Military Escort A Pillar Of Strength

New York Post ^ | 6/12/2004 | ALY SUJO

[Tulsa Brian]

June 12, 2004 -- He's been Nancy Reagan's ramrod-straight escort during the weeklong farewell to her husband. As onetime director of operations for the U.S. Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman fought narco-terrorists in South America and oversaw U.S. Army training camps for Colombian counter-narcotics brigades.

Until last year, he was in charge of overseeing joint operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and supervised military support to Colombian troops as well as military ops at Guantanamo Naval Base and Haiti, a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command told The Post.

As current commander of the U.S. Military District of Washington, the native Nebraskan's duties now include overseeing ceremonies in the nation's capital with high-ranking personnel and visiting heads of state

[Jet Jaguar]

General,

You did an outstanding job this week.

Thank you.

[Texasforever]

He sure was straight out of central casting. I have never seen such command presence.

[bayourod]

They did a good job. The only regret I have is that we could not hear what the Naval Captain commander of the Reagan aircraft carrier said to Nancy as he presented her with the flag.

It's a very moving statement about the Congress and the President's appreciation for the service of her husband. You could see Nancy's face and eyes' light up as he presented her with the flag. Hopefully the text will be published somewhere.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Very good point. The skipper of the USS Ronald Reagan presented Nancy with the flag (at the family's request), and I would love to know what he said to her.

[jennyp]

Very good point. The skipper of the USS Ronald Reagan presented Nancy with the flag (at the family's request), and I would love to know what he said to her.

Personally, I think it'd be nice to have a little bit of that private ceremony be private.

[VaMarVet]

Major General Galen B. Jackman was commissioned from the University of Nebraska ROTC Program in 1973. His first duty assignment was with the 1st battalion (ABN) 508th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, where he served as a rifle platoon leader, anti-tank platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion adjutant. He next served with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, as a battalion S4, rifle company commander, and battalion S3. Following assignment as a Procurement Officer with the United States Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, he served as Procurement Officer, Squadron Executive Officer, and Squadron Commander in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta.

Major General Jackman has commanded the 1st battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division; 2d Brigade, 7th Infantry Division; and the Ranger Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia. He has also served as the Director of Combined Arms and Tactics at the United States Army Infantry School, as well as the Deputy J3 for Training and Readiness, United States Pacific Command, Hawaii, Chief of Staff and Assistant Division Commander for Support, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). Major General Jackman most recently served as Director of Operations, United States Southern Command.

Major General Jackman is a graduate of the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and Industrial Arts College of the Armed Forces. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Expert Infantryman Badge. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Army Achievement Medal.

[My Dog Likes Me]

I understand. Point well-taken.

I saw an interview with the Skipper this week, and he was such an honorable man. He was clearly humbled to be asked to give the flag to Nancy. I mean, General officers would normally do that, not Captains.

[Military family member]

I am not certain, but I have been to three or four military funerals and I believe the words are always pretty much the same. I may be wrong on this, but each time, I remember hearing the same phrasing.

"Please accept this flag on behalf of a grateful nation."

The variations I've heard ar minor.

[leadpenny]

25th ID and Ranger Bump!

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I was also impressed with the military pallbearers. Such precision! God bless our men and women in uniform.

[texasflower]

I agree. Nancy let us have so much of these days. She needs to have some things to herself.

[texasflower]

There was much more said than that.

[Military family member]

I'm sure there was.

[texasflower]

I'm sorry. I really didn't mean that in a snippy way.

They just talked for a short time is all I meant. I wonder what he said, but at the same time, I think it should be private.

Does that make sense?

[Military family member]

I understand. I did not see that part of the coverage.

I'm pretty sure that there is some standard format for the actually presentation of the flag. In the cases I have witnessed that's what is said.

[texasflower]

The look on the face of the captain was one of awe and respect. She had this eager look on her face as he was talking to her. Like her eyes were meeting his directly and she was talking to a friend.

Then the camera angle was changed to show her back and his face. It was like he was connecting with her.

If you get a chance to see it don't miss it. It was wonderful.

[texasflower]

Plus he stayed on bended knee the entire time.

It was very touching.

[texasflower]

Can you turn to Fox NOW?

[Military family member]

Sorry, I'm in a storm right now and nothing's really working right.