitting their idea through a website. Each major command selected two innovative ideas within their commands to compete at the headquarters level.

 When Wilson spoke at the 2017 Logistics Officer Association Symposium on Nov. 17, 2017, she said, “Logistics and 

maintenance win wars. What new tools will change the air 

dominance...ask yourself that and then go out and build it.”

 MOTAR is a solution. Augmented reality is a game-changing technology that will have sweeping ramifications across the 

Air Force enterprise.

 “This system will speed up training, improve maintenance 

velocity and improve operational safety in a cost effective way, 

while restoring our readiness and modernizing the Air Force, 

no, ‘futurizing’ the Air Force,” said Crider.

 “The pace of change is accelerating and the Air Force knows 

the next generation of innovators are the ones who will take us 

into our future,” Wilson said. “I know the true source of our 

military might is not merely in the investments we make but 

in the courage and ingenuity of our people, and the innovative 

spirit that has made our Armed Forces the envy of the world.”

Microsoft HoloLens

Starting at around $3,000, the Microsoft HoloLens offers a mixed reality environment. The device brings 

people, places, and objects from physical and digital 

worlds together.

The device is made up of specialized components 

that together enable holographic computing. The 

HPU that makes light work of processing a large 

amount of data per second.

Containing more computing power than the average 

laptop, Microsoft HoloLens is passively cooled without fans. With no wires, external cameras, or phone 

or PC connection required, you can move freely and 

self-contained.

(Photo Courtesy Microsoft Corporation)

The Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium was 

held on Feb. 22, in Orlando, Fla. 
12 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston, the Tennessee Adjutant 

General, received the National Guard Youth 

Foundation’s Leadership Award at the foundation’s 13th Annual ChalleNGe Champions Recognition Reception on Feb. 20 at the 

InterContinental Washington, D.C.—The 

Wharf.

 Joining Haston were other award recipients: Roger Lotson, who has been named 

the Program Director of the Year, and Mrs. 

Chandra Bynes, who was honored as Teacher of the Year. Lotson runs the Youth ChalleNGe Academy at Fort Stewart, Ga. Bynes 

is a teacher in the Georgia academy.

 “These individuals work tirelessly to improve the lives of young people participating in the ChalleNGe program,” said retired 

Brig Gen. Allyson Solomon, the foundation 

president. “They are strong advocates for 

the advancement of the program within the 

community. They are also representative of 

many who share this duty and responsibility 

to our nation’s youth.”

 The contributions of former Sen. Sam 

Nunn of Georgia were recognized, as were 

selected alumni of the program.

 Since the program’s creation in 1993, it has 

grown to 40 programs in 28 states, Puerto 

Rico and Washington, D.C., and has helped 

more than 155,000 high-school dropouts 

reach graduation day. More information is 

at www.ngyf.org.

- NGAUS.ORG

Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston Receives the National Guard 

Youth Foundation’s Leadership Award.

FOUNDATION 

HONORS TAG

Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston, 

Tennessee Adjutant General and 

Commissioner of the Tennessee 

Military Department (2nd from 

the right) is presented the Leadership Award for his work in establishing the Tennessee National Guard’s Volunteer ChalleNGe 

Academy.

YOUTH PROGRAM
13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Being in a constant 

state of readiness requires a great deal of 

work and diligence. The 118th Wing is going 

to great efforts in making sure their Airmen 

have the proper training essential to staying 

ready.

 “Any time we can get Airmen out here on 

days, anytime that we can facilitate training 

with another unit, anytime at the very least 

send them to a specialized class at another 

location, that’s what we will commit to doing,” said Senior Master Sgt. Keith Jefferson, 

the operations superintendent within the 

118th Mission Support Group Communications Flight. “That’s what we will spend our 

days and dollars for.” 

 “Just like the Wing, the Air Force sets us 

up for success; we get all this training for a 

reason,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Kinzer, the installation deployment officer for the Wing. 

“The more we soak up and practice it and 

apply it, the better chances we have to meet 

our goals.”

 The 118th Wing has put such a high value 

on readiness, they will do whatever it takes 

to make sure their Airmen are trained and 

ready for their missions.

 “We’ve had partnerships with other sister units, the 134th Air Refueling Wing and 

164th Airlift Wing,” said Jefferson. “We’ve 

had training collaborating with them so 

we’re not reinventing the wheel; we are kind 

of putting our heads together.”

 “As a Wing I feel very confident we are 

prepared to support the 

warfighting effort at a 

high level,” said Kinzer. 

“Leadership would bend 

over backwards to get 

whatever they needed to 

be successful.”

 Continuation training 

and career field advancement are a prime focus of 

the Wing, said Col. Keith 

Allbritten, the 118th 

Wing commander. This 

type of training works 

best when done by the 

people working closest 

with the Airmen. 

 “Probably the most important training is the 

training they get within 

their own squadron, and 

from their peers and their 

supervisors,” said Kinzer. 

 “That’s how it gets passed down. We don’t 

want anybody without the expertise to do 

their job,” said Jefferson. “Our goal is to 

have them trained to where if you asked him 

something specific to their area, you can 

pretty much perform that function.”

With all the focus on training and readiness, 

people in the Wing feel confident they can 

successfully carry out the war effort in a 

global environment. 

 The training has been pretty spot on, said 

Senior Airman Jeffery Shinholster, a fleet 

management and analysis Airman from the 

118th Logistics Readiness Squadron. When 

you deploy, it helps to remember your training. 

“All the efforts that we are putting in place 

now, I think they are going to make a big 

difference. They’re going to make a huge difference,” said Jefferson. “The 118th always 

shows up and makes things happen.” 

- SENIOR AIRMAN ANTHONY AGOSTI

The Importance of Being Ready for the War Fight.

