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May 10, 2008

UCO ROTC commissions 5 new lieutenants into U.S. Army

Courtney Bryce

EDMOND — The University of Central Oklahoma Army ROTC commissioned five new lieutenants into the U.S. Army in a special ceremony Friday.

Lts. Antoun Gulley, Jeffery Nantze, Shelby Vance Williams, Cody Willis and James Thomas Letterman each will head for the National Guard, Army Reserves or active duty.

“I’m very proud of the cadets of the Broncho Battalion and what they’ve accomplished this year,” said Col. Lance Newbold. “They will accept more responsibility than most people in their lifetime.”

He said the UCO Army ROTC received more than $100,000 in scholarships from the Army this year and completed its mission for having a certain number of cadets receive their commission.

Lt. Col. Steve Russell was the special guest speaker. His unit was a central player in the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

“I served because of my love of country and the American way of life,” Russell said. “Our nation will prevail as long as we still have a few Americans that will take a stand.”

He told the new lieutenants to lead and work together with their soldiers, be kind to the elderly, respect others and stand up to the bully. Only one in 10 Americans is willing to lead, he said.

“As leaders you will have to take risks,” Russell said. “You can’t take counsel of your fears.”

The ceremony ended as family members pinned the lieutenants’ ranks to their uniforms.

Williams said it his goal to do his job right and lead his men the way he should. He joined UCO’s ROTC program because it’s a really good program and allowed him to learn leadership skills. Williams was ranked 116 out of the 3,000 cadets across the nation making him a Distinguished Military Graduate. He will commission as an Armor officer.

Willis graduated from the basic airborne course August 2006 and reports June 8 to Ft. Sill.

“I always wanted to be in ROTC since I was a young boy and UCO offered me a four-year scholarship,” Willis said.

Gulley contracted with the California National Guard during his senior year of high school. After completing basic training and advance individual training, he transferred to the Oklahoma National Guard and began attending UCO. He will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

Nantze joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 2002. He deployed in 2004 as a Public Works Team Sergeant with the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion to Mosul, Iraq. He will continue to serve with the USAR as a Military Intelligence Officer with the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Letterman will commission into the National Guard as a Signal Officer and attend Officer Basic Course in November.

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012412 ransbottom bracelet.jpg

PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Laverne Ransbottom holds a silver MIA bracelet inscribed with her son's name. The bracelet was sent to Ransbottom after the death of Mary Milley of Maine who wore the bracelet every day for 39 years. In the frame are artifacts found in 2006 where Maj. Fredrick Ransbottom lost his life in 1968 at a military outpost in Kham Duc, Vietnam, including his class ring, billfold and a library card.

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