LTC Wetzel Brumfield

USAR PA doctrine guru.
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: SGM Mary Starmer

Wetzel "Scoop" Brumfield was a leader in establishing reserve component MOS-qualification courses for enlisted journalists and developed the first operational PA doctrine for press camp headquarters operations. He was responsible for training development and force structure -- including unit structure and equipment, overseas deployment training, and skill qualification for USAR officer and enlisted public affairs personnel for call-up and deployment. He participated in the development of Army and DOD PA doctrine. As such, he was considered the USAR "guru" of Army public affairs warfighting doctrine.

Another significant PA assignment was the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve -- which emphasizes the "Total Force." He served the 89th Army Reserve Cmd., in Wichita, Kan., and the 15th Support Brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash., as PAO. He finished his career as chief of policy, plans and professional development, PAO, U.S. Army Reserve Cmd. Brumfield died in 1997.

MG Charles D. Bussey

Gave birth to PAPA and media pools.

1955-1989

Nominated by: COL Colin K. Dunn

Charles D. Bussey, 67, began his military career in 1955 as an
infantry officer. His first impact on PA was as chief of OCPA's Policy and Plans Division from December 1977 to May 1980.

Bussey redefined PA and spearheaded establishment and structure of the Public Affairs Proponent Activity. He assured the community benefited from critical media-on-the-battlefield lessons learned in Grenada and piloted the draft development and implementation of our current "media pool" concept, policies and procedures.
Bussey was deputy at OCPA from 1982 to 1984 and became its chief in August 1984. During this time, PA was heavily involved in advising the Army staff and dealing with the media during the 101st Airborne Division aircraft disaster in Gander, Newfoundland. Bussey restructured Soldiers Radio and Television to improve OCPA's broadcast mission. He created the Journalist of the Year award in memory of John T. Anderson, the only Army broadcaster to have been a prisoner of war. Bussey retired in May 1989 and lives in Springfield, Va.

Mr. David L. Church

Developed career program for civilians.
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: Mr. Gene Gamble and LTC Ronald D. Wolfe Jr. (Ret.)

David L. Church was a PA professional whose 45-year career
had a significant impact on the PA community. As a practitioner, Church was one of the few who earned PRSA's Award for Excellence — a Silver Anvil. The award was the result of a 1970 program publicizing the Army's successes in providing helicopter evacuation services to accident and disaster victims.

Church's most enduring contribution, however, was the development of the Army PA Civilian Career Program. When he served as retired annunitant to the Assistant CPA for Resource Management and the CPA in civilian personnel matters, Church redesigned the civilian evaluation system. He designed the prototype of a career program for DA civilians based on a military program model which defined specific skills, abilities and potentials. He chaired a task force to convert the PA Career Management program from SKAP to ACTEDS. Today's civilian PA career rating and referral program is a direct result of his vision, commitment and tenacity.

Church died in November 1991.

Mr. Klaus Halm

AC/RC integrator at FORSCOM.
1954-1991

Nominated by: Mr. Barry Morris

Klaus Halm, 71, was born in Germany, fled in the 1930s and was
drafted in 1954 while doing doctoral studies at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He was assigned to Fort McPherson, Ga., as an enlisted journalist for two years. Then, as a DA civilian, he was the speechwriter for the commanding general of Third Army. In 1965 he became chief of the Press Section of Third Army PAO. He was responsible for managing media coverage of the My Lai Massacre/CPT Medina trials at Fort McPherson. His insistence on the trial being open to the media helped deflect negative opinions of the Army into a contemporary standard of military/media relations.

In 1972 Halm reorganized Third Army PAO, forming one of the first PA plans and operations branches. During his tenure, Halm set the standard for the integration of active- and reserve-component PA units and personnel. His work eventually led to the creation of more than 80 PA units in all components. He ultimately became DPAO of FORSCOM PA, and retired from civil service in June 1991. Halm lives in Peachtree City, Ga.

Mr. Robert J. Harlan

Served as AFN, Europe, PD for 18 years.
1943-1986

Nominated by: SGM Mark A. Van Treuren

Robert J. Harlan began his 38-year association with the Army as
an aviation cadet in 1943. He attended the fourth class of the new Army Information School at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., and was assigned to Armed Forces Network, Europe, in 1949.

After a four year military tour at AFN, during which he climbed to studio supervisor, Harlan converted to civilian status and was promoted to chief of network production. Under his management AFN expanded from a seven- to a 10-station network in Germany, Holland, Belgium and England. After assignments in Kaiserslautern and Munich, Harlan returned to Frankfurt in 1961 as chief of production, serving there until his 1964 appointment as program director of AFN France. He returned to Germany as deputy PD of the network from 1964-1968. In 1968 Harlan began an 18-year assignment as the network's PD and ranking civilian, a position he held until his retirement in 1986. That same year he received the first award of the Armed Forces Broadcasters Association Award for Broadcasting Excellence — an award which has been renamed "The Harlan Award." Harlan lives in Cape Coral, Fla.

