27MAY1990, Commissioning Day and Graduation day at Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. After being called up by name, the senior cadets of the Fighting Saints Battalion stood ready on the stage of the Stephen B. Humphrey Auditorium. Our uniforms spotless, and detailed to Army standards, our family and friends in the seats below, witnessed by our cadre of instructors, we raised our right hand and took “The Oath.” “....to protect and defend....so help me God”.
Thirty years later, take a moment with me and remember that day, those new Army 2 LT’s, recognize their service, and congratulate two of our classmates who will retire this year after thirty years of service -- COL John Boucher and COL Mark Kjorness.
It was a sunny Memorial Day Sunday. My photos reflect that it was a happy occasion for all of us. In addition to the sun, it was a memorable day for our small community that many of us still call home. In the shadow of the Abbey, where we would shortly graduate as newly commissioned officers, life couldn’t get much better. Many of us were off to Basic Officers School in our respective branch assignments, a new adventure, with pay, waiting for all of us. 2LT’s Boucher and Kjorness headed to Arizona, to learn all about Military Intelligence (MI). After six months of class, they would separate, and while on different paths, continue in that clandestine world of intelligence gathering. (I have included a link here for their resumes: Boucher and Kjorness) The rest of us traveled to our assignments which covered all branches of the Army Officer Corps: Infantry, Artillery, Armor (referred to as Combat Arms Branches), Engineer, Chemical, Signal, Transportation, Medical, Aviation and other specialties. About one third of our class was assigned to Active Duty stations which would become a career for many. Others served in the National Guard and Reserves, which at that time required one weekend a month and two weeks every summer. That was until the Middle East became a center of conflict and the focus of American foreign policy. Active, Reserve and National Guard officers were later deployed to places like Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other areas of conflict. Many saw multiple deployments over the past 30 years: “Sacrifice and Service”.
It is this dedication and service that I want to acknowledge and celebrate. We took an oath and made a commitment on that Memorial Day Sunday in Collegeville, thirty years ago. To COL Kjorness and COL Boucher, I salute you on your retirement and thank you! While your careers have been acknowledged, your sacrifices will only be known by you, your families, and the soldiers that served with you. To my fellow commissioned officers from the class of 1990, I want to celebrate you, your families and the devotion you made to protect and defend our nation. I have not had contact with many of you since that commissioning day, some thirty years ago, but I am confident that you have kept your oath, served with honor and distinction, and made the sacrifices required to get the job done. Thank you, and congratulations to each of you.
To the Fighting Saints Battalion commissioning class of 2020, Saint John’s University, the College of Saint Benedict, and Saint Cloud State University, congratulations for taking this first step, “The Oath.” You are about to embark on your great journey. Thank you for choosing to serve our country, the United States Army and most importantly, for the sacrifices you have already made and will most certainly make throughout your military careers. I leave you with this from Ferdinand Magellan,
The great explorer, Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1520) wrote:
“The Courage to Succeed. The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore. Unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits seek victory over those things that seem impossible…it is with an iron will that they embark on the most daring of all endeavors. To meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the unknown.”
Official Command Photo COL BOUCHER
COL Kjorness
