Fort Benning 1968 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade

Front Cover, Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook 1968 Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade. | GGA Image ID # 16f83ccc59

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook 1968, Company A

⭐ Introduction

This 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook captures the journey of 136 recruits of Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade, who graduated on 17 January 1969. The company was led by Captain Morvin D. Grissom, supported by a strong leadership cadre of officers, non-commissioned officers, and drill sergeants.

Graduating in the middle of the Vietnam War escalation, these recruits were trained to face immediate deployment. The yearbook preserves their names, faces, and signatures, serving as a historical and genealogical resource for descendants and researchers alike.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

Vietnam War Draft Era

This class represents draftees and volunteers shaped by the urgency of the Vietnam War. Many graduates would soon be deployed overseas.

Detailed Leadership Structure

The yearbook lists not only the company commander but also training officers, drill sergeants, clerks, and support staff, offering an unusually complete look at Army organization at the company level.

Autograph Pages ✍️

Unlike many other yearbooks, this one includes autograph pages (Page 9), providing glimpses of camaraderie, friendships, and the human side of military training.

Explore the 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Yearbook for Company A, 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade. Includes rosters, photos, leadership profiles, and rare autograph pages. A valuable resource for genealogists, historians, veterans, and military archives during the Vietnam War era.

Company A 1968 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 6th Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade
• Commenced Training: Not Reported
• Completed Training: 17 January 1969

Company A 1968 Leadership

• Commanding Officer: Colonel Francisco J. Ramos
• Executive Officer: LTC James M. Morris, Jr.
• Sergeant Major: CSM Donald V. Wright
• S-1: Major Richard B. Bird
• S-3: CPT Joseph Crawford
• S-4: Major Ernest J. Bruemmer 
• Battalion Commander: LTC Edward C. Radcliff
• Executive Officer: MAJ Bartolo Diaz
• Sergeant Major: SGM Gaston Clark
• Company Commander: CPT Morvin D. Grissom
• Training Officer: 1LT Ferdinan Preuss
• Training Officer: 2LT Peter Nowak
• First Sergeant: SFC Waitman G. Sager
• Sr. Drill Sergeant: SSG Robert Starks
• Drill Sergeant: SSG William D. Futch
• Drill Sergeant: SSG Lester Lamar
• Drill Sergeant: SSG William Quick
• Training NCO: SSG Lee Harer
• Drill Sergeant: SSG James A. Brophy 
• Drill Sergeant: SSG Thomas F. Jackson
• Drill Sergeant: SGT Eddie McAdams
• Drill Sergeant: SGT Charles Williams
• Drill Sergeant: SGT David Gough
• Drill Sergeant: SGT Edward Underwood
• Drill Sergeant: SGT Richard T. Brown
• Drill Sergeant: SGT Nathan Vereen
• Supply Sergeant: SGT Bobby Stephens
• Company Clerk: CPL Ronald Fuller

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders

Colonel Francisco J. Ramos (Commanding Officer) – Career officer with a distinguished record; represented the Army during its late-1960s modernization.

LTC Edward C. Radcliff (Battalion Commander) – A respected officer who later continued in leadership roles during the Cold War.

CPT Morvin D. Grissom (Company Commander) – A young captain tasked with preparing soldiers for combat in one of the Army’s busiest training centers.

SFC Waitman G. Sager (First Sergeant) – A senior NCO also listed in the 1967 yearbook at Fort Benning, showing continuity of leadership between classes.

CSM Donald V. Wright (Sergeant Major) – Represented the highest enlisted rank in the battalion, overseeing training quality and discipline.

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (William D. Allen-Billy J. Dozier)

1. William D. Allen
2. Allen D. Arntzen
3. John S. Ash
4. Lorenza Asken, Jr.
5. Jackie M. Bagwell
6. Kenneth J. Baird
7. Ronald Ballance
8. Billy R. Barnhill
9. David M. Barret
10. Randy L. Baskin
11. David W. Bauer
12. Leonard B. Beasley, Jr.
13. Thomas E. Berg
14. Thomas Bigham
15. Dennis Brown
16. James C. Butler
17. Ronald D. Butzow
18. Jerry A. Cadle
19. Henry Camp
20. Terry D. Crump
21. Leon Culler, Jr.
22. Johnson Curtis
23. John M. Donio
24. Billy J. Dozier

