‘A new chapter for Armed Forces Day’

by Stan Lowe, Chairman (retired), Wyoming Veterans’ Commission
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:44 PM MDT

Armed Forces Day was established in 1949 to replace Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days, stemming from Congress’s unification of the services under the newly created Defense Department in 1947.

This year it was observed as usual on the third Saturday of May, the 17th, at Veterans’ Park in downtown Casper.

Featured speaker was Lt. Col. Peter Schmotzer, U.S. Army (retired), an instructor of Natrona County High School’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC). First Sgt. James “Mack” Riggs, U.S. Army (retired), is the other instructor.

Schmotzer first discussed his family’s rich military background, tracing back to ancestral roots in Metzenzifen, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), famous for its sword makers.

His father and mother served in World War II. She was a WAC (Women’s Army Corps) at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma, and he served with a B-25 wing first in England and later in Belgium.

After the war, the family moved to Germany in 1951. His father’s unit had been activated and sent to Kaiserlauten. They moved back and forth between America and Europe until 1967.

His first memory of celebrating the armed forces goes back to 1954, when his father’s unit, then stationed in Nancy, France, paraded on its cobblestone streets.

It was the 10th anniversary of France’s liberation, and Frenchmen still were clapping and cheering for Americans.

Schmotzer gained his second lieutenant bars in the Army ROTC program at Montana State University.

His active duty was spent with units in Fort Knox, Korea and Fort Bragg. Several different assignments followed, including University of Wyoming ROTC faculty and ending with chief, U.S. Army Reserve Infantry Branch.

Schmotzer proudly talked about the military services in which his JROTC cadets are enlisting.

Many are joining the Wyoming Army National Guard. Why?

“They know the guard is deploying next year,” he explained, “and they want to be part of that deployment. They want to serve, serve proudly and know they have accomplished something for their nation, state, and themselves …

“We have one cadet going to the active Army enlisted with the Airborne Ranger option,” he added. “He has accepted one great personal challenge!

“First Sgt. Riggs and I have our Marines, and they are the FEW, the PROUD, the MARINES. We have two in theater now.

“We have a young freshman whose family has a long history in the corps … His grades are strong enough; I have asked him to consider the Naval Academy as his route into the corps …

“We have a couple sailors. One in cryptology (writing and translating secret code messages), and one headed for the nuclear Navy.

“We have two SEALS. They are quietly proud … One departs next week for Great Lakes Naval Station and basic training and then to SEAL training; the other goes in October …

“Cadet Midshipman Greg Knopik is completing his second year at Annapolis. He joins eight other NCHS grads who graduated from the Naval Academy.

“We have several airmen. One is in Kuwait in the logistics/transportation field. One is on orders to Korea where he will work on navigation systems of F-16s. Another is finishing school at Sheppard Air Force Base.”

Schmotzer ended this report of his students’ military choices saying, “For me, this is part of this year’s Armed Forces Day. After 26 years of service, I am making my small contribution back to our country and our armed forces.”

Regarding the current war, he observed, “Today’s global war on terrorism has our armed forces thinking and fighting in new ways. Today we are writing a new chapter for Armed Forces Day …

“Please take a minute in the quietness of our park today and in the quiet of your hearts to remember all those who have given their last ounce, last measure of strength; those still missing and longing to return home, and there are many, and those serving today in harm’s way.”

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