One of 10 draftees still in Army retires

Charleston Daily Mail ^ | today | staff

[Rodney King]

One of 10 draftees still in Army retires by By The Associated Press Print Story Email Story FORT BLISS, Texas -- Robert Rangel was a college student trying to "fly below the radar" when his draft number came up in 1967.

"I got caught," he said with a wide smile.

Caught, as it turns out, for 40 years.

Chief Warrant Officer Rangel was one of just 10 draftees still in the Army when he retired Wednesday, according to Fort Bliss officials. It was unclear whether the other draftees have served as long as Rangel; the draft ended in 1973.

Rangel, of El Paso, said the prospect of being drafted was terrifying after watching numerous friends "coming home in coffins."

But he opted to stay well beyond the required two-year hitch because "I started enjoying my job and the people I worked with."

He's been deployed to nine combat zones, from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. Maj. Gen. Robert Lennox, the Fort Bliss commanding general, described Rangel as the "foremost expert" on air defense systems at the West Texas post, the current home of the Air Defense Artillery Center.

Michael Zaborowski, a retired lieutenant colonel who has known Rangel for more than a decade, said he has long been impressed by his dedication. "I did 20 years and I thought that was a lot," he said.

Rangel retired a few months before his 62nd birthday, when he would have been forced to do so under Army regulations.

His mother, who attended his retirement ceremony, was relieved the day had finally come. "That was a long time that I worried," Adelina Rangel said softly.

Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia, time in battle zones, a firsthand view of the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and a tour in the first Gulf War.

Now his priority is to take care of his mom and tackle some projects.

Tops on the list is restoring a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. He parked it in his mom's barn when he went off to basic training.

[Rodney King]

I'm not an army guy, but don't they ever promote you if you have been in that long?

[chesty_puller]

but don't they ever promote you if you have been in that long?

He was a Chief Warrant Officer.

[neodad]

El Paso Bump.

[knarf]

Makes me scratch my head and wonder how he got the way he is.

[Rodney King]

Is that above an NCO?

[geo40xyz]

What rank do you think a Chief Warrant Officer is Rodney??

[AzSteven]

Chief Warrant is a pretty impressive rank - warrant officers are effectively officers but are not commissioned as such. They don't really command but they perform important technical tasks that might oridinarily require a commissioned officer to deal with. For example, helicopter pilots are often warrants.

My nephew once complained warrants are basically enlisted guys with officer perks. He was oversimplifying more than a little of course.

[chesty_puller]

Yep

[geo40xyz]

yes, three steps above the highest NCO

[U S Army EOD]

Ask any CWO5 and he will tell you it is above a general. Most generals will agree.

[org.whodat]

Chief Warrant, is not a buck private! Some men just stand a little tailer than other equals and here is one of them.

[Repeal The 17th]

---

This picture is from 1969.
I remember it well.
Almost surreal to think about it now.
Your fate was determined by some suit picking a numbered
ping pong ball out of a gold-fish bowl.

[Rodney King]

OK, I apologize and confess my ignorance.

[aft_lizard]

You ask any SMA, CWO-5,or O-10 and you will get three answers, they all think they are god.

[silentreignofheroes]

This fella had the best of both worlds,,,A Chief Warrant,,He was Top Dog....In '71 only 3 people in our Company were draftees,,The Draft was winding down,

[oh8eleven]

Surely you jest.

[Rodney King]

For example, helicopter pilots are often warrants.

Really? When I was a kid I always wanted to be a helicopter pilot. I figured I had to go to West Point or Annapolis and my mother wouldn't let me (really). Damn, I would have just enlisted if I could have been a helicopter pilot.

[lesser_satan]

I think that's the highest you can go without a college degree. A Warrant Officer isn't really an officer in the same sense as a Lieutenant, Captain, Major, or Colonel. It says he was drafted while he was a college student, and maybe he decided he liked the Army and didn't want or need to finish college.

[doodad]

Valid question from your perspective, but he did well. And, I bet, he carried more weight than much higher ranks where ever he was. Many a Sgt has carried a Lt or Cpt.

[Fiddlstix]

He is CWO. Not too shabby, imho.

[Centurion2000]

Is that above an NCO?

He's about on par with a Major / Lt Colonel ... he just does not have a commision and is not in the officer chain of command.

Think of him as a Master Plumber, Master Electrician or master machinist.

[silentreignofheroes]

Some men just stand a little taller than other equals and here is one of them.

Found his spot ,,did'nt he,,,?

[Centurion2000]

Damn, I would have just enlisted if I could have been a helicopter pilot.

You needed 60 hours of college to get into the warrant program.

[calex59]

There are only 4 levels of warrent officer.He is at the top rank, can't go any higher unless he went to OCS and was commissioned as an officer.

[Centurion2000]

There are 5 levels now in the Army. CWO-5 is a rank.

[silentreignofheroes]

Would like to see that Plymouth..?

