Posted on 06/10/2006 2:09:50 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Retiring sergeant major's service called `slam dunk' for military
Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE - based at fort bragg He has the same self-confidence, the same cleanly shaven head, the same famous last name as his brother. But James Jordan has always been his own man.
While his younger brother, Michael, made history on the basketball court, James Jordan forged a distinguished career in a different uniform -- Army green.
Now he has retired after 31 years, one more than required because he chose to stay and accompany his unit on a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq.
"The Army was my life," he said recently. "That's why I dedicated myself to it. I felt I could be very successful in it. It didn't require me to be 6 foot. It just required me to be physically fit."
Jordan, who stands about 5 feet 7 inches and is 48, rose to become command sergeant major of the 35th Signal Brigade, the Army's only airborne signal brigade, based at Fort Bragg. That's the top job for an enlisted signal soldier.
"Jordan may be short in height when it comes to his brother, but, man, he scored a slam dunk every time as a sergeant major," said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Allen, the senior noncommissioned officer of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps.
When Michael Jordan became an NBA star in the 1980s, his older brother had already spent about a decade in the military.
He asked himself a question: "OK, what are you going to be? Are you going to ride a coattail or are you going to keep doing like you are doing?"
There never really was much doubt for a man who learned his work ethic during summers in the farm fields of southeastern North Carolina.
"One of the first things I learned before I went into the Army was that I was the oldest of five kids," he said. "My mom told me, `You have to earn everything you get.' "
His troops' dedication to him was evident during a retirement ceremony at Fort Bragg April 13.
"Do you know that, even though Michael Jordan was out there, everybody was still in line to shake Sergeant Major Jordan's hand, not to pay homage to his brother," Allen said. "I thought that was so cool."
Good for him. He must be tall to be Jordan's "big" brother. Kidding.
I love success stories.
L
No doubt some proud parents there.
Thank you James Jordon, for your honorable service. We appreciate it..
A real class act. I wish him fair winds and following seas in his retirement.
God bless you, Sgt. Maj. Jordan. While your brother is a phenomenal individual and has rightfully become a sports legend, what you gave to your country was FAR more valuable ......and appreciated.
Command Sergeant Major James R. Jordan
Sergeant Major James R. Jordan's most recent assignment was Command Sergeant Major of the 327th Signal Battalion (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, since September 1998. He was born in Rose Hill, North Carolina, on 13 September 1957. His military career began in June 1975 where he attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He received Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in the Signal Corps at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.His CONUS assignments include the 24th Trans Co, Fort Eustis, Virginia; 2/6 Cav, Fort Knox, Kentucky; 1/20 FA, Fort Carson, Colorado; 2/5 FA, Fort Riley, Kansas; CECOM, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; 327th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Command Sergeant Major Jordan has served four overseas tours, these include the 304th Signal Battalion, Republic of Korea; 271st Avn Co, Camp Humphreys, Korea; 2D Eng Bn, 2ID, Camp Pelham, Korea; and 2/5 FA, Neu Ulm, Germany.
Command Sergeant Major Jordan has served in every noncommissioned officer leadership position to include Team Chief, Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major. His military schools include training at the Transportation Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Course, Fort Eustis, Virginia; numerous signal electronic schools; ANCOC; First Sergeants Course; and the Sergeants Major Academy. Command Sergeant Major Jordan is working toward a degree in Business Administration.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (10th award); Army Achievement Medal (5th award); Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Ribbon; NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4th award); and Good Conduct Medal (7th award). He also earned the Army Parachute Qualification Badge as a First Sergeant.
Thank you for your exemplary service to our Country, James Jordan ! Who is Michael Jordan? (just kidding)
"It seems Mrs. Jordan managed to raise two extraordinary individuals. My hat is off to her."
yup, but wasn't there a Mr Jordan too?
The Jordan father was murdered several years ago and the skunk that did it was captured
Rush was saying (yesterday?) that Michael is a huge Dem and when approached he declined to lend his name for support to their party b/c Republicans buy Nikes too.
Too bad more "celebs" don't follow his lead. Not b/c of their (lack of) stature, but just so we don't have to listen to them!