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (William E. Dutton-Clyde E. Howell)

1. William E. Dutton
2. James E. Echo
3. Solomon L. Elder
4. Robert W. Endl
5. John A. Ericson
6. George B. Eubank
7. William G. Everidge
8. James H. Fall III
9. William F. Festing III
10. Freddy W. Flowers
11. John A. Friedmann
12. Samuel R. Gary
13. Craig W. Gay
14. John A. Gram
15. David W. Hamm
16. Henry C. Hardnett
17. Lenny J. Harbin
18. William T. Harris
19. Donald E. Hayes
20. Richard F. Haynes
21. Roy C. Hohl III
22. Cecil M. Hopkins, Jr.
23. Bobby G. Howard
24. Clyde E. Howell

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Michael H. Huber-Carroll D. McGovern, Jr.)

1. Michael H. Huber
2. Cecil D. Jackson, Jr.
3. Marion C. James
4. William Jeter
5. Warren H. Johnson
6. Joel R. Kelly
7. Steven L. Kerley
8. James A. Laney
9. Eddon F. Larsh
10. Robert Laursen
11. Henry J. Lemon
12. Larry J. Locklar
13. Lest L. Long
14. Raymond A. Lotz
15. Henry T. Lyons, Jr.
16. Richard D. Maddox
17. Ronald L. Magee
18. William J. Malarkey
19. James M. Maloney
20. Jack A. Marchant
21. John E. Markert, Jr.
22. John M. McDonald
23. Ronald L. McDonald
24. Carroll D. McGovern, Jr.

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David A. McMcollough-William A. Rock)

1. David A. McMcollough
2. Ronald P. McGuffey
3. Ronnie H. Miller
4. Michael Moore
5. Gary L. Morgan
6. Raymond L. Mosley
7. Pete J. Muench, III
8. Charles Murchison
9. John L. Muscarella
10. Nelson L. Naylor, Jr.
11. Willie J. Nichols
12. William D. Patterson, Jr.
13. Arthur L. Patton
14. Billy W. Peacock
15. Chester W. Piekielniak
16. James P. Pienta
17. Anthony A. Piluso
18. Dany R. Price
19. Neal C. Purnell
20. Samuel A. Quinn
21. Holger P. Ratajczak
22. Robert E. Rhodes
23. Michael L. Richmond
24. William A. Rock

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Norman L. Sams-Lee L. Vining)

1. Norman L. Sams
2. Edward G. Sanchez
3. Willew J. Saunders
4. Ronald J. Salvage
5. Bruce E. Shiflet
6. Ronald M. Short
7. Paul S. Sloane
8. Jefrey D. Smith
9. Michael W. Smyth
10. Milton Snasel
11. Jimmy L. South
12. Robert R. Stallings
13. Robert L. Steck
14. Charles R. Stecall
15. Jerry W. Stout
16. Dallas E. Strickland
17. Monroe M. Striggow
18. Walter G. Tallent
19. Leon L. Talpalar
20. James R. Tate
21. John E. Taylor, III
22. Kenneth D. Thornton
23. James W. Tillman, Jr.
24. Lee L. Vining

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (William D. Wheless-Gerry S. Zerkle)

1. William D. Wheless
2. Melvin L. Whitten
3. Dwayne G. Wiles
4. Franklin Willians
5. Andrew Wright
6. James R. Young
7. Gerry S. Zerkle

No Picture in Yearbook

1. John A. Bresemeir
2. William H. Buck
3. Paul D. Gregory
4. Robert D. Lizaola
5. Charles R. Osterhoudt
6. Howard S. Pace
7. David W. Philpott
8. Bobby Stills
9. Bruce Swartz

🌟 Notable Soldiers & Connections

Unlike the 1967 class (which included Earl Woods, father of Tiger Woods), the 1968 roster does not yet reveal widely recognized public figures. However, this yearbook remains important because:

Many of these soldiers served in Vietnam combat zones in 1969–1970.

The autograph section hints at personal bonds that outlasted basic training.

Several surnames (such as “Bauer,” “Jackson,” “Johnson,” “Taylor,” “Williams”) could help genealogists trace service members in broader Vietnam War records.

👉 With further research, some of these recruits may be identified in casualty records, valor award recipients, or veterans’ memoirs.

