Fort Dix 1979 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade

 

Front Cover, Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979 Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade.

Front Cover, Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979 Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. GGA Image ID # 13dcd44748

 

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979, Company C

⭐ Introduction

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company C documents the graduation of 238 recruits in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade, on 8 August 1979. This yearbook reflects the U.S. Army’s continued development during the all-volunteer force era, only six years after the draft ended.

The Company was commanded by 1st Lieutenant Robert Connor, with a cadre of experienced NCOs and sergeants shaping these young men and women into soldiers. The yearbook captures both the human faces of service and the institutional transformation of the Army as it diversified and adapted to new Cold War responsibilities.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

Large Graduation Cohort

With 238 recruits, this was one of the largest training companies at Fort Dix, reflecting strong volunteer enlistment despite post-Vietnam skepticism toward military service.

Integration of Women 👩‍✈️

Recruits like Bethany Andrews, Sharon Barnhill, Teresa Carnecchia, Catherine Copple, Lori Costello, Constance Curcio, Beverly Dean, Deborah DuBoise, Maria Echevarria, Beth Herrlinger, Janet Holder, Denise Kirkwood, Joanne Kotomski, Elizabeth Martin, Kathy Mashione, Carilyn McKinney, Cathy Miller, Roxanne Miller, Laurie Miszler, Faye Olson, Sharon Parker, Iris Perez, Theresa Perez, Janet Richardson, Regina Sabol, Yvette Scott, Melanie Scroggin, Kristine Stein, Brenda Turner, Annett Watlington, Doreen Wright — illustrate the Army’s growing embrace of women in Basic Combat Training.

Ethnic & Cultural Diversity 🌍

The roster includes Aguilera, Edward (Hispanic), Nguyen, Phuong (Vietnamese), Mateo, Mayra (Puerto Rican heritage), Johnson, Andre (African American), Sackey, Charles (possibly West African), Wong, John (Asian American), and Guerrero, Luis (Latino).

This reflects the Army as one of the nation’s most diverse institutions by the late 1970s.

Women in NCO Roles

Leadership includes Sgt Inez M. Paroly, part of the training cadre, demonstrating how women were also advancing into drill and NCO positions.

 

Explore the 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. Includes rosters, portraits, and leadership profiles of 238 recruits during the early All-Volunteer Force era, reflecting the Army’s growing diversity and gender integration.

 

Company C 1979 Organization and Schedule

  • Organization: 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade
  • Commenced Training: Not Reported
  • Completed Training: 8 August 1979

 

Company C 1979 Leadership

  • Commanding Officer: LTC Donald L. Peters
  • Executive Officer: MAJ John D. Latimer
  • Command Sergeant Major: CSM George L. Hood
  • Company Commander: 1LT Robert Connor
  • Training NCO: SFC Thomas K. Kelley
  • First Sergeant: SFC Edward Walsh
  • Platoon Sergeant: SGT Lawrence M. Mayer
  • Platoon Sergeant: SGT Thomas Griffin III
  • Platoon Sergeant: SGT Edward L. Ellis
  • Platoon Sergeant: SSG Lee LaFountaine
  • Platoon Sergeant: SGT Inez M. Paroly
  • Platoon Sergeant: SFC Gary A. Ross
  • Platoon Sergeant: SFC Bobby L. Saunders
  • Platoon Sergeant: SFC Robert E. Studdard, Jr.

