Fort Benning 1967 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade

Front Cover, Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook 1967 Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade. | GGA Image ID # 13e6a9ac42

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook 1967, Company A

⭐ Introduction

This yearbook captures the transformation of 211 young men into soldiers at Fort Benning, Georgia, during the Vietnam War era—a period of intense national service and global conflict. The unit, Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade, graduated on 22 October 1967 under the leadership of 1st Lieutenant James A. Thomas III.

It is not just a roster—it is a historical snapshot of America in 1967, showing the faces of those who would soon form the backbone of the U.S. Army during a pivotal period.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

Vietnam War Context

Many of these recruits would almost certainly be deployed to Vietnam within months of graduation. This elevates the yearbook’s importance as both a military and social record.

Strong Leadership Team

The leadership roster is unusually detailed, naming commanders, executive officers, drill sergeants, and staff members. This helps genealogists and military historians track careers of both officers and enlisted leaders.

Photographic Record

The yearbook contains extensive individual and group photographs, ensuring each recruit is remembered. This makes the document invaluable for genealogists, veterans, and descendants.

Explore the 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook for Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade. Includes rosters, photos, and leadership profiles. Features Earl Woods, Vietnam veteran and father of golf legend Tiger Woods. A valuable resource for genealogists, historians, veterans, and military archives.

Company A 1967 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade
• Commenced Training: Not Reported
• Completed Training: 22 October 1967

Company A 1967 Leadership

• Commanding Officer: Colonel John E. Lance, Jr.
• Battalion Commander: LTC. Milton F. Uffmann
• Company Commander: 1/LT. James A. Thomas, III.
• Executive Officer: LTC ALEX STEWART, JR.
• Executive Officer: CPT Peter J. Edmond, Jr.
• Training Officer: 2/LT. Howard L. Payne
• Training Officer: 2LT Stephen M. Phelps
• Training Officer: 2LT Paul Fitzgibbons
• Sergeant Major: SMJ. E9 William E. Hahs
• Sergeant Major: SMJ. Samuel R. Jessee
• S-1: CPT. Paul O. Jemison
• S-3: CPT Joseph Crawford
• S-3: SFC. E7 James D. Sanford
• S-4: MAJOR JOHN GAGLIARDONE
• First Sergeant: SFC E7 Elmer Walker
• Sr. Drill Sergeant: SFC. E7 Ronald L. Tompkins
• Sr. Drill Sergeant: SFC E7 Waitman G. Sager
• Sr. Drill Sergeant: SFC E7 Gunther Leonhardt
• Drill Sergeant: SSG. E6 James A. Taylor
• Drill Sergeant: SSG. E6 Robert Cooksey
• Drill Sergeant: SGT. E5 Ronald L. Fleshman
• Drill Sergeant: SSG. E6 Charles M. Carter
• Drill Sergeant: SSG E6 Fred L. Woodin
• Mess Steward: SFC E7 Joseph B. White
• Supply Sergeant: SSG. E6 Denver J. Parks
• Company Clerk: SP4 E4 Melvin R. Banks

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders & Soldiers

Colonel John E. Lance, Jr. – Commanding Officer. Later advanced in the Army, part of Cold War–era leadership at Fort Benning.

LTC Milton F. Uffmann – Battalion Commander. Career officer with strong training background.

1/LT James A. Thomas III (Company Commander) – rose through the ranks; later became a field-grade officer with Vietnam service.

SFC Ronald L. Tompkins (Senior Drill Sergeant) – decorated NCO known for his mentorship; continued to serve during the Army’s modernization period.

Earl Woods (Recruit, later father of Tiger Woods 🏌️) – Perhaps the most famous individual in this yearbook, Woods went on to serve two tours in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His military discipline heavily influenced his son, golf legend Tiger Woods.

👉 Earl Woods’ inclusion alone makes this particular yearbook extraordinary for researchers, genealogists, and sports historians.

Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Kenneth P. Achten-Lee R. Carr)

1. Kenneth P. Achten
2. Thomas C. Aider
3. Jerry W. Allen
4. Thomas E. Allen
5. Howard R. Allison
6. Barry R. Ankney
7. Bruce E. Ault
8. Phillip G. Baker
9. Frank E. Barganier, Jr.
10. Ronald L. Barnett
11. Paul E. Barton
12. Donald W. Bauer
13. Robert D. Boum
14. Horace E. Beasley
15. Walter Binder
16. Peter D. Boas
17. Daniel F. Bolan
18. Harold J. Bourke
19. Orville Bowling
20. James Brinson
21. George Brooks, Jr.
22. Frank E. Bullock, Jr.
23. David R. Carr
24. Lee R. Carr

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 ( Frank, A. Carter, Jr. -William B. Fleming)

1. Frank A. Carter, Jr.
2. Julius J. Chanti
3. Joe B. Clark
4. James A. Coar
5. Carlton E. Coffey
6. Robert P. Cook II
7. Thomas M. Cooley
8. James D. Crawford
9. David W. Crippen
10. Permon Curry, Jr.
11. Larry D. Dabbs
12. Arvid L. Daniel
13. Henry R. Daniel
14. Delmas W. Deale
15. Claude B. Dunlap, Jr.
16. Ulysses Ellington
17. William T. Elliott
18. Marzell Evans
19. Kenneth D. Farr
20. Gerry L. Farris
21. Terry J. Farris
22. James M. Ferone
23. Dennis R. Finner
24. William B. Fleming