ALWAYS AT 

THE READY

118TH WING

Above: For a military member, one always has to be 

prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice. In order to 

do that, service members constantly have to be primed 

and ready for the war fight. (U.S. Air National Guard 

photo illustration by Master Sgt. Jeremy Cornelius)
14 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

Tennessee National Guard Soldier, Matthan Fish, 

helps others even after his death.

SAVING LIVES

AFTER DEATH

Story by GRANT ROBINSON / wbir.com

A Tennessee Soldier is saving lives, even after his death. 

 Matthan Fish, who served as a non-commissioned officer with the Tennessee Army 

National Guard, died Feb. 6 after being on 

life support for days following a traumatic 

motorcycle crash on Feb. 1. Because he had 

chosen to be an organ donor, a Veteran will 

receive Fish’s kidney, up to 50 people will 

benefit from tissue donation and up to eight 

others will receive lifesaving organ transplants.

 “This is what he signed up for. He’s a real 

American hero,” Fish’s father, Robert Fish, 

said.

 Twenty-eight-year-old Matthan Fish was 

a driver in Fox Troop 2-278 ACR and served 

in Iraq. His father said he trained countless 

other Soldiers, including the one who revived him the night of the motorcycle wreck.

 The Soldier was riding on the back of 

Fish’s motorcycle when they crashed in 

Cumberland County.

 “Matthan’s body was laying over there 

in the ditch, lifeless. So his friend ran over 

there, then he began CPR, got Matthan 

breathing again,” Robert Fish said. “Matthan 
15

MATTHAN FISH

trained him how to saves lives and here he 

saves Matthan’s life and got him to this hospital alive so I could talk to him before he 

left.”

 Robert Fish said more than 100 Soldiers 

visited his son while he was on life support, 

and each shared how he had shaped their 

lives.

 “Some said ‘that’s my brother.’ And some 

said ‘that’s my dad.’ And that boy on the motorcycle, he said ‘that was the only dad I ever 

had,’” Robert Fish said.

 Fish had chosen to be an organ donor on 

his driver’s license. 

 Billy Jarvis, with Tennessee Donor Services, says more than 3,000 people in Tennessee are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Fish’s family has arranged for a Veteran to 

receive Fish’s kidney.

 “He was self-sacrificial,” Robert Fish said. 

“He was an all-American hero, and I mean 

that. I think he had red, white and blue going through his veins.”

Sgt. Matthan Fish

“This is 

what he 

signed 

up for. 

He’s 

a real 

American 

hero” 

UT Medical Center in Knoxville, celebrated the life of 

Iraq War Veteran, Matthan 

Fish, on Feb. 6. Fish chose 

to continue saving others, 

even after his death. It was 

the first flag raising ceremony held at the hospital 

in honor of a Veteran organ 

donor.

(Photo courtesy wvlt.com)
16 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Amid the myriad of 

festivities of the Nashville Predators Ford 

Military Appreciation Week, Lt. Gen. Keith 

Huber compiled his own list of things he 

most appreciates.

 Surrounded by his family, fellow service 

members and Preds staff Thursday, the recently retired officer summed it up succinctly: “We appreciate this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of our families to allow us 

to continue to serve,” he said.

 During a pregame reception at Bridgestone Arena, the Predators honored Huber 

and Tennessee’s Maj. Gen. Max Haston for 

their years of military service with personalized Preds jerseys. The ceremony was part of 

the team’s weeklong recognition of the military, presented by Ford.

 While the Preds hold nightly salutes to 

military members during each home game, 

Predators President and CEO Sean Henry 

said such a week is an opportunity for the 

hockey team and the Nashville Predators 

Foundation to better honor those who protect this country and make such activities 

possible.

 “They sacrifice for all of us, oftentimes 

at the sacrifice of their own families,” Henry 

said. “If we don’t get together and celebrate 

them, thank them and tangibly show it by 

leveraging the passion our fans have for our 

logo, then we’re not living the right way.”

 Tennessee National Guard vehicles greetNashville Predators Honor Military Generals at Pregame 

Reception during Military Appreciation Week.

PREDS SHOW 

OF SUPPORT

APPRECIATION
17

ed fans on the Bridgestone Arena Plaza all 

week, and each game has featured several salutes to active service members and military 

Veterans alike.

 Thursday’s ceremony celebrated Huber’s 

38 years of active duty with the Army Special Forces Green Berets. Henry presented 

Huber and Haston with specialized Nashville jerseys bearing their military call signs.

 Huber’s No. 3 jersey read “H3,” while 

Haston’s No. 6 was emblazoned with “Volunteer.”

 “It’s great to live in a country and know 

that we’re protected and have the right to do 

things like professional sports, bring communities together and live the life that we 

all live,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was on hand as part of a separate 

lifetime achievement celebration for Preds 

General Manager David Poile. “We do not 

have that without your service.”

 Military appreciation ceremonies are 

among the many community-oriented 

events the Preds emphasize throughout the 

year. And among the most important, Henry added.

 “You’d be cold inside if it didn’t change 

you. It’s the best thing we do,” he said. “Winning games is wonderful, booking shows 

is great, watching people’s careers 

grow is wonderful, but it all pales 

in comparison by knowing we can 

change the community by engaging 

our players and their generosity.”

Story by by AJ Mazzolini / NashvillePredators.com

Photos by Maj. (Ret) Randy Harris

Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, accepts a 

Nashville Predators jersey 

“Volunteer 6” on behalf of the 

men and women of the Tenn. National Guard. Pictured from (L to 

R) are National Hockey League 

Commissioner, Gary Bettman, 

Lt. Gen. (Ret) Keith Huber, Maj. 

Gen. Haston, and Owner/Chairman of the Nashville Predators, 

Tom Cigarran. 
18 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

When Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson overwhelmingly defeated a Veteran British Army at the Battle of New Orleans on 

January 8, 1815, he was celebrated as a hero and savior 

of the city. Afterwards, the citizens of the United States 

celebrated January 8 as a second Independence Day. 

