Fort Jackson 1963 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade

Front Cover, Fort Jackson Basic Training Yearbook 1963 Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade. | GGA Image ID # 16f97833e8

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Jackson Basic Training Yearbook 1963, Company A

3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade – U.S. Army Basic Training, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Graduated: 21 February 1964. Total Recruits: 242.

⭐ Introduction

The 1963 Company A yearbook from Fort Jackson captures a transitional moment in U.S. Army history. America was in the early years of the Vietnam buildup, and Cold War tensions were high. Fort Jackson, a major training post in South Carolina, played a central role in shaping thousands of recruits into disciplined soldiers prepared for active duty.

This yearbook documents 242 recruits of Company A, highlighting their leadership, training environment, and individual portraits. It provides a unique time capsule into an era when the U.S. Army was shifting from a post-Korean War force into the Vietnam-era military.

Explore the Fort Jackson Basic Training Yearbook for Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade (1963–64). Featuring 242 recruits with portraits, leadership profiles, and rosters, this record highlights Cold War–era training and the Army’s growing diversity before Vietnam.

Company A 1963 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade
• Commenced Training: 16 December 1963
• Completed Training: 21 February 1964

Company A 1963 Leadership

• Brigade Commander: Col. Lloyd A. Brown
• Battalion Commander: Major J. R. Fiol
• Company Commander: Capt. Leoncio Estrada
• First Sergeant: 1/Sgt. Roberto Pagan
• Senior Field NCO: M/Sgt. Victor M. Carrion
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Earl E. Bastedo
• Platoon Sergeant: M/Sgt. T. Maldonado-Perez
• Platoon Sergeant: P/Sgt. Jose Hernandez
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Antonio Rivera
• Asst. Platoon Sergeant: Sgt. Roy Thompson
• Mess Steward: SFC Angel Ruiz
• Supply Sergeant: S/Sgt. Ysidro Lara
• Company Clerk: PFC Alberto H. Carias
• Supply Clerk: PFC David Humphrey

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Leonard W. Acker, Jr.-John M. Barry)

1. Leonard W. Acker, Jr.
2. Jose R. Acosta-Colon
3. Joseph N. Adams, Jr.
4. Douglas B. Alexander
5. Thomas E. Allen
6. Arthur W. Allis
7. Juan R. Alvarez-Mediavilla
8. Ruben Alvarado-Olivieri
9. Andrew Amendola
10. Curtis L. Anderson
11. James W. Anderson, Jr.
12. Neil A. Apuzz
13. F. Aranzamendi-Ortiz
14. Victor M. Arias-Melendez
15. Hardy 0. Arrowood      
16. Ira D. Austin      
17. Gerald T. Bailey
18. Robert H. Baker
19. Ernest F. Baldwin, jr.
20. Donald E. Balmer
21. Gerald R. Barr
22. Emil M. Barrera
23. Leo C. Barrett
24. John M. Barry

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Lloyd D. Barton, Jr.-Francis J. Carr)

1. Lloyd D. Barton, Jr.
2. Ronald C. Bayless
3. Johnny R. Becknell
4. John W. Belknap
5. William R. Beraducci
6. Manuel Birriel de Jesus
7. Dena B. Blackman
8. Robert E. Bohlen
9. William C. Boynes, Jr.
10. James E. Boyt
11. Glenburn A. Britt
12. Thomas J. Broderick
13. Cleveland Brooks
14. John F. Broughet, Jr.
15. Bobby J. Brown
16. Johnny R. Bryant
17. Arthur A. Buonopane
18. Gerard P. Burns
19. John C. Calvert
20. John W. Canady
21. John G. Cantrell
22. Jake L. Capps
23. Raymond D. Carlozzi
24. Francis J. Carr

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Chivis W. Carter, Jr.-James W. Dulaney)