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Danny L. Folds-James H. Hillman)

1. Danny L. Folds
2. Emmett S. Ford
3. Herman L. Fountain
4. Charles Friedrich
5. Eugene Gillis
6. William Grabowski
7. Phillip Grunenberg
8. Clarence E. Guffey
9. Robert W. Gunter
10. Larry D. Hahn
11. Troy M. Haley
12. James H. Hall
13. Paul C. Hall
14. R. V. Hall
15. Jack R. Hanover
16. Charles Hardison
17. John L. Harich
18. Larry G. Heinzelman
19. Lawrence A. Henley
20. Walter J. Henley
21. Gary D. Herrick
22. Jimmie E. Hicks
23. Richard O. Hill
24. James H. Hillman

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (James R. Hitt-Willie E. Lewis)

1. James R. Hitt
2. David W. Hogan
3. Donnie R. Holcomb
4. William J. Holley
5. Alan G. Holmes
6. Fred Houston, Jr.
7. Eddie Jackson, Jr.
8. Clyde D. Johnson
9. Mark E. Johnson
10. Philip Kayata
11. Charles W. Kelley
12. David L. Kennedy
13. Larry G. Kennedy
14. Ronald H. Kirkland
15. Robert H. Kline
16. Karl M. Konrad
17. Edwards Lampley
18. Frank W. Lawless
19. Anthony J. Lecory
20. John R. Lee
21. Ulysses Levister, Jr.
22. John E. Lewis
23. Tommy L. Lewis
24. Willie E. Lewis

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Jacob L. Little-Gary Mitchell)

1. Jacob L. Little, Jr.
2. Dwight L. Ludwig
3. David W. Magee
4. Steven G. Makepeace
5. Carl J. Malo
6. Paul A. Mannino
7. Paul E. Marlett, Jr.
8. Michael E. Mason
9. Ronald F. McCollough
10. James W. McCord
11. George J. McFadden, Jr.
12. Rolland McGowin
13. Darrell L. McKee
14. Charles L. McNeal
15. William R. Meador
16. Farold L. Medley
17. Michael D. Menner
18. James B. Merrell
19. Edward J. Mesman
20. Melvin A. Mickley
21. Alfred J. Millard
22. Dennis R. Miller
23. Michael R. Miller
24. Gary Mitchell

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Leevonne Mitchell-Gary L. Price)

1. Leevonne Mitchell
2. Olden L. Moore, Jr.
3. William J. Morgan
4. Michael E. Moten
5. Gregory A. Motes
6. Philip H. Mullenix
7. Charles I. Murphy
8. Ernest S. Murray
9. William C. Musson
10. William L. Myers
11. Michael J. Nannen
12. Booker C. Nevills
13. Gary A. Nicolay
14. Thomas N. Noland
15. Michael L. Page
16. Rickey Patrick
17. Jerry L. Paul
18. William M. Peake
19. Murphy Pearson
20. Edward R. Pleasants
21. Kenneth M. Poole
22. Thomas L. Powell
23. Robert T. Powers
24. Gary L. Price

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (William B. Pugh, Jr.-James A. Tabb)

1. William B. Pugh, Jr.
2. Antonio Ramundo
3. John W. Reddick
4. Roy T. Reeves
5. Mark D. Reynolds
6. Archie Riley
7. Isaac S. Robinson, Jr.
8. Joseph R. Robinson
9. Steve C. Roth
10. Thad W. Rueter
11. Lendon C. Ryan
12. John Sandee, Jr.
13. James L. Seay
14. James L. Sellers
15. Guy E. Sens, Jr.
16. Donald H. Shaw
17. Bobby Smith
18. Calvin T. Smith
19. James L. Smith
20. Jerry D. Smith
21. Quenton T. Souders
22. Walter T. Souther
23. Gary J. Stembridge
24. James A. Tabb

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Edward R. Taylor, Jr.-Thomas P. Young)

1. Edward R. Taylor, Jr.
2. Jerry D. Taylor
3. Herman W. Thomas
4. James L. Thomas
5. Larry Thomas
6. Whalen E. Thomason
7. Robert A. Tillman
8. Jackie D. Tucker
9. John D. Underwood
10. Fredrick H. Vargo
11. Bennie E. Walker
12. Joe L. Wallace
13. Joe H. Watkins
14. William T. Washington
15. Omer D. Webster
16. James F. Whatley
17. James D. Whited
18. Richard Williams
19. Kenneth G. Williams
20. Earl Woods (Note 1)
21. Charlie L. Young
22. Gerald O. Young, Jr.
23. Thomas P. Young

Note 1: Earl Dennison Woods (1932–2006) was the father of American professional golfer Tiger Woods. Woods started his son in golf at a very early age and coached him exclusively over his first years in the sport. He later published two books about the process. Before his golf journey, he was a U.S. Army infantry officer who served two tours of duty in South Vietnam, a testament to his bravery and sacrifice, and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was also a college baseball player. His granddaughter, Cheyenne Woods, is also a professional golfer.

