Military Science to Induct Three New Members into ROTC Hall of Heroes
 Bell |
 Davis |
 Haynes |
JONESBORO – The Department of Military Science at Arkansas State University will induct three individuals into the ROTC Hall of Heroes during a Saturday morning ceremony at Cooper Alumni Center.
The three to be honored with the prestigious recognition are retired Col. Anthony (Tony) Bell, a native of Memphis; retired Lt. Col. Robert Earl Davis, a native of Hughes; and retired Col. Charles (Larry) Haynes, a native of Hornersville, Mo., who will be inducted posthumously.
Col. Haynes was chosen as the 100th inductee since the inception of the program in 1992. Family members of each of those being recognized will be present. Following the morning ceremony, inductees will hang their placards in the Hall of Heroes, located in the Lieutenant Colonel Frederick C. Turner, Jr. Military Science Building.
The induction ceremony starts at 9 a.m. Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Klemmer, a 1987 graduate and 2013 Hall of Heroes inductee, will be the keynote speaker.
The A-State Howl’s Heroes (cadet-led), a registered student organization, will host a joint tailgate with the Beck Center for Veterans beginning at 11 a.m. in The Pines prior to the A-State-Massachusetts football game that afternoon. The inductees will be introduced on field at halftime, and the Red Wolf Battalion’s newest cadets will take their contracting oath, administered by Brig. Gen. Klemmer.
Prior to the induction, former and incoming Hall of Heroes inductees, along with A-State officials and community members, will gather Friday evening to mark the nation’s annual Veterans Day observance at a dinner, with retired Lt. Col. Gil Fowler, a 1971 graduate, 1998 Hall of Heroes inductee, and emeritus professor of journalism to give remarks.
Here are brief biographical sketches of each of the new Hall of Heroes inductees:
Anthony (Tony) Bell commissioned as a Field Artillery 2nd Lieutenant in the Arkansas Army National Guard under the Early Commissioning Program prior to his Regular Army commission in 1979 upon graduation from A-State as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Beginning in the field artillery, he quickly found his niche with contracting and acquisitions, devoting the better part of his career to endeavors that had major impact on the tactical through strategic levels of operations. He deployed twice to combat, supporting operations in Kosovo and later serving as the head of the contracting activity for coalition provisional authority in Baghdad, Iraq. Key highlights include serving as the production officer for eight major ammunition programs for the U. S. Army, the chief position and navigation integration officer, which included global positioning systems, and as chief of contracting at U.S. Army Contracting Command—Korea. He also executed critical team lead and commander duties with Defense Contract Management Command at Boeing in Philadelphia, U.S. Army Forces Command, and Army Contracting Command—Southern Region. He concluded his career in a dual-hatted role as the head of contracting support for U.S. Southern Command and the 410th Contracting Brigade, which supported the 5th and 6th Armies’ contingency and operational missions. Along with his bachelor’s from A-State, he earned three additional master’s degrees during his career. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters), and the Meritorious Service Medal (two oak leaf clusters).
Robert Earl Davis, a 1978 distinguished military graduate at A-State, embarked on a 24-year career of service that began with the U.S. Marine Corps prior to his commissioning at A-State. He deployed to South Korea and three times to the Persian Gulf for operations Desert Shield/Storm, Intrinsic Action and Iris Gold. While his active duty concluded in 2000, he remained involved in the education of the next generation of military leadership. Starting as a JROTC instructor in Dallas, he began a 16-year career working with high school students as a part of the U.S. Army Cadet Command. Earning the 2015 JROTC Director for Army Instructor of the Year award and the 2021 Public Service Commendation Medal, he touched hundreds of lives through JROTC leadership programs for inner-city youth in Dallas. His major awards include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.
Charles (Larry) Haynes, who completed his bachelor’s degree at A-State in 1969, commissioned into the infantry as a U.S. Army Reserve officer. After brief service in Germany, he deployed to Vietnam as a platoon leader. After five and a half years, he received a Regular Army commission with reassignment to the Military Police Corps. His 30-year career included deployments in support of Operation Urgent Fury and the Bosnian campaign. Among his top medals and accommodations are the Grand Cross of Distinguished Service of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Legion of Merit (three oak leaf clusters), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation with Bronze Star Medal (to a unit cited at the regimental or brigade level), Bronze Star Medal, Army Staff Badge, and the Expert Infantryman Badge.
