ROTC, Department of Military Science and Leadership, name Hall of Heroes inductees

Sept. 10, 2008 -- The Arkansas State University Department of Military Science and Leadership and the A-State ROTC program announce the induction of three outstanding individuals into the Hall of Heroes for 2008. The Hall of Heroes honors ROTC alumni who have distinguished themselves through valor and service.

Two of the three recipients, Col. Ray Clardy of Bullhead City, Arizona, and the late Lt. Col. Bobby Martin, will be inducted at halftime of the football game Saturday, Sept. 13. This year's third recipient, Maj. Gen. Elder Granger of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, will be honored at halftime of the Homecoming football game on Sept. 20, when he will also be named a Distinguished Alumnus of the university.

Ray A. Clardy, class of 1942, was born on December 5, 1921. He graduated from then-Arkansas State College in May 1942, with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture, and was commissioned at that time as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.  In June 1942, he began his active duty service with the 12^th Field Artillery Replacement Center, Camp Roberts, California.  From August 1943 to December 1945, he served with the 44^th Infantry Div. Artillery, participating in three major campaigns of World War II:  Northern France, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. Clardy was separated from the service when the 44^th was deactivated in December 1945.  He remained in Active Reserve and was recalled to active duty in October 1948.

His numerous assignments included special weapons instructor in the Special Weapons Orientation Course, Ft. Bliss, Texas; Assistant U.S. Army Attaché, New Delhi, India; Secretary of U.S. Army Special Warfare School, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Executive Officer Army ROTC, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Director, Doctrine Div., Artillery Agency, U.S. Army Combat Development Command, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.  Colonel Clardy retired from the Army in December 1967 and currently resides in Bullhead City, Arizona.

During his military career, Colonel Clardy received the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Service Cross for which he is cited for extraordinary heroism in action on April 26, 1945, near Gutenzell, Germany:  "When his Battery and nearby Battalion installations were subjected to heavy fire from enemy positions within three hundred yards, Captain Clardy led thirty of his men in an attack on the enemy, forcing them to withdraw.  Climbing to the turret of a supporting tank, he pursued the enemy and personally accounted for nine enemy casualties, including the commanding officer, and completely disorganized the German forces.  Captain Clardy’s extraordinary heroism and swift action against a numerically superior enemy destroyed their effectiveness and ended a threat to the main supply route of an Infantry Regiment and an Armored Division."

Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, United States Army, is a Doctor of Medicine and Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity, a Department of Defense (DoD) field activity responsible for operating the Military Health System as a fully integrated health care system within DoD.  He is responsible for TRICARE health and medical resources, supervising and administering TRICARE programs, funding and other resources. MG Granger directs a staff of more than 1,800 people and an annual Defense Health Program budget of $22.5 billion with oversight including the effective provision of high-quality, accessible health care for 9.2 million beneficiaries worldwide.

A native of West Memphis who currently resides at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, MG Granger began his military career in 1971 as a combat medic with the Arkansas National Guard. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology (Cum Laude) from Arkansas State University in 1976 and distinguished himself by receiving several recognitions while attending ASU. Some of the recognitions he received as a student include a three-year ROTC Scholarship, Superior Freshman Cadet, Military History Award, Distinguished Military Student, Distinguished Military Graduate and being named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1976.

After attaining his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1980, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and held leadership positions of significant importance that include Division Surgeon, 4^th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado; Commander, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany; Commander/Command Surgeon, European Regional Medical Command/7^th Army, Heidelberg, Germany; Commanding General/Command Surgeon, 44^th Medical Command/XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Commander, Task Force 44^th Medical Command and Command Surgeon for Multinational Corps-Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Granger has received more than 30 military and community service awards including the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Man of the Year; named to Outstanding Young Men of America; the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal; U.S. Army Legion of Merit with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and Bronze Star Medal.

The late Bobby L. Martin was born on July 14, 1947, in Wynne.  He graduated from Wynne High School in 1965 and entered military service in 1966 by enlisting in the U.S. Navy, serving in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.  After service in Vietnam, Martin pursued a career as an Army officer through ROTC at Arkansas State University.  He was commissioned in December 1974 as a second lieutenant and graduated from ASU in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He received a master’s degree from Central Michigan University in 1979.

From 1974-1991, he served in leadership positions in Germany and the United States, including Battalion Executive Officer, Germany; Professor, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he also earned a graduate degree in 1991; Operations Officer, Savanna Army Depot; Theatre War Plans Officer, U.S. Pacific Command; Professor, ROTC, University of Missouri; Co. Commander, 25^th Infantry Div., and Co. Executive Officer 9^th Infantry Div.   Martin was Operations Officer, 60^th Ordnance Group, Zweibrucken, Germany, 1992-93, and retired as the Commander, Holston Army Group of Plants, Kingsport, Tennessee, 1993-95.  His many awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for Valor, and the Legion of Merit.

He was cited for valor in Vietnam as follows: "On November 10, 1967, while on combat patrol in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, Petty Officer Martin’s unit, First Platoon, A Company, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, came under intense automatic weapon and small arms fire from a large, well-concealed enemy force. Almost one-third of the patrol element was struck down within the initial seconds of enemy contact. Although seriously wounded, Petty Officer Martin repeatedly refused medical treatment for himself. With complete disregard for his own safety, under intense and deadly crossfire, he continued moving about the battlefield, providing life-saving assistance to his wounded comrades, in many cases shielding them from hostile fire with his own body. Following combat, he again refused medical assistance for himself until all other wounded had been treated and evacuated from the field of battle."

Lieutenant Colonel Martin’s dedication, exemplary performance of duty, and achievements throughout his distinguished military career are in keeping with the highest tradition of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, Arkansas State University, and the U.S. Army.

By annually naming recipients to the Hall of Heroes, ASU pays tribute to ROTC alumni who have distinguished themselves through heroism, service, and outstanding representation of the university. The Hall of Heroes, with full biographies and photos of the inductees, is located at the east entrance to the ASU Armory. All funding is provided by private donation.

A complete listing of the inductees into the A-State ROTC Hall of Heroes can be found at the website http://asurotc.astate.edu/Heros.html. For more information, contact the ASU Department of Military Science and Leadership at (870) 972-2064.
           

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