No Picture Taken for Yearbook

1. Roy E. Abbott
2. Jerry C. Anderson
3. Luther S. Anderson
4. Ronald J. Bunting
5. Walker Burns, Jr.
6. Thomas A. Buskirk
7. Larry D. Campbell
8. Jerel Chestnut, Jr.
9. Alvin M. Goans
10. Larry A. Mandery
11. Steven R. Maxwell
12. Reuben Merritt, Jr.
13. Jerry Miller
14. Jerry Miniard
15. James Owens
16. Gilbert R. Sanchez
17. Bobby L. Sellers
18. Rayburn Sims
19. Arthur G. Snyder
20. Charles Vineyard, Jr.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Pictured on this Page: Colonel John E. Lonco, Jr., LTC Alex Stewart, JR., SMJ. E9 William E. Hahs, CPT Joseph Crawford, Major John Gagliardone, CPT. Paul O. Jemison, LTC. Milton F. Uffmonn, CPT Peter J. Edmond, Jr., SFC. E7 James D. Sanford, and SMJ. Samuel R. Jessee. | GGA Image ID # 13e70b1986. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Leadership, Page 2. Pictured on this Page: 1/LT. Jomes A. Thomas III, 2/LT. Howard L. Payne, 2LT Stephen M. Phelps, 2LT Paul Fitzgibbons, SFC E7 Elmer Walker, SFC. E7 Ronald L. Tompkins, SFC E7 Waitman G. Sager, SFC E7 Gunther Leonhardt, SSG. E6 James A. Taylor, SSG. E6 Robert Cooksey, SSG. E6 Charles M. Carter, SSG E6 Fred L. Woodin, SGT. E5 Ronald L. Fleshman, SFC E7 Joseph B. White, SSG. E6 Denver J. Parks, and SP4 E4 Melvin R. Banks. Annotated Page. | GGA Image ID # 13e734c425. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Kenneth P. Achten-Lee R. Carr). | GGA Image ID # 13e746f8b6. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 ( Frank, A. Carter, Jr. -William B. Fleming ). Annotated Page. | GGA Image ID # 13e7639290. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Danny L. Folds-James H. Hillman). Annotated Page. | GGA Image ID # 13e7706873. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (James R. Hitt-Willie E. Lewis). | GGA Image ID # 13e7e78e6c. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Jacob L. Little-Gary Mitchell). Annoated Page. | GGA Image ID # 13e7e79b8a. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Leevonne Mitchell-Gary L. Price). | GGA Image ID # 13e7f06d9a. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (William B. Pugh, Jr.-James A. Tabb). | GGA Image ID # 13e7f70ae4. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company A 1967 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Edward R. Taylor, Jr.-Thomas P. Young). Annotated Page. | GGA Image ID # 13e7ffb374. Click to View a Larger Image.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images (Based on Captions)

Front Cover (1967 Yearbook) – Classic design showing Fort Benning identity.

Leadership Photos (Pages 1–2) – Including senior officers and drill sergeants, anchoring the historical importance of command.

Recruit Rosters with Photos (Pages 3–10) – Every page filled with neatly posed headshots, ensuring no soldier is forgotten.

Company A Graduation Class – A complete pictorial record of the men who passed through Fort Benning’s gates in October 1967.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Offers real-world material for studying the Vietnam era, the draft, and U.S. military training during the Cold War.

Genealogists – Provides names, faces, and dates, bridging gaps where official service records may be restricted.

Historians & Military Archives – Reveals organizational structure, leadership composition, and the soldiering experience of 1967.

Veterans & Families – A treasured memory piece that connects individuals with their own or loved ones’ Army journeys.

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

• COL – Colonel (O-6)
• LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
• MAJ – Major (O-4)
• CPT – Captain (O-3)
• 1/LT – First Lieutenant (O-2)
• 2/LT – Second Lieutenant (O-1)
• SMJ / SGM – Sergeant Major (E-9)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• SSG – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• SGT – Sergeant (E-5)
• SP4 – Specialist Fourth Class (E-4)
  

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

• S-1, S-3, S-4 – Staff designations: Personnel (S-1), Operations & Training (S-3), Logistics (S-4).
• Drill Sergeant – Senior NCO responsible for training and discipline of recruits.
• Mess Steward – Oversees dining facility operations.
• Company Clerk – Administrative assistant handling records, reports, and paperwork.
• Training Brigade/Battalion – Organizational structure for Army training units.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1967 Fort Benning Yearbook, Company A is more than a graduation memento—it is a wartime artifact that documents the men who would go on to serve, fight, and shape America’s military legacy. With its comprehensive roster, leadership profiles, and famous alumni like Earl Woods, it stands out as one of the most compelling volumes in the Army training yearbook series.

📖 For teachers, students, genealogists, veterans, and historians, this yearbook is an irreplaceable bridge between personal memory and national history.