 

Company C 1979 Recruit Roster

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray)

  1. Reginald Addie
  2. Edward Aguilera
  3. Enemencio Alaniz
  4. Gary Allen
  5. Victor Amaral
  6. Bethany Andrews
  7. Steve Annett
  8. William Archer
  9. David Athey
  10. Eric W. Baker
  11. Sharon Barnhill
  12. Oscar Barrio
  13. Eric Barr
  14. Danie Battista
  15. Brian Baugher
  16. Howard Biddl
  17. Alan Blanchard
  18. James S. Black
  19. Richard Blystone
  20. Daniel Bogdansky
  21. William Bonnell
  22. Michael Booker
  23. Gilbert Bowen
  24. William Bowman
  25. Tommy Bray

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris)

  1. Byron Butler
  2. Byron Butler
  3. Teresa Carnecchîa
  4. William Carroll
  5. Antone Carreia
  6. Brian Ceol
  7. Demetrick Cephas
  8. Ralph Chapman
  9. Charles Cole
  10. Chris Comer
  11. Jewel Cooper
  12. Catherine Copple
  13. Lori Costello
  14. Carmichael Criop
  15. Mark Crist
  16. Jose M. Cruz
  17. Sandra Cruz
  18. Constance Curcio
  19. Charles Davis
  20. Gene Davis
  21. Beverly Dean
  22. Ala De La Bruere
  23. Leroy De Vore
  24. Doreen Donnelly
  25. Bobby L. Dorris

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero)

  1. Earnest Douglas
  2. Deborah DuBoise
  3. Robert Duran
  4. Maria Echevarria
  5. Tim Esser
  6. Mark Evans
  7. Marshall Evers
  8. Edward Feichter
  9. Steven Fletcher
  10. Edward Fox
  11. Michael Foy
  12. Dwayne Fuller
  13. Peter Garland
  14. Patrick Gerini
  15. Wayne Getz
  16. Vaughn Gibson
  17. Gregory Giles
  18. James Gillespie
  19. Omer Glass
  20. David Gomez
  21. Victor Gomez
  22. Ted Gray
  23. Robert Griffin Jr.
  24. Michael Gross
  25. Luis Guerrero

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones)

  1. David Hackett
  2. Michael Harbison
  3. Gregory Harley
  4. David F. Harris
  5. Garry Harris
  6. Charles Hawkins
  7. Joseph G. Hayes
  8. Michael Henderson
  9. Otto Hendricks
  10. Beth Herrlinger
  11. Willie Highsmith
  12. Bryan Hilliard
  13. Scott Hippier
  14. Frank Hoggland
  15. Janet Holder
  16. Daniel Hudy
  17. Leonard Hungarter
  18. John Hurst
  19. Thomas Hustand
  20. Leo Jaramillo
  21. Jeff Jirtle
  22. Andre Johnson
  23. Charles Johnson
  24. Barry Jones
  25. Deanie Jones

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo)

  1. Ganson Jones
  2. Steve Jones
  3. Eric Kellesvig
  4. Daryl J. Kelly
  5. Marvin Kersten
  6. Timothy Kiner
  7. Denise E. Kirkwood
  8. Joanne Kotomski
  9. James Kowalski
  10. Robert Kraemer
  11. Marvin Lee
  12. Scott Levin
  13. Steven Litton
  14. Jonathan Locke
  15. Michael Logan
  16. Robert Long
  17. John Lough
  18. Henry Lusk
  19. Robert Malwitz
  20. James Manion
  21. Elizabeth Martin
  22. Kevin Martin
  23. Kathy Mashione
  24. Mayra Mateo
  25. Larry Mayo

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker)

  1. Marcus McCall
  2. Charles McDougal
  3. Carilyn McKinney
  4. William McKinnon
  5. Andres Medina
  6. Clarence Michaud
  7. Cathy Miller
  8. Roxanne Miller
  9. Ivan Minnis
  10. Laurie Miszler
  11. Timothy Mohr
  12. Geoffrey Moore
  13. John W. Moon Jr.
  14. Vernessa Myers
  15. David Nesbitt
  16. William Newlin
  17. Richard Norman
  18. William Norman
  19. Jimmie Norris
  20. Robert O'Donnell
  21. Faye Olson
  22. Joseph Osorio
  23. Douglas Ottinger
  24. Brian Ousley
  25. Sharon Parker

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz)