This victory and newfound national celebrity helped propel Jackson to the presidency, but the victory against the 

British was so lopsided, it almost seemed impossible. The 

British lost over 2000 Soldiers compared to just a handful 

of Americans. Some historians couldn’t understand how 

Jackson could accomplish such a feat as a militiaman with 

no formal military training. A few argued that “Jackson was 

lucky.” But Jackson’s military career and experience is not 

as sparse as some believe. His success, national acclaim, 

and election as the 7th President of the United States rests 

squarely on his military exploits, prowess, and service in 

the Tennessee Militia. 

MAJ. GEN. ANDREW JACKSON
19

Equestrian statue of Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, 

one of four identical statues in the U.S. erected 

after Jackson’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans. (Illustration by Rob Pennington)

STORY BY MAJ DARRIN HAAS
20 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

Becoming a Soldier

Andrew Jackson was exposed to militia service and the horrors of warfare at an early 

age. Born in 1767 and raised in the Waxhaw 

settlement, a frontier area of South Carolina, there was a constant threat of Indian 

attack. Jackson was raised fearing the possibility and taught how to protect himself; 

he learned how to make and fire a bow and 

arrow, as well as to shoot firearms. 

 Once the Revolutionary War began, 

Jackson and his older brother, Robert, began drilling with the local militia. Only 10 

years old and with his mother’s support, he 

learned military commands and basic tactics. Jackson came “to appreciate the value 

and necessity of the militia.” It wouldn’t be 

long before he got his first taste of combat. 

In 1780, British Soldiers attacked Jackson’s 

hometown. Approximately 110 Patriots 

were killed and 150 wounded in what is 

now called the Waxhaw Massacre. The town 

meetinghouse became a temporary hospital 

and 13-year-old Jackson helped tend to the 

wounded.

 Following the massacre, Col. William 

Davie, and a small force, came to Waxhaw 

intent on avenging the attack. Jackson and 

his brother joined the unit as messengers. 

They would ride with Davie and were with 

him at the Battle of Hanging Rock. Afterwards, he and his brother returned home 

to help defend their settlements. Jackson 

helped ward off various attacks. One night, 

he was helping guard the house of a “staunch 

Whig,” when they were attacked by Tories. 

Jackson exchanged rifle fire with the Tories 

and a fellow guard was shot and killed by 

Jackson’s side. 

 Later, Jackson and his brother were 

searching for food in a local home when 

they were captured by British dragoons and 

taken prisoner. The dragoon’s commanding officer demanded that Jackson clean 

his boots, but he calmly refused. Angry by 

Jackson’s reply, the officer slashed at Jackson’s head with his sword. Jackson ducked 

and threw up his left hand to protect himself, receiving a deep gash on his head and 

fingers; it would be a scar he’d carry for the 

rest of his life. 

 Jackson and his brother, along with 20 

other captives, were then jailed in Camden, 

S.C. The conditions were horrible. They 

were robbed, mistreated, and eventually 

contracted small pox. Luckily, their mother 

helped arrange a prisoner transfer, but two 

days after being released, Robert died from 

his wounds and disease. It took Jackson 

months to recover from his. Unfortunately, Jackson’s mother died of cholera shortly 

afterwards, leaving him an orphan and Veteran at the age of 15. 

 For the next few years, Jackson lived off 

his small inheritance until he began studying law at 17. It was reported that during 

this time, he was sometimes attacked by Indians while traveling. It was written that, “he 

would instinctively take command of the 

party and conduct the defensive actions.” 

 After earning the right to practice law, 

Jackson was offered a position as public 

prosecutor in western Tennessee and he set 

off for Nashville in 1788.

 In Nashville, he helped defend the settlement like most men of the time. He aided in 

“garrisoning the forts, and in pursuing and 

chastising the enemy.” When he first arrived 

in Nashville, he took part in a punitive expedition against the Cherokee Indians. Part of 

a 60-70 man company, Pvt. Jackson helped 

attack a Cherokee camp, resulting in several enemies killed and the capture of most of 

their equipment. Considered his first Indian fight in Tennessee, he was called, “bold, 

dashing, fearless, and mad upon his enePortrait of young Andrew Jackson.

BORN FOR A STORM

Pair of Jackson’s pistols on 

display at the Hermitage.
21

mies.” 

 Over the next seven years, Jackson made 

22 known trips through Tennessee traveling 

to build his legal business. He often came 

into contact with hostile Indians and would 

command the traveling party’s defense. Jackson earned a reputation as a capable Indian 

fighter. In 1792, Governor William Blount 

appointed Jackson as the judge advocate for 

a cavalry regiment in Davidson County at 

the rank of Major. It was Jackson’s first official position and recognized his long service 

volunteering in the armed militia. 

 For the next two years, Jackson continued 

defending his home against Indian attacks. 

In 1794, he helped plan and participated in 

the Nickajack campaign which destroyed 

two Cherokee towns. The campaign pacified the Indian threat around Nashville and 

Jackson showed “good conduct,” during the 

campaign. 

Major General and 

Commander of the Militia

Jackson was a delegate to Tennessee’s constitutional convention and on June 1, 1796, 

George Washington made Tennessee the 

16th state. Jackson was elected to be Tennessee’s single congressman in the U.S. House 

of Representatives. Before leaving for Washington, he made a daring attempt to win an 

election as the Major General for the Tennessee State Militia, but was narrowly defeated.

 As a congressman, Jackson chaired a 

committee submitting a bill recommending 

the full compensation for Tennessee’s militia campaign against the Cherokee in 1793, 

where they attacked several hostile Indian 

towns. The bill passed. This act greatly raised 

Jackson’s popularity among the militia. He 

also managed to get the federal government 

to pay those who participated in the Nickajack expedition.

