LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer
Posted: Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:42 am

Tennessee Adjutant Gen. Gus L. Hargett Jr. of Murfreesboro presents a flag to Col. Jeffrey Holmes of Rutherford County in recognition of Holmes’ service as commander of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Some 3,000 National Guard soldiers from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, including Rutherford County soldiers, didn’t get many entertainers when stationed one year in the remote Diyala Province of Iraq.

But Col. Jeffrey Holmes of Rutherford County, who commands the regiment, remembered when Tennessee Adjutant Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett Jr. pulled many strings to get entertainer Charlie Daniels to perform four hours for the troops in 2005.

“We had been in the theater for seven months,” Holmes recalled. “It gave them an opportunity to interact with Charlie and hear him play. Our soldiers played with him. It was four hours to forget about the war.”

Holmes and his troops appreciated Hargett’s efforts to show them they were not forgotten.

“He’s a soldier’s general,” Holmes said.

For Hargett, Holmes characterization of him as a “soldier’s general” made him smile briefly during an interview about his career and future plans.

“That’s the nicest thing to say. It means I relate to them and try to know and understand I’m willing to do something to help them.”

Hargett of Murfreesboro is retiring as Tennessee’s Adjutant General in December after serving 47 years in the National Guard.

During his seven-year tenure, the Tennessee National Guard substantially reinforced the fulltime military soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with 14,000 National Guard volunteer soldiers from Tennessee. When the 278th deploys later this year, that number will rise to more than 17,000 volunteer soldiers from Tennessee, the seventh largest guard state with 145 armories. Most of the state’s units have been deployed.

They entered the war effort immediately after 9/11. On Sept. 12, 2001, the Air National Guard’s 134th Refueling Wing in Knoxville refueled aircraft flying over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

“America can’t do what it does without the Guard and Reserve,” Hargett said.

Sgt. 1st Class Randy Harris, who heads the Guard’s public information office, said Tennessee National Guard units have stepped up.

“I’m proud of Tennessee National Guard soldiers because they have stood toe-to-toe with their counterparts,” Harris said. “They’ve been a substantial part of this. It’s been a total force effort.”

In that effort, soldiers “hunted down bad guys” and provided transportation, maintenance, supplies and support. The military police trained Iraqi police in law enforcement missions.

The Air Guard’s 118th Air Lift Wing Controlling Unit helped seven different wings in the early days of the war.

Not all the units were involved in the war effort.

Engineers were involved in a myriad of building projects and road building projects.
Military Police units filled in for active duty soldiers in Germany and Hawaii.

“We have a unit now in Afghanistan, an agriculture development team,” Harris said. “They’re teaching Afghanis better ways to plant, harvest and irrigate and help determine what cash crops will grow there. It’s not a wartime mission. This is something that will sustain those folks for the rest of their lives.”

Tennessee has always been at the forefront of the National Guard.

“We’re very good at what we do,” Harris said.

Hargett said in the Vietnam era, America recognized it was at war but America never went to war in Vietnam because it lacked support. It became a political war.

Drawing on those lessons from Vietnam, Hargett wrote an article published in 2003 about the Total Force Policy calling for the National Guard and Reserves support when the active military engages in force.

Former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird called and told Hargett it was the “right thing to say. If you don’t (send the Guard and Reserves), America is never going to go to war.”

For example, Hargett explained when Fort Campbell goes to war, Clarksville goes to war. But most people in Middle Tennessee are untouched by the war unless the Guard and Reserves participate.

People support the Guard and Reserves because they are men and women they know in their communities.

“A lot may not agree with the war but agree to support the warrior,” Hargett explained.
When the war effort has support of families and employers, “it becomes America’s war with American citizens.”

Hargett firmly believes the Tennessee National Guard plays a major role in supporting war efforts and gaining support from American citizens in fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the Tennessee National Guard was among some 750,000 National Guard and Reserve units deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

To show his support of the Guard serving in combat, Hargett tries to attend when the units deploy to the wars. About 90 days after they return, he participates in a Freedom Salute ceremony with rewards.