  1. Iris Perez
  2. Theresa Perez
  3. Ronnie Perkins
  4. Rickey Pottle
  5. William Price
  6. William Rainer
  7. Victor Range
  8. Dan Remington
  9. Janet Richardon
  10. NaVon Rickertsen
  11. Donald Roorabaugh
  12. James Roberts
  13. Barry Rose
  14. Michael Roulston
  15. Timothy Ruimueld
  16. Paul Rutenberg
  17. Mark Ryan
  18. Regina Sabol
  19. Charles Sackey
  20. George Sandoval
  21. Michael Schott
  22. Eric Schuller
  23. Yvette Scott
  24. Melanie Scroggin
  25. Mark Sczublewscz

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor)

  1. Matthews Sewell, Jr.
  2. Darrell Shamblin
  3. Delmer Shamblin, Jr.
  4. Dennis Shahan
  5. Timothy M. Shanahan
  6. Stephen Shears
  7. Lynn K. Shedd
  8. William Simensky
  9. James Simmons
  10. Joseph Simmons
  11. Hazen Smith
  12. Sheila Smith
  13. William Smith
  14. Louis Sorensen
  15. Cornell Spencer
  16. Mark Stacy
  17. Kristine Stein
  18. LaMar Stellfox
  19. Mark Stenta
  20. Steve Stroven
  21. Raymond Suiter
  22. John Sutton
  23. Alvin Taylor
  24. Larry Taylor
  25. Michael Taylor

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams)

  1. Carlos Thomas
  2. Cedrick Thomas
  3. Thomas Thompson
  4. Gary Tillman
  5. Joel Trevino
  6. Andrew Truffer
  7. Brenda Turner
  8. Steve Turner
  9. Bernard Valley
  10. Troy Varney
  11. Juan Videa
  12. Philip Voida
  13. Kenneth Wade
  14. Robbie Wagner
  15. Charles Walters
  16. James Walton
  17. Bryan Warrick
  18. Timothy Watkins
  19. Annett Watlington
  20. Tony Welch
  21. Richard Werner
  22. Hugh West
  23. George Wettig
  24. David Wierschke
  25. Barry Williams

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.)

  1. Jeffrey Williams
  2. Kevin Williams
  3. Wayne Williams
  4. Teari L. Wimbush
  5. John Wong
  6. Wayne Woods
  7. Stanley Wood
  8. Doreen Wright
  9. Michael Wright
  10. Sylvester Wright
  11. Kevin Zahurones
  12. Dale Zierz
  13. Fred Zikorus, Jr.

 

Fort Dix Boot Camp Yearbook Photos - Company C 1979

 

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos of LTC Donald L. Peters, MAJ John D. Latimer, and CSM George L. Hood. (Bottom): First Row, Sgt Lawrence M. Mayer, Ssg Thomas Griffin III, Sgt Edward L. Ellis, Ssg Lee LaFountaine, Sgt Inez M. Paroly, Second Row, ILt Robert Connor, Sfc Edward Walsh, First Sergeant, Sfc Gary A. Ross, Sfc Bobby L. Saunders, Sfc Robert E. Studdard, Jr., Sfc Thomas K. Kelley, Training NCO.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos of LTC Donald L. Peters, MAJ John D. Latimer, and CSM George L. Hood. (Bottom): First Row, Sgt Lawrence M. Mayer, Ssg Thomas Griffin III, Sgt Edward L. Ellis, Ssg Lee LaFountaine, Sgt Inez M. Paroly, Second Row, ILt Robert Connor, Sfc Edward Walsh, First Sergeant, Sfc Gary A. Ross, Sfc Bobby L. Saunders, Sfc Robert E. Studdard, Jr., Sfc Thomas K. Kelley, Training NCO. | GGA Image ID # 13dd28c650

 

 

 

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders

LTC Donald L. Peters – Commanding Officer of the Battalion, part of Fort Dix’s restructuring to support larger training cycles.