 After his congressional term was complete, Jackson was elected to the U.S. Senate 

but resigned the next year without an explanation and returned to Tennessee. He was 

then appointed as a State Superior Court 

Judge.

 As a Judge, he often traveled the state 

hearing cases. He used the opportunity to 

meet with and listen to the complaints of 

militia leaders, showing his concern and 

building friendships. In 1802, Jackson ran 

again for command of the Tennessee militia, but his opponent was Gen. John Sevier, 

a former Governor and the “Hero of King’s 

Mountain.” When the results were in, it was 

declared a tie. Governor Archibald Roane, 

then became the deciding vote, and since he 

was a good friend of Jackson’s, Jackson became a Major General at the age of 35. 

 Jackson and Sevier would feud over the 

election as well as other political issues, even 

after Sevier was elected as Governor a second time. Their feud ultimately resulted in a 

duel near the end of 1803. Neither man was 

injured.

 As a Major General, Jackson quickly 

looked and acted the part, silencing any critic. He showed concern for his Soldiers and 

demanded respect through his leadership. 

According to one historian, “he brought 

a higher level of discipline to the militia.” 

Over the next several years, Jackson held 

regular drills and managed the business of 

commanding the militia with skill. He dealt 

quickly with unlawful activities along the 

frontier between Indians and settlers. One 

of Jackson’s first duties was to stop a major 

from organizing an unlawful punitive raid 

on some Indians camps.

Old Hickory

In May of 1812, Jackson learned that Creek 

Indians had killed civilians and taken a 

woman captive at a settlement on the Duck 

River in Humphreys County. Jackson was 

angered and pledged to quickly raise 2,500 

competent Soldiers to “carry fire and sword 

to the heart of the Creek Nation,” as pun-
22 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

BORN FOR A STORM

ishment. He made preparations to lead the 

punitive expedition, but before he could get 

his revenge, he heard that the Duck River 

massacre participants were killed by a Creek 

War party and the woman had escaped.

 Next, Jackson learned that the United States 

had declared war against Great Britain and 

his forces were now needed elsewhere. He 

offered 2,500 volunteers to the President but 

Tennessee was not asked for volunteers until October. The President eventually asked 

the Governor for 1,500 men to defend New 

Orleans from a southern invasion. Jackson 

was given command and a commission as a 

Major General of United States volunteers to 

lead the force.

 He assembled two divisions in Nashville, 

over 2,000 Soldiers in total. He acquired 

the necessary supplies, transportation, and 

made sure Soldiers had arms and clothing 

for a five to six month expedition. On January 7, 1813, the Governor ordered him to 

move south. The mounted infantry and cavalry traveled by land while the riflemen, accompanied by Jackson, traveled by boat. All 

forces were to rendezvous in Natchez, Miss., 

before continuing to New Orleans. 

 Once in Natchez, Jackson was ordered 

to halt and await further orders. He and his 

army established a camp a few miles from 

the town and stayed there for weeks waiting. Orders eventually came in March and 

Jackson was enraged. The Secretary of War 

dismissed Jackson’s force from service, saying that they were no longer needed. Jackson 

was to turn over all property to Gen. James 

Wilkinson in New Orleans and his troops 

were to fend for themselves in Natchez. 

Jackson decided to disobey the order. He felt 

that “those brave fellows who followed me at 

the call of their country, deserve more from 

their government.” He decided to march his 

entire force home and at his own expense. 

 When Jackson’s Army set out for Nashville on foot, there were 150 men on the sick 

list. Many could not even sit upright. With 

only 11 wagons to transport them, Jackson 

ordered all of his officers to give up their 

horses to the sick. Jackson had three personal horses and he surrendered them all. 

Jackson walked alongside his Soldiers every 

day, cheering them on. In a letter to his wife 

Rachael, he wrote, “it is therefore my duty 

to act as a father to the sick and to the well 

and stay with them until I march them into 

Nashville.” 

 Jackson supervised the distribution of rations and encouraged his men to keep going. 

The Soldiers admired Jackson’s strength and 

concern for his men. Trying to determine 

what the toughest thing they could think of 

was, they started saying that Jackson was, 

“tough as hickory.” Soon the Soldiers just 

started calling him “Hickory” and later added the prefix “Old,” giving Jackson the nickname he would carry for the rest of his life. 

 The march moved quickly and within a 

month the Army returned to Nashville. The 

stories of Jackson’s conduct circulated rapidly and soon all of Tennessee knew his nickname. One Tennessee paper wrote, “Long 

will their General live in the memory of his 

volunteers... for his benevolence, humane, 

and fatherly treatment to his Soldiers.” He 

was now considered, “the most beloved and 

esteemed of private citizens in western Tennessee.” 

 Jackson sent his Soldiers home and began 

preparations for a possible return to war. At 

age 46, he became a proud father figure to 

those in the militia and the public. He was 

not aware that his greatest feats were still 

ahead of him. 

Off to War

On August 18, 1813, a militant group of 

Creek Indians, called Red Sticks, attacked 

and killed hundreds of American settlers 

at Fort Mims. Tennesseans were infuriated. 

The Governor ordered Jackson to call out 

the militia to punish the Creeks for the massacre. Jackson was excited, he now had the 

opportunity to get “vengeance and atonement” for the Duck River Massacre and this 

recent attack.

 With his arm in a sling from being shot in 

the shoulder and arm during a recent duel, 

Jackson took command of his force and 

headed south, intent on rendezvousing with 

other forces in Northern Alabama. Jackson’s 

force got there quickly, and after setting up 

Fort Deposit, and later Fort Strother, Jackson attacked the nearby Creek village of Tallushatchee, containing 200 hostile warriors. 