“It means a lot to the families when you express concern and appreciation for what they did as a part of our organization,” Hargett said.

Hargett has visited National Guard soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan about 10 to 12 times. He always takes candy.

“They want to show you they’re proud of what they are doing for their country,” Hargett noted, adding, many of the people have skills in the private sector to supplement the Army and Air Force.

Since the 278th is the largest command in Tennessee within the Guard, Hargett interacts with them frequently. After they deployed to Iraq, the general accompanied Charlie Daniels for the visit.

“He felt it was that important to show his troops they weren’t forgotten,” Holmes said.
When they returned home, Hargett was on the tarmac shaking every soldier’s hand, making them feel appreciated.

“These soldiers would follow him to the end of the world,” Holmes said.

Hargett’s history

Hargett of Ripley, Tenn., enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1962 as an infantry soldier so it’s easy for Hargett to understand the role of the solider.

“I’ve been there, done that,” Hargett said. He was commissioned an infantry officer in 1966 after completing Officer Candidate School.

Some of his assignments included:

• Serving as company commander of the 268th Military Police Co.

• Becoming the first National Guard officer who studied as a resident at NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.

• Obtaining the U.S. Army War College Fellowship at Ohio State University.

• Supervising mobilization plans for the U.S. Corps in Fort Hood, Texas.

• Working as chief of the Operations and Exercises Branch of the National Guard Bureau Pentagon.

• Accepting the appointment as adjutant general in 2002.

As adjutant general, Hargett supervises the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee State Guard.

Through his experience at Ford Hood, the War College and the Pentagon, Hargett worked with many of the generals now commanding Army operations such as Gen. Peter Corelli, formerly of the U.S. Central Command.

Gen. B.B. Bell, another Tennessean, commander of the U.S. Army Europe, helped provide security for Charlie Daniels. Hargett developed a relationship with the U.S. Army Europe during visits to Kosovo.

He communicates with Gen. David Petraeus, former commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, now at U.S. Central Command.

“It’s all about relationships,” Hargett said, then grinned, “You take a good old boy from Ripley, Tenn., to figure out how to talk to these guys.”

Holmes described Hargett as being well connected, who has the respect of leaders throughout the Army.

“One of the things I think is unique with Gen. Hargett is he’s a tremendously powerful person due to the fact he knows so many people who are civil leaders and military leaders,” Holmes said.

Yet Hargett can talk with a private and make the private feel as important as a four-star general and puts the soldier at ease.

Harris said Hargett still has a connection with the soldiers while keeping up with national issues.

“He’ll listen,” Harris said, adding, “He is one of the most professional individuals I’ve ever been associated with.”

A review

As adjutant general, Hargett named his ability to upgrade equipment and facilities for the Guard as his best accomplishment.

His greatest disappointment came with being unable to establish modern facilities for each Guard unit in every community.

One of the primary challenges for his successor will be continuing to recruit and train quality men and women as the strategic reserve for America when the war winds down.

Hargett thanked the former and present Guard soldiers.

“Thanks for your friendship, thanks for your support and thanks for your camaraderie in making this the best Guard state in America,” Hargett said.

Although he’s retiring from the Guard, Hargett will become president of the National Guard Association of the United States Jan. 1 in Washington, D.C. He will work for health care and other benefits for the Guard along with educating Congress and citizens about the Guard’s mission.

“Join and be part of the best fraternity in the state with the mission to serve citizens in your state and country,” Hargett said.

He and his wife, Shirley, will have a residence in Washington, but will keep their Murfreesboro home close to their three children and five grandchildren who live in Rutherford County and another son who lives in Hendersonville.

Holmes said although his Guard retirement is near, Hargett hasn’t slowed.

“He’s making sure he could do everything he could to support us” as the 278th deploys, Holmes said. With Hargett behind them, “we can conquer anything.”

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.