1. Chivis W. Carter, Jr.
2. Ronald F. Casper
3. Willie J. Caudill
4. Albert M. Cavalier
5. Warren M. Choquet
6. David A. Cifone
7. Julio G. Cintron Santiago
8. Thomas B. Clifford
9. Tony L. Clift
10. Billy J. D. Clifton
11. Charles Clowney, Jr.
12. Burdette R. Colburn
13. Homer G. Collins
14. Franklin Corcoran
15. Jose A. Cruz Ramirez
16. Francis A. Dahmer, Jr.
17. Eddie C. Davis
18. James K. Derriso
19. Leonardo De Wind
20. Ernesto Diaz Roman
21. Nicholas Dogas
22. Paul C. Drawbaugh
23. Wilfiam G. Dubbs
24. James W. Dulaney

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Darryl W. Dunn-Ismael Gonzalez Santiago)

1. Darryl W. Dunn
2. Larry F. Edwards
3. Woodrow Edwards
4. Fred L. Ellwanger
5. Stephen T. Fazicas
6. Roberto Febres Hernandez
7. Eduardo Feliberty Sanchez
8. Robert A. Ferrar
9. Kenneth R. Fleeman
10. Claudio Artemio Fonseca
11. Oscar T. Foreman
12. William H. Foster, III
13. Charles G. Fowler
14. James T. Frames
15. William N. Fredericks
16. Terry E. Funck
17. Enrique Garcia Perez
18. John G. Gemelli
19. Allen H. George
20. John A. Gibson
21. Roman Gonzalez Cardona
22. Carlos Gonzalez Rodriguez
23. Felipe Gonzalez Sanchez
24. Ismael Gonzalez Santiago

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Joseph D. Goode-Dayton C. Kite)

1. Joseph D. Goode
2. Raymond Greenlees
3. Richard E. Greer
4. Ronnie J. Hamilton
5. Richard Hand
6. Samuel H. Hartley
7. James C. Hawk
8. Kenneth A. Henry
9. Roy L. Hines
10. Wilmer C. Hinkle
11. Arthur J. Hoke
12. Frederick Hollingsworth
13. David W. Hutson
14. Robert A. Jackson
15. George A. Jacobs
16. Enell Jamison
17. Robert W. Jones, Jr.
18. Louis K. Jordan
19. Alan S. Joseph
20. Daniel J. Katz
21. James L. Kelso
22. Francis J. Killay
23. Don L. Kimsey
24. Dayton C. Kite

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Thomas P. Kitredge-Howard Meyers)

1. Thomas P. Kitredge
2. Everett B. Knight
3. Vernon E. Knight
4. Robert W. Kreiser
5. James R. Laird
6. James P. Lawless, Jr.
7. Frederick E. Leavitt
8. Jimmy A. Legg
9. Vincent J. Limauro
10. Richard C. Love
11. James F. Lovell
12. Robert L. Lovy
13. Thomas E. Manning, Jr.
14. Ronald J. Martin
15. Wayne E. Martin
16. Anthony J. Mascione
17. Gerald K. Mathews
18. John T. McDill
19. Laverne M. Mclnnis, Jr.
20. Dennis P. Mederos
21. William L. Medford
22. Daniel Menedez
23. Ecerett Merritt
24. Howard Meyers

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Gerald T. Mickler-Richard D. Pedriali)

1. Gerald T. Mickler
2. Robert C. Mirto
3. William H. Mizell
4. Robert J. Morelli
5. Willie T. Morgan
6. Eugene Morgenroth
7. Jack R. Moseley
8. Jack C. Moss
9. Arthur L. Moultrie
10. Roy L. Myrick, Jr.
11. Joseph J. Nemeth
12. James A. Newman
13. Larry D. Norris
14. Joseph F. O'Brien
15. Tommie D. O'Cain
16. Anthony J. O'Hara
17. Edward G. Ortoleva
18. John A. Palmieri
19. Robert L. Parker
20. Charles R. Parr
21. John D. Partain
22. Booker T. Patrick
23. Donald J. Patterson
24. Richard D. Pedriali

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Grover W. Penland-Jacques A. Senechal)