With 1,000 Soldiers, he surrounded the village and slaughtered all the inhabitants. Pvt. 

David Crockett, who would become a TenGeneral Andrew Jackson at 

the Battle of New Orleans.
23

nessee congressman and die at the Alamo, 

said, “We shot them like dogs.” 

 Next, Jackson attacked the town of Talladega, which was under siege by 1,000 enemy 

warriors. He attacked the enemy force with 

2,000 Soldiers, killing 300 hostile Indians. 

Unfortunately, over the next month and a 

half, Jackson’s Army met with disaster. Enlistments expired, Soldiers went home, and 

supplies were scarce. Jackson did not have 

the men or food to continue fighting. His 

Army almost completely dissolved until 800 

raw recruits joined his forces at Fort Strother. 

 Jackson then went back on the offensive. 

While heading to attack a fortified Creek 

camp at Horseshoe Bend, he met and engaged a hostile force at Emuckfaw Creek. 

Jackson’s Army was attacked but the battle 

ended in a stalemate. Realizing he did not 

have enough Soldiers to press the attack, he 

retired to await reinforcements. On his return to camp, his force was again attacked 

by the Red Sticks at Enotachopco Creek. 

He managed to organize his Soldiers for a 

defense and fought off the attackers. Jackson lost several Soldiers, 20 killed and 75 

wounded, but also killed 200 Red Sticks.

 Next, he gathered reinforcements and 

trained his Soldiers. By March, he had 5,000 

troops under his command. On March 14, 

Jackson and his Army began moving on 

Horseshoe Bend to attack a force of 1,000 

Red Stick warriors. They moved cautiously 

and on the 27th, attacked. He had the enemy surrounded and his forces assailed mercilessly. When it was over, Jackson wrote 

that, “the carnage was awful.” His army had 

killed roughly 900 Red Sticks and invariably 

crushed the Creek Nation.

 When Jackson’s forces left Horseshoe 

Bend, they destroyed every village they came 

across. On April 17, Jackson converged on 

the Hickory Ground where he started collecting surrendering Indians and began negotiations with the defeated Creeks. Soon, 

Jackson turned over negotiations to Gen. 

Thomas Pinckney and then marched his 

Soldiers home.

 Jackson returned to Nashville for a hero’s 

welcome. For his victory over the Creeks, he 

was offered the rank of Brigadier General in 

the U.S. Army with a brevet to Major General. Jackson was outraged and thought it was 

an insult. A few weeks later, he was offered 

the full rank of Major General and he accepted it. Jackson was then put in command 

of the 7th Military District which covered 

the southeast United States with his first task 

being to take over the peace negotiations 

with the Creeks.

 At the negotiations, Jackson secured over 

20 million acres of land from the Creeks, 

the largest amount of land surrendered 

to the United States by any southeastern 

tribe. Next, he turned his attention to defending the Southeast from a British invasion. First, he went to Mobile, Ala., and 

strengthened their defenses. In October, 

he turned his attention to Pensacola, Fla., 

which was under Spanish control. They 

were neutral, but Jackson felt they were 

harboring British Soldiers and a British attack would originate there. In November, 

Jackson attacked Pensacola and drove the 

British out. He then returned control of the 

city to the Spanish governor.

 Next, Jackson learned that the British 

were about to launch a full scale invasion 

of New Orleans. He hurriedly moved west, 

first reinforcing Mobile, and then set up 

defenses in New Orleans. By mid-December, the British anchored in Mississippi 

Sound and started deploying troops 10 miles 

below New Orleans. From there, the British 

launched a series of strikes against the city. 

Jackson defended it by using a mixture of 

militiamen from various states, regulars, 

pirates, locals and freedmen. On January 

8, the British attempted a frontal assault on 

Jackson’s lines which turned out to be disastrous. The British suffered 2,000 casualties 

compared to 16 American casualties. At the 

time, the Treaty of Ghent had already been 

signed and the War of 1812 was virtually 

over. 

 Overnight, Jackson became the Hero of 

New Orleans. It was one of the few victories 

during the War of 1812, and it made Jackson 

a national celebrity.

 After the war, the Army was downsized 

into just the northern and southern division, 

with Jackson commanding the south. His 

headquarters was established at his home in 

Nashville.

 One of his most important undertakings 

in this post was to build a military road that 

ran through the former hostile Indian territory. It took two years to complete and extended 483 miles. 

The treaty signing between Gen. Andrew Jackson 

and Creek leader William Weatherford. Courtesy 

of Alabama Department of Archives and History
24 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

Fighting in Florida

Jackson’s final military campaign was into 

Florida. He was infuriated by the existence 

of a runaway slave fort close to the Gulf of 

Mexico and that Seminole raids along the 

Georgia-Florida border were worsening. 

Jackson took measures to eliminate the 

threats. He had the slave fort destroyed and 

then tried to have a Seminole Chief arrested 

for not following the Creek treaties. The arrest resulted in a battle at the village of Fowltown, thus starting the First Seminole War.

 In March 1818, Jackson led a force into 

Florida to subdue the Seminole threat. He 

destroyed the towns of Tallahassee and 

Miccosukee after occupying and claiming 

the old Negro Fort. Then Jackson marched 

on St. Marks, where he seized the Spanish 

Fort. Next, Jackson left St. Marks to attack 

villages along the Suwannee River, destroying the major Seminole and black villages. 

He declared victory and then returned to St. 

Marks, where he executed two British subjects for reportedly aiding the Seminoles 

and inciting them to war against the United 

States.

 Jackson left troops to garrison St. Marks 

and returned to Fort Gadsden, Fla. He heard 

that Indians were gathering in Pensacola. In 

May, Jackson left Fort Gadsden with 1,000 

Soldiers to destroy them. When Jackson 

reached Pensacola, he attacked, forcing the 

Governor and Spanish garrison to retreat to 

Fort Barrancas, just outside Pensacola, surrendering the city. Within a few days, the 

Spanish surrendered Fort Barrancas. 

