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.

[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.

[leadpenny]

It means you've been commissioned an Officer, usually 2LT. (01)

[Renegade]

I was good ole # 33 .Me and Rolling rock, perfect together!

[Mike Darancette]

A Warrant Officer isn't really an officer in the same sense as a Lieutenant, Captain, Major, or Colonel.

IIRC: In the Navy (Late 60's) there was a path from WO-2 to O-1 but not after that. Then they wanted you to go on PBRs.

[leadpenny]

You could have volunteered for the draft, right?

[aft_lizard]

I once saw a SMA dressdown an O-7 General for him cutting some troops to the front of the line because he needed a tent put up while my unit had a hot mission on-going for the past 20 hours, first time I had ever seen that, gave me even more respect for Sergeant Majors. As far as a CWO's go I always was respectful and treated them like an officer.

[Bender2]

Re: 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.

Gadzooks, it never ceases to amaze me how little people know about our military. I've come to realize the Liberal Media does even try to know anything other than their evil spew of lies, half-truths and outright lies...

During the first Gulf War I watched Wolfie Blitzer (Only CNN available then...) identify an F-15 Eagle taking off as an F-16. The F-15 has twin tails, the F-16 a single... Yet Wolfie didn't need to know the correct facts, he was on television! CNN and their traitorous media comrades still effect this policy...

Even with the internet allowing a few quick clicks to find almost any answer to any question, we still have people who should know better... Yet they still manage to ask the most asinine questions!

I know I am old fart, old school Conservative, Good Republican Texan and know more than anyone has a right to know about many fully automatic weapons, the military, contemporary history and the difference in taste of many brands of beers and cigarettes...

However, I shall jump off the soapbox and keep my big fat, loud mouth closed...

For about two or three minutes!

Don't believe him... He's just bluffing!

Yeah, and he's... a mean drunk!

[operation clinton cleanup]

does commissioned mean college?

You need to have completed a 4 year degree to be eligible to become a commissioned officer (but there are always exceptions!)

[Repeal The 17th]

Belkieve it or not, a good buddy of mine did the exact same thing as you while we were half-way through basic training at Ft. Polk.

[leadpenny]

That's was one weak O7. I hope he didn't make two stars.

[silentreignofheroes]

I've been an Electronic Tech since '72..The Radar I worked on was all tube except a 300 volt PS that used 4 diodes in a bridge for the locale oscilator,,those were the days,,don't know electron flow unless you know tube theory and to me thats a fact,,just retired from the Fed Govt. in '04 at FT Rucker (Army Aviation Center),know that CW 5's exist..I believe pilots need prior college to be accepted,not in the area I was in..