Transcript
– [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the United States Army Military Police School 2020 Regimental Hall of Fame induction. All parts of this ceremony were conducted in accordance with the most recent COVID-19 guidelines. In 1992, the Military Police Regimental Association established the Military Police Regimental Hall of Fame to recognize and honor former members of the Military Police Corps who made significant contributions to the development of the regiment. Each year the United States Army Military Police School accepts nominations from across the world for induction into the Hall of Fame. A special selection board of past and present senior members of the regiment convenes to review each nominee’s military service and merit. Selected nominees significantly contributed to the evolution and definition of the Military Police Corps’s character, doctrine, mission, and or training. In certain instances, the selection recognizes exemplary or heroic actions. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a distinct pleasure to introduce the chief of the Military Police Corps Regiment and the commandant of the United States Army Military Police School, Colonel Niave F. Knell.
I’m Colonel Niave Knell, your 51st commandant. Today it’s my pleasure to announce the 2020 Regimental Hall of Fame winners. This is the largest group of recipients that we’ve had. We have eight total, they represent two of our com posts, hopefully next year we’ll represent all three. But we do represent three of the missions. We have the combat support MP mission, CID mission, and the corrections mission represented. Two of our recipients are winners of medals for valor. All of our winners exemplify our motto of Assist, Protect, and Defend, and all continue to serve in some capacity, either as volunteers or as DA civilians. We’re all very proud of our 2020 Hall of Fame inductees and congratulations to them.
[Announcer] Today we honor Colonel Retired Eugene Smith’s outstanding leadership and significant contributions to our Military Police Corps Regiment, our Army, and our nation. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome Command Sergeant Major Retired Dan Rimmer to introduce Colonel Smith.
Good morning members of the regiment, senior leaders, family members, and friends of the Military Police Corps. My name’s Dan Rimmer, I’m the retired 7th Regimental Command Sergeant Major, and it’s my distinct pleasure this morning to introduce Colonel Retired Eugene Geno Smith as his selection into the Hall of Fame this year. Gene Smith has got 42 years of dedicated service, both as a soldier and a civilian to our regiment. I’ve been fortunate enough to know Gene for more than half of that, 23 plus years when we got connected as he was getting ready to take command of the 709th MP battalion and I was leaving the 716th. We had both just come off of other battalion leadership positions going in as the command team, and we figured the second time for both of us, third time for me, we could probably get it right this time around. Couldn’t have worked out better. We had a great relationship, still have a great relationship with Gene and his wife Laura. Probably the hardest thing for me to do is condense down those 23 years into two or three minutes here this morning. Gene has been present in every aspect of leadership, and when I was looking back, and it’s funny to think how many times our careers path, multiple tours in Korea, multiple tours in Europe, and working both in the operational Army and the institutional Army in TRADOC and for Gene up at West Point. Great opportunity, Gene and I also worked together collaboratively on some issues when he was in the antiterrorism and force protection aspects of the Military Police as a DA civilian. I was in corporate America working on security systems for nuclear power plants, and Gene had connections in DARPA and other places. As we were looking to improve methods to gain security leverage through technology, Gene was a great resource for me to leverage some of the stuff and find out what was going on out there, kind of the leading edge of technology, and he was more than happy to provide introductions and guide me with some of the things we were struggling with to look at what would work and what wouldn’t. Gene has always been a person who’s out there. When you take a look at our motto, Assist, Protect, and Defend, and what we’re talking about now is preserving and protecting the force. If you look at Gene’s efforts in times of economic hardships, his passion, perseverance, and ability to get things done and get moneys allocated for preserving and protecting the force with biometrics and access control to the installations and stuff at the DOD level across all types of forces and bases, both Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Gene has lots of experience in bumping his head up there, I’m sure. I used to tell people experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want. And I know it’s been an uphill battle a lot of times, but Gene again persevered and was able to get moneys allocated to implement these measures and it kept our soldiers and their families safe on installations across the world. So, grateful for that, he’s more than worthy of this honor, and I’m happy to see this. It’s a little different this year. I was hoping that we could get together and I could see him in person again. I saw him a few months back up in Pennsylvania. But it is what it is, 2020 has changed us all, and I’m just happy that these ceremonies are gonna continue and there’s an opportunity to recognize Gene for his accomplishments. So congratulations, look forward to keeping our friendship going for the next 20 years, and well deserved. Thank you.