 Inadvertently, Jackson had seized Spanish controlled Florida causing an international incident. 

 After the war was complete, he was offered the job as Governor of Florida. At first 

he declined, but eventually accepted the 

offer. In June of 1821, Jackson resigned his 

commission. His military career may have 

ended but his political one was taking off. 

He would become the seventh President of 

the United States and simultaneously the 

Commander-in-Chief, a position he probably would never have attained without his 

militia experience and fame. 

 Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson had a long 

and distinguished military career before the 

Battle of New Orleans. He may not have 

been classically trained in warfare, but he 

made up for it in experience and raw leadership. His success at New Orleans and later in 

life can all be attributed to his military experience, prowess, and service in the Tennessee Militia. 

- MAJ DARRIN HAAS

BORN FOR A STORM
25

AS SOLDIERS WERE BEING KILLED 

AROUND HIM AND HIS PLATOON‛S 

ADVANCE STALLED, ADKINSON 

DECIDED THAT HE HAD TO 

STOP THE MURDEROUS 

GERMAN FIRE.

AS SOLDIERS WERE BEING KILLED 

AROUND HIM AND HIS PLATOON‛S 

ADVANCE STALLED, ADKINSON 

DECIDED THAT HE HAD TO 

STOP THE MURDEROUS 

GERMAN FIRE.

COLORING and LAYOUT by ROB PENNINGTON

WRITTEN by MAJ DARRIN HAAS

DRAWN by DAVE ROBERTS

SEPTEMBER 29, 1918, NEAR BELLICOURT, FRANCE,

A 24-YEAR OLD TENNESSEE GUARDSMAN FROM MEMPHIS, 

SERGEANT JOSEPH ADKINSON WAS ADVANCING WITH 

HIS PLATOON FROM COMPANY C, 119TH INFANTRY, 30TH 

INFANTRY DIVISION, AGAINST ENTRENCHED GERMAN 

FORCES DEFENDING THE IMPREGNABLE HINDENBURG LINE.

CHARGING OVER 50 YARDS HE 

REACHED THE ENEMY GUN, KICKING 

IT FROM THE PARAPET AND INTO 

THE ENEMY TRENCH, SILENCING THE 

WEAPON AND FREEING HIS PLATOON 

TO ATTACK.

AT THE POINT OF HIS BAYONET, ADKINSON CAPTURED 3 

GERMAN SOLDIERS MANNING THE GUN. HIS GALLANTRY 

AND QUICK DECISION TO ATTACK THE GUN ENABLED HIS 

PLATOON TO ASSUME ITS ADVANCE.

IN AUGUST OF 1919, ADKINSON WAS 

AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR 

DURING A CEREMONY AT NASHVILLE‛S 

GLENDANLE PARK PRESIDED BY GOVERNOR ALBERT ROBERT FOR HIS GALLANTRY AND BRAVERY.

THWACK
26 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Members of the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift 

Wing and local governmental agencies participated in a National Disaster Medical System exercise, named Patriot South 18, at the 

Air National Guard base in Memphis, Tenn., 

Feb. 15.

 “The time to learn who your partners 

are, their capabilities and expectations is not 

during an event,” said Lt. Col. Brinkley, the 

commander of the 164th Mission Support 

Group, Memphis, Tenn. “We must build 

these relationships, work together, exercise 

together and learn so that we can provide 

the best care for our community.” 

 The purpose of this National Guard Bureau program is to test and train the state, 

county, local and military organizations to 

respond to a state of emergency such as a 

natural disaster. The exercise was focused 

on the aeromedical evacuation missions that 

would take place in case of a disaster. 

 “The goals of the NDMS are to assist state 

and local authorities in dealing with medical and health effects of peacetime disasters, 

and to provide support to military and Veteran Affairs personnel with caring for military casualties returning to the U.S. for hospitalization,” said Brinkley. 

 In the event of a natural disaster, emergency response teams would evacuate personal 

to multiple cities in the southern region, including Memphis. After arriving to the loTennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing Participates in Patriot South 18 Exercise in Memphis.

PATRIOT 

SOUTH 18

Members of the Air National Guard 

and Memphis Fire Department carry 

a exercise victim to the triage point 

for medical treatment. (Photo by 

Senior Airman Leon Bussey)

PREPAREDNESS
27

cations, patients would be received into the 

site, further evaluated and transported to the 

appropriate hospital for further treatment.

 A C-17 from the New York Air National Guard was loaded with 35 simulated patients and then flown to Memphis, Tenn., 

where they were triaged, processed and in 

a real-world case would be moved to local 

medical facilities for treatment.

 “The purpose of the NDMS is to evacuate 

and allow for the definitive care of patients 

that are in harm’s way or basically in a disaster area,” said Paul Christoph, area emergency manager for the Department of Veterans 

Affairs Health Administration in Nashville. 

“For this exercise we are simulating New 

Madrid seismic activity that causes wide 

spread damage, deaths and injuries.” 

 The arriving patients were moved through 

a processing line were they were checked in, 

color coded by the severity of their injuries 

and received the needed care until being 

moved to a local hospital.

- SENIOR AIRMAN LEON BUSSEY

Members of multiple governmental agencies enter the triage location Feb. 15 on the Memphis Air 

National Guard Base, Memphis, Tenn. The National 

Guard Bureau Patriot Exercise Program is NGB 

accredited and funded training program that focuses 

on joint operations with State, county, and local responders and allows Soldiers and Airmen the ability 

to train their military domestic operations requirements.(Photo by Senior Airman Leon Bussey)

A member of the Veteran Affairs disaster response 

team scans a evacuee’s identity band to add them to 

their database for processing and evaluation during 

the Patriot South 18 Exercise. (Photo by Senior Airman Leon Bussey)

PATRIOT SOUTH 18
28 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee National 

Guard Soldier was one of only four Soldiers 

selected nationwide to participate in the Future Vertical Lift Program study in San Jose, 

Calif., in mid-March of 2018. This is a –maneuverability study in conjunction with ongoing Joint Multi-role Technology Demonstrator efforts.