COL John D. Kenderdine

Helped revive S&S and establish ARS.
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: Mr. Joseph A. Bourdow

John D. Kenderdine was a product of the World War I officer- training
program at Platsburg, N.Y., and was a company officer in the 7th Inf. Div. throughout its actions in France. His first contribution to PA was the establishment of a monthly magazine, Army Information Digest , of which Soldiers is a direct offspring.
Kenderdine was one of a handful who developed the concept of a series of films tracing the events leading to World War II and stressing the importance of allied victory — resulting in a series coordinated closely by the War Dept. and produced in Hollywood, titled "Why We Fight." The series won an academy award.

Kenderdine was intimately involved in the revival of Stars and Stripes (which had ceased publication in 1919) and in the establishment of the Army Radio Service (now AFRTS). He was also one of the early planners of what came to be called YANK, the Army Weekly, which in its five-year span entertained and enlightened troops in all theaters and stateside.

Kenderdine, who died in 1980, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

COL Donald P. Kirchoffner

Military & DA civilian public affairs superstar.
1966-1995

Nominated by: MG Charles Bussey (Ret.), COL Doug Coffey (Ret.) and COL Robert Mirelson

Donald P. Kirchoffner, 56, entered the Army as an MP in 1966.

After a tour as Provost Marshal and PAO at Fort McPherson, Ga., Kirchoffner was the first PAO selected for Training with Industry with Ketchum in Pittsburgh. He then took a tired Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army program and turned it around. Kirchoffner was chairman of the Military Science Department at the University of Pittsburgh from 1984 to 1988.

During the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kirchoffner was very visible as European Command's deputy PAO. For Operation Desert Shield, he was the senior DOD officer sent to establish a JIB in Saudi Arabia just five days after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Following Desert Storm, he led the efforts of 70 international PA professionals during Kurdish relief operations in Northern Iraq. As OCPA's MR chief, he managed press relations during the Los Angeles riots. Following his 1992 retirement, Kirchoffner became the first civilian PAO for the Army Materiel Command, and was personally selected to handle PA during relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. Kirchoffner lives in Naperville, Ill.

Mr. August T. McColgan

"One heck of a PAO" -- Washington Post.
1954-1985

Nominated by: Mr. John M. Gorgas

August T. McColgan, 80, is a WWII veteran and former infantry officer. He served as PIO for the MD Regional District, a staff officer in the Japan-Far East PI Office, PIO for Ninth Corps, a plans officer for CINFO and a PIO for Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., before retiring from active duty as PIO at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

s a civilian, McColgan became PIO for AMC's Test and Evaluation Command. A 1968 incident at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, proved quite challenging for McColgan. In light of conflicting information about chemical testing there, he went to Dugway to clarify DA's position to the media. He later touted big five (Abrams, Bradley, Black Hawk, Apache, Patriot) weapon developments in the 1970 and 1980s. They were all tested at sites under McColgan's PA responsibility.

Upon his retirement, The Washington Post said of McColgan: "We trust it won't unduly embarrass [him] to have it known that the press, as well as the brass, thought him one heck of a PAO." McColgan retired in March 1985 and lives in Towson, Md.

LTG Floyd L. Parks

"The father of modern Army public affairs."
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: MG Charles Bussey (Ret.) and SFC Kevin Robinson

Floyd L. Parks is widely recognized as the "Father of modern Army public affairs." His career began in 1918 as a private during WWI, and he received his commission in 1920. His career evolved through peace and war, and he eventually was assigned as chief of PI. Parks served as CINFO for almost five years in two tours, creating the mold from which today's Army PA professionals have emerged.

Parks said: " It is the responsibility of each individual to build his character and reputation in his community." Under Parks, PI hired more personnel and fought for increased appropriations. In 1951 he established the Hometown News Center in Kansas City, Mo. He stayed as CINFO until 1953 with a simple philosophy: Study a situation carefully, but using minimum delay, move on it quickly. Today, as you enter the hallways at OCPA you'll see a plaque dedicated to Parks, "who spent his life in the service of his country, its armed forces and its free press." Retiring in 1956, Parks worked for the National Rifle Association until his death in 1959.

MG Winant Sidle

In the hotseat when TV brought Vietnam into the living room.
1941-1975

Nominated by: BG James A. Herbert (Ret.)

Winant "Si" Sidle was a artilleryman during WWII and saw combat in Northern Africa, Italy, France, Germany and Austria. At the end of the war he commanded the battalion in which he had enlisted less than five years earlier.