1. Grover W. Penland
2. James R. Perry
3. Douglas E. Petro
4. James J. Pettit
5. Andrew L. Philbrick
6. Walter B. Pilgrim
7. Jose Pizarro Rivera
8. Gerald D. Powell
9. Joseph S. Proto
10. Robert L. Purvy
11. Charles E. Puryear
12. Henry L. Rast
13. Rafael F. Restrepo
14. Herschel W. Reynolds
15. Joseph R. Roberts
16. Wade R. Rouzer
17. Lieutenant Saddler
18. Francis L. Saltz
19. John Sanders
20. Leigh A. Schneider
21. Robert J. Schneider
22. Maurice R. Schofield, Jr.
23. Jack W. Schultz
24. Jacques A. Senechal

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Frank L. Shelly-Charles Waters)

1. Frank L. Shelly
2. Wayne M. Shropshire
3. Charles Simmons, Jr.
4. Edward A. Smeriglio
5. David W. Smith
6. Henry D. Smith
7. Ralph E. Smith
8. Raymond E. Smith
9. Charles W. Sorrells
10. Everett L. Sorrells   
11. Reny W. Sparapani
12. Odell Spigner
13. Jay L. Sponsler
14. Willard W. Starling, Jr.
15. Terry H. Stricklin
16. Charles J. Summers, Jr.
17. George R. Swift, Jr.
18. Ronald A. Taylor
19. Clyde J. Thomas
20. Peter H. Torello
21. John Turner
22. James E. 0. Tuten
23. Franklin H. Vincent
24. Charles Waters

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Ted A. Weems-John P. Wozniak)

1. Ted A. Weems
2. Robert C. Welch, Jr.
3. Robert F. Welsh
4. Robert M. Westbrook
5. Charles P. White
6. Thomas C. Whitsitt
7. Lewis P. White
8. Gordon W. Whitten
9. Wayne W. Widawski
10. Stirling P. Widen
11. Guinn Wilbanks
12. Jack S. Wilder
13. Billy 0. Williams, Jr.
14. George H. Williams, III
15. John H. Williams, Jr.
16. Joseph H. Williams 
17. Robert R. Williamson
18. Gene R. Wilson
19. Vernon C. Wilson
20. Larry L. Wilt 
21. Karl W. Wolf 
22. Franklin A. Wood
23. Michael W. Wood
24. John P. Wozniak

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 11 (Robert L. Yanks and John T. Young)

1. Robert L. Yanks
2. John T. Young

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos Include COL Lloyd A. Brown, MAJ J. R. Fiol, and CAPT Leoncio Estrada. | GGA Image ID # 16f9945561

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Leadership, Page 2. Portrait Photos Include MSGT T. Maldonad-Perez, PSGT Jose Hernandez, SFC Antonia Rivera, SGT Roy Thompson, SSGT Ysidro Lara, SFC Angel Ruiz, PFC Alberto H. Carias, and PFC David Humphrey. | GGA Image ID # 16f9a0a075

🏅 Organization & Leadership

• Brigade Commander: Col. Lloyd A. Brown
• Battalion Commander: Major J. R. Fiol
• Company Commander: Capt. Leoncio Estrada
• First Sergeant: 1/Sgt. Roberto Pagan
• Senior Field NCO: M/Sgt. Victor M. Carrion
• Platoon Sergeants: SFC Earl E. Bastedo, M/Sgt. T. Maldonado-Perez, P/Sgt. Jose Hernandez, SFC Antonio Rivera
• Assistant Platoon Sergeant: Sgt. Roy Thompson

👉 The leadership roster stands out for its strong Hispanic representation (Estrada, Pagan, Carrion, Maldonado-Perez, Rivera, Hernandez, Ruiz, Lara, etc.), reflecting Fort Jackson’s important role as a training center for Puerto Rican recruits and cadre during the 1960s. This enriched the Army’s growing diversity at a time when civil rights reforms were also reshaping the nation.

