Army Mules - Strong And Persevering
Army Mules
During a "Change of Command" ceremony on Sept. 7, 2002, Army's storied gridiron program ushered in a new chapter in yet another rich Academy tradition.
Since 1899, mules have served as the mascots for the Corps of Cadets. The choice of the mule as a mascot reflects the long-standing usefulness of the animal in military operation - transporting guns, supplies and ammunition. Strong, hearty and persevering, the mule is an appropriate symbol for the Corps of Cadets.
Thus, an oversized white mule, used to pull a local ice wagon, was groomed, outfitted with leggings, a collar and a gray blanket, and dispatched to the stadium. Legend has it the first meeting between the two mascots ended when the mule whirled and "hoisted that astonished goat toward the Navy stands to the delight of the yelling, laughing crowd."
The halftime ceremony heralds a changing of the mule guard as faithful servants Traveller and Trooper will be retired, leaving companion Raider in charge of peppy young newcomers Ranger II and General Scott, who were officially "sworn in" at halftime.
Ranger II-the second Army mule to bear the moniker Ranger-is named in honor of the 75th Ranger regiment, "out of respect for all Rangers everywhere, living and dead," according to donor Steven Townes. Ranger II is a 5-year-old former trail riding mule who hails from, appropriately, Independence, Kan.
General Scott is a 3-year old pasture-raised mule from Missouri, who is named after former USMA Superintendent and noted mule lover Gen. Willard Scott. Often during Army-Navy games in past seasons, Gen. Scott could be found proudly roaming the Army sidelines atop one of the Academy's mascots.
Also known as "Scottie," the youngest Army mascot earned his new mule name following an internet poll of Army fans, who were asked to select from four choices: General Scott, Warrior, Thunder and Storm. General Scott won hoofs down, garnering more than 44 percent of the vote.
Army's two newest mascots were graciously presented to the Academy by Townes, a 1975 USMA graduate. A former head Rabble Rouser and mule rider, Townes today serves as CEO of Ranger Aerospace.
"This donation came out of a desire to give something back to the Academy, and for me, it is such a uniquely personal angle because I rode the mules as an underclassman and later became head Rabble Rouser," Townes said. "You never quite get that head Rabble Rouser 'thing' out of your system."
When asked how much a mule costs, Townes replied, "That will forever remain a military secret, but I can tell you they are worth a heck of a lot more than a Navy goat."
Traveller and Trooper now bask in retirement at new digs supplied by Judge William Wilson Jr., who transported the mules to the Wye Mountain Branch of the Rasputin Mule Farm in Bigelow, Ark.
Traveller and Trooper were welcomed to Arkansas during a formal event on Oct. 19, 2002, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, located in the Tower Building, which was Gen. Douglas MacArthur's (USMA '03) birthplace.
Ranger II and General Scott bring to 15 the number of mules who comprise their own "Long Gray Line."
Following the debut of the white ice-wagon mule in 1899, who helped propel Army to a 17-5 victory over Navy, a succession of mules roamed the Army sidelines, either selected randomly from the stables at West Point for home games or borrowed from nearby stables in the vicinity of away games.
However, in 1936, Mr. Jackson became Army's first officially designated mascot. Formerly a pack mule with the Regular Army, Mr. Jackson served West Point for a dozen years and was the oldest mule in the Army. The football teams won three national championships and forged a sterling 83-28-9 mark during his illustrious tenure.
It is into that legacy, carried on throughout the years, that Ranger II and General Scott canter today. A lineage of strong, hearty and persevering animals who have provided faithful and selfless service to the Military Academy and its cadets for more than a century.