 Lt. Col. Jay Deason, flight facility commander for the Tennessee National Guard’s 

1-107th Airfield Operations Battalion, was 

notified in November that he was the National Guard Bureau’s selected candidate for 

the study. Recommended candidates had to 

possess a minimum of 500 rotary wing flight 

hours and instructor pilot qualification was 

preferred.

 “This is a big deal,” said Maj. Gen. Max 

Haston, the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard. “I know the Army National Guard will benefit from Jay being part 

of this team.”

 “I think this speaks highly of the Tennessee Army National Guard aviation reputation,” said Col. Joe Miller, the state aviation 

officer.

 Soldier participation was requested by 

the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence 

to add operational relevancy to the study. 

They are scheduled to operate the NASA 

vertical motion simulators with the intent to 

operationally assess the maneuverability of 

FVL technologies.

 “As the Department of Defense’s 

current fleet of vertical lift aircraft 

become older, there is an inherent 

need to increase our capabilities 

while ensuring our global overmatch through newer aircraft designs,” said Col. Erskine “Ramsey” 

Bentley, Training and Doctrine 

Command Capability Manager for 

Future Vertical Lift, US Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort 

Rucker, Ala. “Future Vertical Lift 

is a joint initiative to help begin a 

modernization of our current vertical lift fleet across the DOD enterprise.”

 “The outcome of the study is to 

get qualitative data from the joint 

force as to the increased capabilities 

potential FVL designs can provide 

within maneuverability and agility 

metrics,” said Bentley.

 Aviators were selected from 

across the Army (active duty, Guard 

and Reserves) nationwide, with a 

cross section of experience and total 

flight hours. 

 “We are excited to have a broad 

spectrum of experience participate, including all five services,” said Bentley. “This will 

help ensure we have an all-inclusive set of 

parameters in which we can measure maneuverability and agility as we move forward 

with the FVL program.”

 Deason is the only National Guard pilot 

taking part in this part of the study. However, the National Guard has a unique role in 

aviation.

Tennessee Army National Guard Soldier is Selected for the 

Future Vertical Lift Program Study.

VERTICAL 

LIFT STUDY

Official photo of Lt. Col. Jay Deason, flight 

facility commander for the Tennessee Army 

National Guard’s 1-107th Airfield Operations 

Battalion. 

RESEARCH
29

 The National Guard is a well-integrated 

and trained force keeping our nation safe 

and protecting our national interests. Today, 

our security environment is more dynamic 

and complex and our nation places greater 

reliance on its National Guard.

 One of the Chief of the National Guard 

Bureau’s priorities this year is innovation. 

Improving processes, leveraging new technologies, and eliminating obsolete doctrine 

are just some of the ways to promote innovation within the National Guard.

 “As the character of war and threats continues to evolve, creative minds are necessary more than ever,” said Lengyel in the 

2018 National Guard Bureau Posture Statement. “Our adversaries have improved their 

technology and our technological superiority is waning.”

 To achieve a technological and lethal advantage over our enemies, the Army must 

modernize its personnel and war fighting 

systems.

 “We hope to find that between the different FVL like technologies, a valuable set 

of qualitative data points from which we 

can ensure our future fleet will be measured 

upon in regards to maneuverability and agility,” said Bentley. An example of this would 

be an updated version of the military’s design specifications.

 “What we want to achieve is significantly 

different from the way we’ve done business 

in the past and has the potential to make 

a huge difference in the future,” said Brig. 

Gen. Frank Tate, the director of Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for 

operations, planning and training, in an interview at the Pentagon earlier this year.

 Over the last few decades, the Army has 

refurbished its aging helicopter fleet to save 

money while trying to keep up with the demands of the digital age war fight. All the 

increased weight has been a factor during 

deployments. Since 9/11, National Guard 

members have deployed more than 850,000 

times to locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, 

Kuwait, the Balkans, Guantanamo Bay and 

the Sinai. 

 According to the 2018 National Defense 

Strategy, “Today, we are emerging from a 

period of strategic atrophy, aware that our 

competitive military advantage has been 

eroding...In this environment, there can 

be no complacency—we must make difficult choices and prioritize what is most important to field a lethal, resilient and rapidly 

adapting Joint Force.”

 The FVL study accomplishes this. The 

study Deason is taking part in will help to 

determine how “enroute speeds and long 

range requirements affect low speeds maneuverability and agility during the transition from enroute speed to altitude,” said 

Bentley. “The program is moving along with 

good progressions towards new aircraft in 

our DOD fleet.”

 The results of the study won’t be immediately visible—possibly the next 12 to 20 

years, according to Bentley. 

 “There is a lot of work going on now to 

ensure we get it correct and have the most 

effective designs we can get within that 

timeline,” he said. “Our study will feed any 

new start designs as a primary function; any 

effect on the current fleet will be through 

a secondary effect of changes to advanced 

flight controls or human system interface 

data points collected during the study.”

 Located in nearly every zip code, the National Guard provides overwhelming capability and capacity to Governors before and 

after disasters. According to a report from 

the National Guard Bureau, in fiscal year 17, 

the National Guard responded to 122 national disasters involving wild fires, floods, 

winter storms, as well as tropical storms and 

hurricanes. In addition, Guard forces conducted 31 search and rescue missions.

 These could be accomplished with more 

proficiency by utilizing up-to-date equipment and technological advancements, 

some of which the military’s civilian counterparts are already using.