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Leonard W. Acker, Jr.-John M. Barry). | GGA Image ID # 16fa089c12

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Lloyd D. Barton, Jr.-Francis J. Carr). | GGA Image ID # 16fa434742

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Chivis W. Carter, Jr.-James W. Dulaney). | GGA Image ID # 16fa7d5f26

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Darryl W. Dunn-Ismael Gonzalez Santiago). | GGA Image ID # 16fa84f1db

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Joseph D. Goode-Dayton C. Kite). | GGA Image ID # 16faac57af

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Thomas P. Kitredge-Howard Meyers). | GGA Image ID # 16fb3baa19

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Gerald T. Mickler-Richard D. Pedriali). | GGA Image ID # 16fb86040c

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Grover W. Penland-Jacques A. Senechal). | GGA Image ID # 16fbaf97f4

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Frank L. Shelly-Charles Waters). | GGA Image ID # 16fbe67544

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Ted A. Weems-John P. Wozniak). | GGA Image ID # 16fc3212ff

Company A 1963 Fort Jackson Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 11 (Robert L. Yanks and John T. Young). Page Includes 11 Uncaptioned Training Photos. | GGA Image ID # 16fcc01784

🎖️ Notable Soldiers & Historical Context

While most of the recruits were just beginning their Army journey, a few names and leadership figures warrant highlighting:

Capt. Leoncio Estrada (Company Commander) – A Hispanic officer at a time when minority representation in command positions was still rare. Estrada’s leadership role demonstrates the Army’s progress in integrating officers from diverse backgrounds.

1/Sgt. Roberto Pagan & M/Sgt. Victor M. Carrion (Senior NCOs) – Both were experienced Puerto Rican noncommissioned officers who likely served during the Korean War and brought battle-tested discipline to Fort Jackson’s training units.

For the recruits themselves, this class would have gone on to serve during one of the most intense periods of American military involvement in the 20th century — many likely deployed to Vietnam between 1965–1968.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (GGA Image ID #16f97833e8) – Classic Fort Jackson design, emphasizing the Army’s disciplined identity.

Leadership Portraits (Pages 1–2, Image IDs #16f9945561 and #16f9a0a075) – Provide clear photographs of the commanding officers and senior NCOs.

Recruit Portrait Pages (3–13, Image IDs #16fa089c12 through #16fcc01784) – Over 240 individual photos offer a genealogical treasure trove for descendants researching military service.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Offers insight into Cold War–era Army training and the demographic composition of early Vietnam-era recruits.

Genealogists – With 242 names and faces, the yearbook is invaluable for families tracing relatives who trained at Fort Jackson during the early 1960s.

Historians & Military Archives – Demonstrates the Army’s reliance on both continental U.S. recruits and Puerto Rican soldiers as a significant manpower source.

Veterans & Families – Preserves memories of shared service and camaraderie from one of the Army’s most influential training posts.

📘 Key to Ranks (as seen in this yearbook)

• Col. – Colonel (O-6)
• Major – Major (O-4)
• Capt. – Captain (O-3)
• 1/Sgt. – First Sergeant (E-8)
• M/Sgt. – Master Sergeant (E-8)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• P/Sgt. – Platoon Sergeant (E-6/E-7 depending on usage at the time)
• Sgt. – Sergeant (E-5)
• S/Sgt. – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• PFC – Private First Class (E-3)
  

📖 Dictionary of Terms & Abbreviations

Mess Steward – NCO in charge of the dining hall operations.

Supply Sergeant – NCO responsible for issuing clothing, weapons, and gear.

Company Clerk – Junior enlisted soldier tasked with administrative and record-keeping duties.

Guidon – A flag or banner representing the company; carried in formation.

✨ Final Thoughts

This 1963 Fort Jackson Company A yearbook is a vital record of U.S. Army history during the Cold War. It preserves the stories of 242 young men who trained under a cadre of officers and NCOs with strong Puerto Rican and Hispanic representation.

For genealogists, it offers photographs and names that may not appear in official personnel records. For historians, it highlights how Fort Jackson served as both a crucible of Army discipline and a symbol of the Army’s evolving demographic makeup. For veterans and families, it remains a deeply personal reminder of the path from civilian to soldier.

📘 This yearbook is more than just a roster — it’s a bridge to understanding how the Army prepared itself for the coming challenges of the Vietnam War.