However, it was in Vietnam that Sidle, by then a PA professional, encountered a host of PA challenges. This period offered difficulty during a time when public support for Vietnam was deteriorating, U.S. casualties were mounting and the news media was bringing the war into the living room. When the widespread attacks of Tet 1968 nearly destroyed the Viet Cong but were touted by the news media as a great communist victory, Sidle patiently explained the fact that is was a victory for the United States and South Vietnam.

As CINFO from 1969 to 1973, Sidle was instrumental in changing public perception to favor the Army by mustering total support for the successful Joint Civilian Orientation Conference in their visits to Army posts and stressing ComRel responsibilities. Sidle retired in 1975.

MG Robert B. Solomon

He adopted the change PI to PA.
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: COL Colin K. Dunn

Robert K. Solomon enlisted during the Korean War in 1951. His distinguished career included a tour as an instructor at the Army Information School at Fort Slocum, N.Y., and as the 3rd Armored Div. information officer. He served as VII Corps information officer in Stuttgart, Germany, and was then assigned to CINFO as chief of Army newspapers and later as chief of the Policy and Plans Division. He returned to DA as DCPA in 1976 and became CPA in 1977.

Solomon spearheaded the alignment of the Army's terminology with other federal agencies by adopting the change from public information to public affairs. As CPA, he was responsible for the successful merger and consolidation of the Army and Air Force Hometown News Center at Kelly AFB, Texas. This merger was a superb example of interservice cooperation between the PA communities while saving tax dollars. Establishment of the center was the keynote initiative in winning public acceptance and support of the all-volunteer force. Solomon died in 1998.

LTC Hal D. Steward

Survived five combat compaigns with 1st Cav.
1942-1961

Nominated by: COL Edward C. Raleigh (Ret.)

Hal D. Steward, 82, began his PA career in 1942 as the PR officer of
the Branch Immaterial Replacement Training Center at Fort McClellan, Ala. From there he became PIO of the 93rd Inf. Div. at Fort Huachuca and PR officer at Camp Wolters, Texas.

Steward was a member of the first Combat Correspondence Team organized by Army Ground Forces. He was then assigned to establish the first PR section of the 1st Cavalry Div. After five combat campaigns with the 1st Cav., he became the associate editor of the Armored Cavalry Journal.

In 1948 Steward returned to the 1st Cav as PIO, remaining there through the first year of the Korean War. He then became chief of the PI section at the Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., and was then assigned PIO for the Army Northern Cmd. in Germany and commander of the Schweinfurt subarea. From Germany, Steward came to the Pentagon to establish the ComRel Branch in the PIO. He then went to NATO Allied Land Forces in Izmir, Turkey, as PIO, followed by duty at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Retired in 1961, Steward lives in San Diego, CA.

Mr. E. Wrenne Timberlake

First DA civilian to hold MACOM PA status.
1964-1993

Nominated by: Mr. Albert F. Hinton

E.Wrenne Timberlake, 75, began his civil service career in 1964 as the Strategic Communications Command PAO — the first DA civilian to hold MACOM PAO status. Timberlake was among the first in DA to initiate automation technology in the dissemination of news and command information. During the Vietnam War years, he introduced a media liaison program by personally visiting major daily newspapers, television and radio stations.

Timberlake was president of PRSA chapters in New York, New Mexico and Arizona. "Mr. T" established new ISC PA offices in the United States, Germany, Okinawa, Korea and Hawaii, and sponsored dozens of uniformed careerists in PRSA. Timberlake's honors include a PRSA Silver Anvil, Keith L. Ware (Army newspaper) and Thomas Jefferson (Department of Defense newspaper) awards, selection to Who's Who in American Public Relations and three Orchid awards from the Tucson Press Club. Timberlake retired in March 1993 and lives in Tucson, Ariz.

MG Keith L. Ware

"Winning a Ware Award is a success story."
Awarded posthumously

Nominated by: SFC Kevin Robinson

Keith L. Ware continues to move new generations of PA soldiers and civilians to follow a tradition of excellence. In the late 1970s, his name was adopted to enhance the Army's newspaper awards program. Thirty years later, to win a "Keith L. Ware" means reaching the pinnacle of your profession as an Army journalist.

Ware was drafted five months before World War II began and was commissioned in July 1942. Eventually the war took Ware to the beaches at Anzio and the liberation of Rome before he landed with 3rd Infantry Division units in Southern France, where he earned the Medal of Honor. His citation read (in part), "Five of his men fell and the colonel was wounded. Ware refused medical attention until the hill was clear of enemy." In 1964 he was assigned as deputy chief of information, and was promoted to chief of information less than 18 months later. Ware went on to command the 1st Inf. Div. in Vietnam, where he was killed Sept. 13, 1968, when his helicopter was hit by heavy fire during operations against an estimated 1,500 North Vietnamese troops.