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Leadership, Part 1. Portraits Include: Col. Francisco J. Ramos, LTC James M. Morris, Jr., CSM Donald V. Wright, Major Richard B. Bird, CPT Joseph Crawford, and Major Ernest J. Bruemmer. | GGA Image ID # 16f86efe34

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Leadership, Part 2. Portraits (Top to Bottom, Left to Right) Include: CPT Marvin D. Grissom, 1LT Ferdinan Preuss, 2LT Peter Nowak, SFC Waitman G. Sager, SSG Robert Starks, SSG William D. Futch, SSG Lester Lamar, SSG William Quick, SSG Lee Harer, SSG James A. Brophy, SSG Thomas F. Jackson, SGT Eddie McAdams, SGT Charles Wiliams, SGT Nathan Vereen, SGT David Gough, SGT Edward Underwood, SGT Richard T. Brown, SGT Bobby Stephens, and CPL Ronald Fuller. | GGA Image ID # 16f88e2f51

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (William D. Allen-Billy J. Dozier). | GGA Image ID # 16f8a9aec9

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (William E. Dutton-Clyde E. Howell). | GGA Image ID # 16f8d3ade0

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Michael H. Huber-Carroll D. McGovern, Jr.). GGA Image ID # 16f8ec7692

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David A. McMcollough-William A. Rock). GGA Image ID # 16f91bbfd9

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Norman L. Sams-Lee L. Vining). | GGA Image ID # 16f92540bc

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (William D. Wheless-Gerry S. Zerkle). Includes Listing of Recruits Not Pictured, and Training Photos without Captions. GGA Image ID # 16f9259925

Company A 1968 Fort Benning Basic Training Recruit Autographs consisting of two yearbook style "Best of Luck" and Memories of Boot Camp Addressed to Danny. | GGA Image ID # 16f928aeb2

Transcript of Short Yearbook Comments

Danny is presumed to be Dany R. Price

Danny, We've had a lot of fun together. We have sweated together, laughed together, and when we needed a shoulder to cry on, we knew sher to find it. Best of luck with Jude and as she says "be tuff." -- Michael Huber

Danny, To a good pal. I hate breaking up our fearsom foursom but that's Uncle Sam for you. Good Luck in the future to you and your wife Judy. (Fingers Crossed). Take Care & Stay down and I still say Judy is better looking, (Ha) Good Luck -- Randy Baskin

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (1968 Yearbook) – Strong visual identity linking Fort Benning to Army tradition.

Leadership Photos (Pages 1–2) – Images of commanders and drill sergeants who shaped the soldiers’ transformation.

Recruit Pages (3–8) – Individual portraits of every soldier in Company A, preserving faces and names for future generations.

Autograph Page (Page 9) – A rare personal touch showing recruits signing each other’s books, capturing camaraderie before deployment.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Provides insight into the Vietnam-era draft and its effect on everyday Americans.

Genealogists – Contains rosters and photos, allowing families to identify ancestors’ Army service.

Historians & Military Archives – Offers primary-source evidence of Army training practices during one of the Army’s busiest eras.

Veterans & Families – A memory capsule, reconnecting individuals with their shared experience at Fort Benning.

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

• COL – Colonel (O-6)
• LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
• MAJ – Major (O-4)
• CPT – Captain (O-3)
• 1LT – First Lieutenant (O-2)
• 2LT – Second Lieutenant (O-1)
• CSM – Command Sergeant Major (E-9)
• SGM – Sergeant Major (E-9)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• SSG – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• SGT – Sergeant (E-5)
• CPL – Corporal (E-4)

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

S-1, S-3, S-4 – Battalion staff designations: Personnel (S-1), Operations & Training (S-3), Logistics (S-4).

Training Officer – Junior officer assisting with instruction and drill.

Drill Sergeant – NCO responsible for enforcing discipline and teaching recruits Army standards.

First Sergeant – Senior enlisted advisor at the company level.

Autograph Page – Informal section where recruits signed each other’s books, a tradition in many yearbooks.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1968 Fort Benning Yearbook, Company A is a compelling wartime artifact. With only 136 graduates, it documents a smaller but tight-knit group compared to the 1967 class. The inclusion of autographs offers a rare window into the friendships forged during training, while the leadership details reveal the Army’s organizational strength at a critical time.

📘 For teachers, students, genealogists, veterans, and historians, this yearbook is both a military record and a deeply personal snapshot of the Vietnam War generation.