2004 Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame inductees

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, April-June, 2004

The 17th annual Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame (HOF) ceremony will be held on 25 June 2004. During the ceremony, the Corps will induct six new members: Command Sergeant Major (Retired) John C. Butler, Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Robert T. Hall, Lieutenant General (Retired) Claudia J. Kennedy, Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert W. Noonan, Jr., Major (Retired) Kenneth L. Robinson, and Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Debra E. Smith.

Command Sergeant Major John C. Butler (U.S. Army, Retired)

Command Sergeant Major John Butler began his military career as an Infantry soldier in 1969. After basic training and advanced individual training (AIT), his first assignment was with Company D, 1/8th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division (Airmobile) in South Vietnam. Before coming to Military Intelligence (MI), he spent his first fifteen years serving in Infantry Branch assignments. During this time he served in numerous leadership positions, to include assignments with 1/8th Infantry in South Vietnam, 3/8th Cavalry in West Germany, 1/31st Infantry in South Korea, the United Nations Command Support Group-Joint Security Area (UNCSG-JSA) in South Korea, and as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. In 1984, CSM Butler was selected to serve as a Senior Intelligence Sergeant with the 3d Brigade, 7th Infantry Division (Light). In preparation for the Brigade's certification during Exercise Celtic Cross IV, he was singularly responsible for writing the intelligence portion of the 3d Brigade operations plan (OPLAN). During the actual exercise, he supervised the Intelligence Section and ensured the prompt, accurate flow of intelligence information throughout the command.

By 1986, CSM Butler had decided to make a career change to Military Intelligence. He completed the Intelligence Analyst Course and subsequently moved to $2 duties. His common-sense approach to his new intelligence duties earned immediate recognition; during a Gallant Knight command post exercise, the Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps, singled him out for his outstanding contribution.

CSM Butler's next assignment was as First Sergeant of B Company, 10th MI Battalion, 7th Infantry Division (Light). In this role, he provided exceptional leadership, mentoring, and training for all the soldiers of his unit. After his service as First Sergeant, he moved on to become the G2 Sergeant Major, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana, in 1990. During Operation DESERT SHIELD, he created an in-depth training program for all G2 soldiers in anticipation of a deployment to Southwest Asia, raising unit readiness to its highest level while continuing to provide quality intelligence support to 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (51D [M]).

In 1992, he became Command Sergeant Major of the 302d MI Battalion, 205th MI Brigade, in Germany. During his time as the Battalion CSM, his battalion was cited as the best intelligence organization of its type during a V Corps Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) exercise. He was personally responsible for the successful relocation of the battalion from Frankfurt to split locations at Wiesbaden and Heidelberg. The battalion continued to provide full intelligence support during this move.

In 1996, CSM Butler moved on to become the CSM for the 15th MI Battalion (Aerial Exploitation Battalion [AEB]), 504th MI Brigade, at Fort Hood, Texas. His final assignment was as the Brigade CSM for the 504th MI Brigade. Here again, his continued support of training and leadership development through mentoring resulted in an exceptional command climate within the Brigade.

CSM Butler's dedication to duty and outstanding contributions over a long and illustrious career have had a lasting and significant impact on all the soldiers and commands where he served. His was a positive influence on the lives, careers, and families of all those with whom he served. Atrue mentor and soldier's soldier, CSM Butler retired in 1999.

Command Sergeant Major Robert T. Hall (U.S. Army, Retired)

Command Sergeant Major Robert Hall entered the Army in 1970. After basic training and AIT, he served as a Manual Morse Intercept Operator with the 7th Radio Research Field Station in Thailand. Upon his return to the United States in 1972, he was assigned to Vint Hill Farms Station, Virginia; when Vint Hill closed in 1974, he was transferred to San Antonio, Texas. A year later, he attended the Cryptologist Course for Supervisors at Fort Meade, Maryland. That course led to his assignment at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as a Morse Code Instructor. It was during his assignment at Fort Devens that his strength as a trainer, mentor, and leader began to evolve. Recruited for the 402d Army Security Agency (ASA) Detachment Special Operations (Airborne), 10th Special Forces Group (SFG) Airborne in May 1976, he performed duties as a Special Operations Team Intelligence Collector/Radio Operator and as a Team Sergeant.

In 1981, CSM Hall was assigned to the 328th ASA Company, 502d ASA Battalion, in Augsburg, West Germany, where he served as Service Platoon Sergeant, Operations Platoon Sergeant, Field First Sergeant, Training Noncommissioned Officer (NCO), and NCO In Charge (NCOIC) of the Processing, Control, and Analysis Section. He returned to Fort Bragg in 1984 where he was assigned as Operations Sergeant of the 519th MI Battalion, 525th MI Brigade (Airborne). CSM Hall was then reassigned to the G2, 1st Special Operations Command (SOC) as the Signal Intelligence/ Electronic Warfare NCOIC. In September 1985, he assumed duties as the First Sergeant, A Company, 8th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion, 4th PSYOP Group.