It was a group of skunks.....very brutal little pieces of sh*t. None of them got what they deserved, imo.
Good point.
The elder Jordan was only 57 when he died....
LUMBERTON, N.C. (AP) -- An ex-convict was convicted Thursday of murdering basketball star Michael Jordan's father, who was shot during a holdup as he awoke from a nap along a dark highway in his $40,000 luxury car.
Daniel Green, 21, could get the death penalty for shooting 57-year-old James R. Jordan in the chest in 1993.
God bless James Jordan!
It was a group of them....they shot him in the head,ditched his body in a swamp or a creek or such, stole his Lexus and then drove it up here to Fort Bragg/Fayetteville. During the trial, it was reported that they realized the identity of their victim b/c of the ring he was wearing......a championship ring earned by his son. I beleive the exact quote was "I think we just shot Micheal Jordan's daddy".
I don't think any of them got the death penalty, but its been years and I could be wrong.
I was thinking there was a real family behind these two success stories. Thats the important part that the MSM and liberals gloss over. With a Mom and a Dad in the home children have a much better chance.
Wonderful story! In this era of "Celebrity Gods" comprised of singers, actors and athletes, I often asked: who was the valedictorian in Michael Jordan's high school class? Anyone know? Little did I know that away from the spotlight MJ's own brother was forging a magnificent career in the Army.
Have a great retirement, Mr. Jordan - you deserve it.
Standing tall and looking good.
HOORAH, CSM James Jordan!
I'm impressed.
Congratulations and Thank You, Mr. James Jordan.
31 years of service is actually 11 more years than required for retirement, not 1 as the article indicates.
I was going to point that out as well. Consider the lamestream media source.
I always liked Michael (even though his Mother was a Clinton supporter). I appreciate the fact that he refused to be used by the Democrats. Even though he may be a Dem, he respects the fact that a lot of his fans are not. I wish more celebrities would realize this.
Now after reading about his brother, I like his brother more. What a great family.
31 years of service.
I believe a command sergeant major may serve up to 35 years.
At 30 years you're eleigible for the max pension of 75% of your base salary. Continued service past that point results in no increase in pension benefits. I believe that's what they are referring to.
Congratulations to a well deserved and earned retirement. I hope the wind is always to your back. Thanks for your proud service and thank you for being a true American hero.
Uplifting.
GOD be with him and his family.
Don't forget Mr. Jordan.
IIRC he was the major influence on the kids. His murder was quite a shock (that's when Michael 1st retired).
The point most certainly wasn't made in the article. It must have been written by a journalist, not a reporter.
Michael Jordan is a money making machine, think of how easy it would have been for James to quit and live like a king being part of his brothers empire. He shows great character and committment.
I worked with (then) SSG Jordan in Korea, he was a great hard working NCO then and a looks like he still is! It's so nice to see that hard work and dedication still gets recognition.
"It seems Mrs. Jordan managed to raise two extraordinary individuals."
Well, at least one.
This could make a good tv movie-of-the-week. A story of one brother finding fame on the basketball court and the other finding honor on the battlefield.
This fine man is a recruiting ad all by himself. God bless him and his family.
Great post! Thank you CSM Jordan for your invaluable service to our Country. What you chose to do with your life is important!
Dixie Chicks could have learned from MJ.
damn...a COMMAND Sergeant Major!
That's almost as high as an enlisted can get. oh-la-la, I'm impressed.
I wonder what his original MOS was: He was Signal Corp.
damn...a COMMAND Sergeant Major!
That's almost as high as an enlisted can get. oh-la-la, I'm impressed.
I wonder what his original MOS was: He was Signal Corp.
America's finest bump! Thanks for serving James Jordan.
[How can one brother be NBA sized and the other only 5'7"?
It used to be that athletics and the military were pursuits that built character. Now it seems, it is just the latter.
I would love to be able to ask G. Looney what advice he would give to any fellow Hollyweird types who wanted to join the service, a la the real Hollywood men that DID protect everyone's freedoms during WWII.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