[Announcer] Thank you, Sergeant Major. Colonel Retired Eugene Smith was a soldier and is a dedicated governmental employee whose 41 years of competence, compassion, and leadership is evident in the effects that he made to every organization he has been assigned. Colonel Smith established and commanded the 94th Military Police Battalion, and subsequently selected to command the 709th Military Police Battalion. Colonel Smith’s leadership was critical as the Director of Antiterrorism Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict in the wake of September 9/11. Colonel Smith’s enduring impacts in his civilian capacity include the implementation of automated installation entry, Department of the Army security guard standardization, and Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point Protection. Colonel Smith continues to be a valuable member of the MP Regiment. In recognition of his truly significant achievements and exceptional contributions to our country in the United States Military Police Corps, Colonel Retired Eugene Smith is hereby inducted into the Military Police Corps Regimental Hall of Fame by the order of the chief of the Military Police Corps. Colonel Smith is awarded with the Regimental Hall of Fame medallion engraved with his name and years of service. The medallion carries the regimental crest along with a regimental wooden case. Colonel Smith is also receiving a Regimental Hall of Fame Certificate of Induction signed by the chief of the Military Police Corps, and a Regimental Hall of Fame lapel pin. Lastly, he will receive one of two bricks donated by the MPRA. The second brick will be placed at the MP Memorial Grove. Ladies and gentlemen, the newest inductee to the Regimental Hall of Fame, Colonel Retired Eugene Smith.
General Martin, General Bisacre, General Miller, Colonel Knell, and other distinguished viewers, I am Gene Smith and I am honored to be selected for the Military Police Hall of Fame. It means a great deal to me to be recognized in this way as the Military Police Corps for the last 42 years has been more than a career for my wife Laura and I. It’s been our life. I want to thank a few people. First is Colonel Retired Ishmon Burks, who took an interest in me as a young captain, guided me in company command, and continued to mentor me through my career. Second is Command Sergeant Major Retired Dan Rimmer, who is as fine as Command Sergeant Major as any battalion commander could want to have. I really appreciate the time we spent together leading the 709th MP Battalion. I’d like to thank all the modern Provost Marshal Generals from Major General Ryder to Major General Martin. Each of our PMGs in turn have strategically positioned the Military Police Corps to best serve the Army and our nation. And I want to especially thank the members of the Physical Security Division, who I’m privileged to have served with for the last 12 years. Kevin Pelget, David Dubois, Scott Petrowski, Greg Yarborough, Dwayne McCosker, Nick Hunter, John Cookson, and before them Bill Peyton, Joe Comide, and Lisa Wright. These dedicated civil servants have displayed sterling character, incredible security expertise, and strong abilities to accomplish a difficult mission. They performed best when time was short and under pressure. My selection is due to the work that they have done. And lastly, I’d like to thank my wonderful wife Laura. She enthusiastically accompanied me during my time of service with the Military Police Corps and made our life a joy. Thanks again for this recognition, it means a lot.
[Announcer] Thank you, Colonel Smith. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, Colonel Smith’s photo is being unveiled on the Hall of Fame wall, signifying his induction into the Military Police Regimental Hall of Fame. Ladies and gentlemen, please join us for the playing of “The Military Police Corps Regimental March” and “The Army Song.” (“Military Police Corps Regimental March”) ‚ô™ We are the regiment ‚ô™ ‚ô™ That “of the troops” was born ‚ô™ ‚ô™ We are the regiment that “for the troops” was formed ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Military Police Corps in peace and war is there ‚ô™ ‚ô™ To assist, protect, defend our own ‚ô™ ‚ô™ No matter when or where ‚ô™ (“The Army Goes Rolling Along”) ‚ô™ March along, sing our song ‚ô™ ‚ô™ With the army of the free ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Count the brave, count the true ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Who have marched to victory ‚ô™ ‚ô™ We’re the Army and proud of our name ‚ô™ ‚ô™ We’re the Army and proudly proclaim ‚ô™ ‚ô™ First to fight for the right ‚ô™ ‚ô™ And to build the nation’s might ‚ô™ ‚ô™ And the Army goes rolling along ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Proud of all we have done ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Fighting ’til the battle’s won ‚ô™ ‚ô™ And the Army goes rolling along ‚ô™ ‚ô™ And it’s hi hi hey, the Army’s on its way ‚ô™ ‚ô™ Count off the cadence loud and strong ‚ô™ ‚ô™ For where’er we go, you will always know ‚ô™ ‚ô™ That the Army goes rolling along ‚ô™
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for watching the virtual induction ceremony for Colonel Retired Eugene Smith into the 2020 Military Police Regimental Hall of Fame.