MAJ John D. Latimer (Executive Officer) – Coordinated battalion logistics and company administration.

CSM George L. Hood (Command Sergeant Major) – Senior enlisted advisor, enforcing training discipline.

1LT Robert Connor (Company Commander) – Directly led Company C during this intense training cycle.

SFC Thomas K. Kelley (Training NCO) – Oversaw training standards.

SFC Edward Walsh (First Sergeant) – The “backbone” of the company, enforcing discipline and standards.

Sgt Inez M. Paroly (Platoon Sergeant) – Notable female leader among the cadre, unusual for this period, highlighting gender integration at leadership levels.

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray).

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Reginald Addie-Tommy Bray). | GGA Image ID # 13dd991450

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris).

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Byron Butler-Bobby L. Dorris). | GGA Image ID # 13ddc2f555

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero).

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Earnest Douglas-Luis Guerrero). | GGA Image ID # 13de256700

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones).

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (David Hackett-Deanie Jones). | GGA Image ID # 13de7453e8

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 6.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Ganson Jones-Larry Mayo). | GGA Image ID #

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 7.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Marcus McCall-Sharon Parker). | GGA Image ID # 13de804c8b

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 8.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Iris Perez-Mark Sczublewscz). | GGA Image ID # 13de8e0853

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 9.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Matthews Sewell, Jr.-Michael Taylor). | GGA Image ID # 13df891bdd

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 10.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Carlos Thomas-Barry Williams). | GGA Image ID # 13dfeac8c8

 

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Page 11.

Company C 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jeffrey Williams-Fred Zikorus, Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 13e036c593

 

🌟 Notable Soldiers & Observations

While no nationally famous individuals are immediately identified from this roster, several aspects stand out:

Future Leaders Possible – Soldiers like Charles Hawkins, Andre Johnson, or Robert O’Donnell may have gone on to long careers in the Army. Many in this class would have served during the Cold War buildup of the early 1980s.

Diverse Representation – Names like Victor Amaral, Oscar Barrio, Jose Cruz, Luis Guerrero, Iris Perez, Juan Videa, John Wong represent ethnic diversity crucial to the modern Army.

Dual Entry Note – Byron Butler appears twice in the roster, perhaps an administrative duplication.

 

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (1979 Yearbook) – Bearing the Company C identity, emblematic of Fort Dix’s heritage (GGA Image ID #13dcd44748).

Leadership Page (Company Cadre Group) – Features 1LT Robert Connor, SFC Edward Walsh, SFC Kelley, Sgt Inez M. Paroly, and others (GGA Image ID #13dd28c650).

Recruit Portrait Pages (2–11) – Hundreds of individual recruit portraits showcasing diversity and size of the company.

 

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Illustrates the Army’s transformation into a diverse, volunteer-based institution.

Genealogists – Provides full rosters and faces, critical for tracing family service history.

Historians & Military Archives – Demonstrates gender and racial integration during late Cold War U.S. Army training.

Veterans & Families – Serves as a nostalgic record for those who trained at Fort Dix in the late 1970s.

 

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

  • LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
  • MAJ – Major (O-4)
  • 1LT – First Lieutenant (O-2)
  • SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
  • SSG – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
  • SGT – Sergeant (E-5)

 

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

Training Brigade – A brigade dedicated to training recruits in Basic Combat Training.

Drill Sergeant – NCO responsible for training and discipline.

Platoon Sergeant – NCO overseeing a platoon of ~40 recruits.

First Sergeant – Senior NCO in a company, directly responsible for discipline and standards.

Guidon – Small flag carried by each company, symbolizing unit pride.

 

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook – Company C is a rich snapshot of the early all-volunteer Army, with 238 recruits reflecting the era’s gender integration, ethnic diversity, and professional training ethos.

📘 For genealogists, it provides names and faces.

📖 For historians, it highlights structural and social change.

🎖️ For veterans, it preserves a pivotal chapter of Army life in the Cold War.

 

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