Dinner Speaker:
General (RET) Eric Shinseki,
34th Chief of Staff, U.S. Army and
7th Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, a former Army chief of staff and Veterans Affairs secretary, is the 2023 recipient of the Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award.
Shinseki, a native of Hawaii and 1965 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, was chosen for AUSA’s annual award for his decades of selfless service to the United States and particularly because of his many efforts to support the Army and its soldiers and veterans.
Born less than a year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Shinseki was inspired to join the Army by his uncles, who served in the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, according to Britannica.
Upon graduating from West Point, Shinseki served two combat tours in Vietnam, first as an artillery forward observer and then as commander of A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, according to the Army Historical Foundation. Shinseki was wounded twice in combat, including an injury during his second deployment that cost him part of his right foot, according to Britannica and his Veterans Affairs bio. He spent almost a year recovering but returned to active duty in 1971.
Shinseki, who has a master’s degree in English from Duke University, served as an instructor at West Point before moving on to assignments in the Pentagon and Europe, according to Britannica.
He would spend more than 10 years serving in Europe, including several assignments in the 3rd Infantry Division and as assistant chief of staff for operations, plans and training for VII Corps and deputy chief of staff for support for the Allied Land Forces Southern Europe, an element of the Allied Command Europe.
From March 1994 to July 1995, Shinseki commanded the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
In June 1997, Shinseki became the first Asian American to achieve the rank of four-star general, assuming duties as commander of U.S. Army Europe, Allied Land Forces Central Europe and the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He served as the 34th Army chief of staff from June 1999 to June 2003. During his tenure, he initiated the Army Transformation Campaign to address the emerging strategic challenges of the early 21st century and the need for cultural and technological change in the Army, according to his Veterans Affairs bio. He also led the Army through the early months of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
He retired from the Army in August 2003.
In 2008, Shinseki was nominated to serve as VA secretary, serving from January 2009 to May 2014.
He is currently chairman of the Army Historical Foundation board.
Memorial Ceremony Comments:
CSM (RET) Joe T. Hill
Former CSM, 3rd Armored Division
CSM Hill joined the United States Army at the age of 17 out of High School in 1963. He completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson South Carolina and then on to armor training at Fort Knox Kentucky. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Germany traveling by ship for twelve days to reach his destination. He remained in Germany until 1968, when he was sent to Vietnam, where he was to fight and train with a company of 390 South Vietnamese soldiers as a senior advisor on MACV team 3 He returned to Germany in 1969 where he would start his over 25 years in Germany. This would be his first assignment as platoon Sgt of first platoon B-C0 1-37 armor, 4th Armored Division. CSM Hill would return to the states to attend the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers advanced course. After Advanced course he volunteered to returned to Germany and became the platoon Sgt of first platoon A-Co 1-37 armor. He was promoted to First sergeant and became the first sergeant of Combat support Company,1-37 armor. He was assigned as First Sergeant of G-troop 3rd ACR at Fort bless waiting to attend the SGT. MAJORS ACADEMY CLASS 12, 1979. CSM Hill returned to Germany and would serve as the First Sgt of B-C0 1-37 UNTIL PROMOTION TO Sgm. He then served as the First Brigade operations Sgt Major in Illesheim Germany. Upon promotion to Csm, He became the Csm of 1-37 armor, where he would serve 5 years as the Command Sergeant Major. He was selected to become the Csm of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade First Armored Division and help stand it up. He left for Korea , where he was the Csm of the 4th -7th Cav and later Csm of 5-17th Cav. After Korea, he came back to Germany, where he served as the CSM 3rd Brigade Third Armored Division. CSM Hill was selected to become the 3rd Armored Division Command Sgt Major in 1989. During this time, he led the 3rd Armored Division and its 18,500 soldiers to and from the Gulf War (Desert Storm). After the return to Germany, he was selected to the position of CSM of the largest Corp in the US. Army (110,000 Soldiers). CSM Hill served as the V Corps CSM in Frankfurt. until his retirement in 1994.
Over the course of his 32-year career, CSM would serve in all leadership positions from Tank Commander to Corp. During this time, he found time to earn his bachelor’s degree in History from Ohio University, and additional degree in German. CSM Hill continued to serve after retirement by spending 6 years in Croatia ,former Yugoslavia training the Croatian army to fight for their country. CSM Hill spent 12 years teaching JROTC as an Army instructor and Senior Army Instructor at Paulding County High School and Sonorville High School in Georgia. His raider team won the National Championship, becoming the first program to bring a national championship to the state of Georgia. CSM Hill retired from the school system and went to Afghanistan to train the Afghanistan army. CSM Hill wore the uniform for proudly for 48 years.
He received numerous awards including the: Silver Star Legion of Merit w/ 3 OLC, Bronze Star with Valor, 4th OLC, Meritorious Service Medal,5 OLC, Air Medal with valor, Army Commendation Medal 5 OLC, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry With Palm, Vietnam Silver Star, Vietnam Bronze Star, Vietnam Honor Medal, Vietnam Service Medal 4 OLC, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Achievement, 3OLC, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia Defense Medal, NCOPD w 5 stars, Good Conduct Medal 10th Award, German Honor medal 1st class. CSM Hill also earned the Combat Infantry Badge. Csm Hill is a member of the prestigious Sergeant Morales Club the first one in the 4th armored division.
