82nd Airborne Division to induct paratroopers into the 2024 Hall of Fame

The 82nd Airborne Division will honor seven veteran paratroopers later this month for induction into the seventh class for the All American Hall of Fame Class of 2024, the division announced April 29.

The induction, which is part of the division’s All American Week, will take place at 11 a.m. May 22 at the 82nd Airborne Division Hall of Heroes on Fort Liberty.

The Hall of Fame honors veteran paratroopers based on their service within the division, lifelong dedication to the values of the division, courageous combat action and contributions to their chosen field outside the division.

Inductees were selected by a board of senior leaders from nominations from units in the division.

Criteria for induction included considering nominees who were awarded the Medal of Honor or those who have served a minimum of two years in the division and are at least five years removed from their last service in the division.

This year’s winners are:

Retired Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock

Lt. Gen. Carl Strock served in the division for six years, first as a reconnaissance platoon leader, then as company director and assistant operations officer with the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

After being transferred to the engineering department, he returned to the division, where he served on the staff and commanded the engineering battalion.

As a division engineer, he served on the staff and advised staff and senior leaders while exerting influence over operational command and control of all engineering resources assigned to the division.

Strock later became commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and responded to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

His deployments with the division include Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama and Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

Retired Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman John Wayne Troxell

John Wayne Troxell’s 38-plus years of military service included two tours with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Troxell’s five combat tours include making the combat parachute jump and serving in Operation Just Cause in Panama; Operation Desert Shield/Storm; two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Troxell served from 2015 to 2019 as the third senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to advise on all matters related to U.S. forces, including the lethality, readiness, suitability, well-being and deployability of the force, as well as the joint force. development and education.

Since retiring in 2020, Troxell has opened a consulting firm and written a memoir titled “Surrender or Die! Reflections of a battle leader.”

He serves as the National Ambassador for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and serves as a strategic advisor and brand ambassador for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Foundation.

Troxell also routinely visits Fort Liberty units to participate in physical training with paratroopers and to organize professional development for leaders.

1st Lieutenant Turner B. Turnbull

Turner Turnbull, born in Durant, Oklahoma, joined the Army in 1939 and was assigned to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1943.

Turnbull and his battalion landed in France on June 6, 1943 and were assigned to defend the Neuville Au Plain north of St. Mere Eglise.

Turnbull moved from position to position directing the fire and movement.

Turnbull’s commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort, who was inducted into last year’s Hall of Fame, sent a messenger to Turnbull asking if he could stand his ground.

Turnbull’s response was: “Don’t worry about me, Colonel.”

By 4:30 p.m., Nazi mortar fire and battle exhaustion had reduced the force, leaving nine dead and eleven seriously injured.

Turnbull ordered a rapid retreat with 16 men moving along a hedge until they reached a stone shed halfway up St. Mere Eglise, where they were nearly surrounded when the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment began to advance on the position, firing withering fire fired at the German attackers.

Turnbull and his men rejoined the main body which managed to secure St. Mere Eglise, but died the next day, June 7, 1943. Turnbull’s actions earned him the Silver Star Medal.

The class of 2023: 82nd Airborne Division inducts 12 into Hall of Fame

Retired Commando Sgt. Major Angel Serrano

Command Sgt. Major Angel Serrano served in the 82nd Airborne Division for 21 years and remains the division’s security officer.

While assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a scout and reconnaissance platoon sergeant, then Sgt. 1st Class Serrano prepared and trained all members of his platoon to attend and graduate from Ranger School. It was the only reconnaissance platoon in the division with 100% Ranger-qualified members.

His focus on training his formation helped the platoon conduct an airborne assault on Panama.

For his actions in Panama, Serrano was awarded the Bronze Star and the Master Parachutist Badge Combat Distinguishing Device.

A few months later, Serrano’s platoon deployed as the lead element of Task Force Devil for President George HW Bush’s “line in the sand” to defend Saudi Arabia from Iraqi forces during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

While serving as a first sergeant for A Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Serrano was part of a jumpmaster team when Green Ramp, at Pope Airfield, was consumed by fire from an explosion of a C-141 Starlifter military aircraft, caused by a plane collision in March 1994.

Serrano led paratroopers to extinguish fires, assess and evacuate the injured.

Retired Commando Sgt. Major Felix W. Acosta

During his 35 years of service, Command Sgt. Major Acosta consistently maintained a leadership role within the 82nd Airborne Division, including as command sergeant major of the 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division Artillery command sergeant major.

He would later become the first artilleryman selected as the division’s command sergeant major and later the senior enlisted leader of the 18th Airborne Corps before retiring from the Army after 35 years of service.

After his retirement, Acosta continued his support of the troops as co-owner of the Armed Forces Service Corp. and as a human resource manager assisting with communications projects to assist deployed soldiers.

Retired Commando Sgt. Major Cristino Nunez

Command Sgt. Major Christino Nunez held every leadership position in the division from team leader to platoon sergeant between January 1979 and June 1992.

His company deployed in support of Operation Golden Pheasant in Honduras, Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm Iraq and Kuwait, providing critical engineering support to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Nunez returned to the division as command sergeant major of the 307th Engineer Battalion between July 1999 and June 2002.

Nunez has continued to serve the community through organizations and volunteer work with organizations such as AUSA, the 82nd Airborne Memorial Association, the chamber’s Military Affairs Council, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Veterans United Home Loans Foundation.

Retired Commando Sgt. Major LaMarquis Knowles

During his 32 years of service, Command Sgt. Major LaMarquis Knowles served in several positions that directly impacted the Army and Joint Forces. He spent two years as a Ranger instructor and served as command sergeant major at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

“Both opportunities allowed him to cultivate leaders across the Army and broadened his perspective in preparation for his time as command sergeant major of the 82nd Airborne Division,” the division said.

Knowles earned the Distinguished Service Medal, “and multiple echelons of commands recognized him for his efforts in setting the standards for execution in the 82nd Airborne Division.”

After retiring, Knowles became the senior noncommissioned officer coach at the Joint Readiness Training Center.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3528.