[calex59]

All you had to do was enlist and pass the Officer Candidate test with a score of 120. I did, and went to helicopter pilot school instead of OCS. Never regretted it.

[Thumper1960]

What's the equivalent rank of a Chief Petty Officer?

[leadpenny]

An old saying went, "You can always tell a Warrant. You just can't tell 'em much."

E5 CW2 & 04.

[calex59]

Ok, I haven't been in for a few years and WO-4 was it when I got out. Thanks for the info.

[leadpenny]

Warrant Officers can be in command under certain circumstances.

[geo40xyz]

Not Navy, but I believe CPO can go to E-9 today..

[wtc911]

One of the smartest and best educated groups I ever met were all Warrant Officers in the CID. They have PHDs on staff.

[kms61]

Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia

---

There were only a handful of combat jumps during the entire Vietnam conflict, and if he'd been on every single one, he'd have had nowhere near 200. They must be talking about training jumps, which is a little misleading given the context.

Nevertheless, thanks to Chief Rangel for his service, and best wishes for his retirement.

[leadpenny]

I re enlisted from civilian and did the same thing.

WORWAC 66-11.

[Pilsner]

One idea behind Warrant officers is that some jobs take a lot of technical skill. If you train an enlisted person to do the job, they have "up or out" rules, and may quit for a better paying job in the private sector, so you lose the member, and have to train a replacement.

If you train a commissioned officer to job, they have "up or out" rules and are kicked out if they don't get promoted. But they don't get promoted if they don't go to different schools, and don't hold several jobs demonstrating wide competence. Either way, the Army loses the member from the technical slot, and has to train a replacement. Warrant Officers, WO1-WO5, are supposed to have the perks on an officer, but still be able to just do their job and not worry getting their ticket punched by holding a new position every 18 months.

People who should be Warrant officers, but aren't, for historical reasons, are JAGs, Chaplains and Doctors.

[silentreignofheroes]

You needed 60 hours of college to get into the warrant program.
Not always,,I was offered the School(was a Spec 5),turned it down,,dumbest thing I ever did,,this was in '77,still can't think of anything dumber,,but the packet was ready,kind of want to think it was an honor to be selected..

[Who dat?]

My nephew once complained warrants are basically enlisted guys with officer perks. He was oversimplifying more than a little of course.

My uncle used to claim that warrant officers were the only people in the Army that retained their balls as (he claimed) they were to be addressed as “mister” rather than “sir.” Maybe that was just “at the time”…

[wtc911]

Think of him as a Master Plumber, Master Electrician or master machinist.

_____________________________________________

Or a Master Detective.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Tops on the list is restoring a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. He parked it in his mom's barn when he went off to basic training.

Thanks for posting this great story! Wonder what the total number of Viet Nam era draftees went on to serve until retirement.

[geo40xyz]

Rules do change!! In 1958, as a E-1 and no college, I was offered a Warrant Officer slot to go Army Aviation but I was starting a six month electronics class which was what I had signed up for...

[Glenn]

but don't they ever promote you

My brother came out a Warrant Officer. He was a dogface in 1969 and spent 2 tours in 'Nam, 16 years in Germany, and retired after he was sent stateside post a Desert Storm tour. He was a tank guy for his entire enlistment and is now a contractor to the Army. I wish I had his pension and knowledge. He worked damned hard for his rank -- it came with a lot of respect from his commanders.

[MeanWestTexan]

Yes.

It's O-level pay, w/out being in the command structure.

Most helo pilots (myself included) start of as either LT or WO, and it's really personal choice more than anything.

[Gum Shoe]

I watched a full bird get brow beat pretty hard by a CWO4 when I was in the Marine Corps. It was fun to watch.

[fish hawk]

Wrong! W1 Warrant Officer; W2 chief Warrant Officer; W3 Chief Warrant Officer; W4 chief Warrant Officer; and W5 Master Warrant Officer. Then comes 01 second lieutenant and then 02 first lieutenant then Captain. Got this right out of a FACT book.

[digger48]

Doesn't anyone see the irony in the fact that his name is Rangel?

[U S Army EOD]

I was always smart enough to treat them like one.

[YellowRoseofTx]

...he just does not have a commision...

I've read all the comments here and it has been a real education for me. As a female I've been clueless about most of this but have always been curious about these "titles". I just have one more question, and I'm sorry if it sounds stupid, but....does commissioned mean college?

[stylin19a]

My memory is gettin a little hazy, but I seem to recall the WO's were always equal opportunists.
They could equally tell officers and NCO's to get stuffed, with damned near immunity.

[Gay State Conservative]

This picture is from 1969.I remember it well.

I remember it well myself.I read my number (327) in the Louisville Courier Journal as I sat on my foot locker at Fort Knox,KY having just completed my 3rd week of BCT.

I cried myself to sleep that night because the only reason I joined was because I assumed that I'd be drafted.