 “Our security environment is more dynamic and complex and our nation places 

greater reliance on its National Guard,” said 

Lengyel. “This is why my focus every day 

is to ensure we are ready and we have the 

resources to accomplish our three core missions –fighting America’s wars, securing the 

homeland, and building enduring partnerships at the local, State, Federal and international levels.”

- MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

A team of engineers, experimental test pilots and 

NASA scientists sit in a control room to supervise the 

Future Vertical Lift Scenarios taking place in NASA’s 

Vertical Motion Simulator March 15. Photo by Lt. Col. 

Jay Deason.(Photo by Lt. Col. Jay Deason)

FUTURE VERTICAL LIFT
30 VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD VOL. 18 / ISSUE 2

 When I was a company commander and then 

a TAC officer for Tennessee’s Officer Candidate 

School, many candidates and junior officers 

would ask me for reading recommendations to 

help with their professional development. 

 I always had trouble picking the one book 

I felt a brand-new officer should read, especially platoon leaders that were preparing to 

lead Soldiers in combat. There are many great 

works on leadership available and numerous 

books on various Army professional reading 

lists that are great, but I wanted to recommend 

something that was relevant to the current operating environment and could inspire an officer getting ready to lead a platoon in Iraq or 

Afghanistan. 

 Eventually, I discovered Nathaniel Fick’s One 

Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer. 

A candid and fast-paced memoir of combat 

leadership from a warrior that led a platoon 

in both theaters of the Global War on Terror, 

it is one of the best and most relevant works 

available. 

 Published in 2005, Fick presents a rare 

memoir showing combat from the perspective 

of a young platoon leader who is a talented 

and brilliant warrior. Frank, exciting, and void 

of embellishment and exaggerations, it shows 

combat from the viewpoint of a modern day 

Marine and all the issues of modern warfare, 

making it a great work to read before deploying overseas. Fick’s story is one that many company-grade leaders can find relatable. 

 In 1998, Fick was an undergraduate at Dartmouth College studying classics and government. 

He had just finished his junior year when he decided to attend the Marine Corps Officer Candidate 

School at Quantico, Va., because he wanted to “go 

on a great adventure... to do something so hard that 

no one could ever talk ---- to me.” He completed the 

challenging course and after graduating from Dartmouth, he was commissioned a second lieutenant 

in the Marine Corps and then trained as an infantry 

officer. 

 He chose to compete for command of an infantry 

unit because he felt “it was elemental and dangerous.” Eventually, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 

1st Marines, as a heavy weapons platoon commander. When the September 11th attacks occurred, he 

was an officer in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit 

aboard the USS Dubuque training the Australian 

Army. His unit immediately boarded ship and headed toward the Arabian Sea. For the next few months, 

Fick led his platoon into Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, one of the first combat 

units on the ground. 

 He returned to the United States in March 2002, 

after his first tour was over, and was recommended 

for elite reconnaissance training, which is one of the 

toughest training pipelines in the military. 

 “Every Marine thinks he’s the toughest guy in the 

room,” Fick wrote. “Most will agree, though, that the 

toughest unit in the corps is recon.” He also completed Army Airborne School and dive school before 

taking command of 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 

of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, which he commanded during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

 During the invasion, Fick “battled through every 

One Bullet Away: 

The Making of a Marine 

Officer.

By Nathaniel Fick. 

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 

2005. 

ONE BULLET AWAY:

THE MAKING OF A 

MARINE OFFICER

* Maj. Darrin Haas is the Historian for the Tennessee Military Dept.

Maj. Darrin Haas Gives his Review of:
31

BOOK REVIEW

town on Highway 7,” fighting from Nasiriyah to al Kut. He led his 22 

Marines as they raced toward Baghdad in open Humvees, getting hit 

by ambushes and engaging in firefights through the country. He survives and has a front row seat for all the problems and complexities 

of modern combat. After returning from Iraq he would get out of the 

Marine Corps as a captain and attend Harvard Business School. 

 The scope of Fick’s work follows his grueling Marine training, starting in Officer Candidate School, and chronicles his multiple wartime 

deployments. Each step shows the transformation of Fick from a college student to leading one of the most elite units in the military during 

the Iraq invasion. His training and experiences tell the creation of a 

modern day warrior, and this book brings that transformation to life. 

 One of the interesting parts of this memoir is that there is also a 

slightly different perspective available for reading. While Fick was serving in Iraq, his platoon was assigned an embedded reporter throughout the invasion. Journalist Evan Wright, a reporter with Rolling Stone 

magazine, would write a series of articles on the 1st Recon Battalion, 

especially focused on Fick’s platoon. Wright would then publish the 

book, Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the 

New Face of American War in 2004. It chronicled the platoon’s Iraq 

invasion and gives a raw view of the war from the Marine’s perspective. 

Generation Kill would later be adapted into a 7-part HBO miniseries 

where Fick was one of the main characters. I highly recommend them 

both.

 When One Bullet Away was released, it was a New York Times bestseller and one of the Military Times’ “Best Military Books of the Decade.” It is a fantastic work on modern combat in two different theaters 

of the Global War on Terrorism. Overall, this memoir is a must read 

for all new officer candidates, second lieutenants, and junior officers 

planning to lead Soldiers in combat. I highly recommend this work 

without reservation and hope that it inspires Soldiers to be professional warriors. 

- MAJ. DARRIN HAAS

Author Nathaniel C. Fick published the New York 

Times bestseller, One Bullet Away, about his 

experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, highlighting 

some of the struggles that combat officers face. 

He has been featured in numerous television and 

radio programs, along with authoring a number of 

articles that have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, Forbes, 

Foreign Policy, and The Washington Post.
Produced in collaboration with the Tennessee Military Department 

and the Tennessee National Guard