ROTC to Induct Three New Members into Hall of Heroes during 28th Annual Ceremony

11/20/2024

JONESBORO - The Department of Military Science at Arkansas State University will induct three new members into the ROTC Hall of Heroes at the 28th annual ceremony, announced Lt. Col. Morgan Weatherly, professor of military science.

The induction will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, in Cooper Alumni Center, 2600 Alumni Blvd.

The three to be honored with the prestigious recognition are Albert (Al) G. Martin, former Captain (Promotable), U.S. Army; Robert A. Barker, retired Colonel, U.S. Army; and Jerry W. Cheatom, retired Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army.

Following the ceremony, placards will be hung in the Hall of Heroes by the inductees. The honorees also will be recognized during halftime of the 2 p.m. Red Wolves football game against UL-Monroe at Centennial Bank Stadium.

All three are alumni of the ROTC program in the A-State Department of Military Science. Here are the profiles of this year's inductees:

Albert (Al) G. Martin, Captain (Promotable), U.S. Army
Special Mission Force, Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team-158

Former Captain (Promotable) Al Martin is a native of Helena. In 1969, upon graduation from A-State with a degree in political science and as a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, he was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate into the Active Duty force as a Military Intelligence officer.

2nd Lt. Martin attended his MI Officer Basic Course and volunteered for Airborne and Special Forces training. As a lieutenant, he served with the 6th and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. While there, he earned his Green Beret and completed U.S. Army Ranger School and Vietnamese language school prior to his deployment to Vietnam.

In Vietnam, 1st Lt. Martin served with Special Mission Force, Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team-158. SMF had a classified mission of POW, MIA, and Downed-Pilot Recovery. They also ran other non-classified company and platoon-size operations. SMF was composed of 124 indigenous mercenary Montagnards, 41 of which were in 1st Lt. Martin's platoon.

Upon redeploying to the states, 1st Lt. Martin attended his MI Officer Advance Course and was promoted to captain. He then attended flight school to receive a rotary and fixed-wing pilot rating at Fort Rucker, AL. His follow-on assignment was with the First Army Security Agency Aviation Company (CEFIRM Leader) as the operations officer at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The unit flew modified U-21 aircraft with direction-finding, signal intelligence, and radio signal jamming capabilities.

Capt. Martin was reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division, 3/4 Cavalry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, as a rotary-wing pilot. Following his tour in Hawaii, Capt. Martin resigned his commission and began a 42-year career as a commercial real estate agent, in Honolulu, and Austin, Texas, retiring in 2019.

His awards and decorations include the Special Forces tab with Green Beret, Ranger tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Aviator Wings, Senior Jump Wings and Jumpmaster Qualification, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal (numeral "2"), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm (Unit), and National Defense Service Medal.

Martin is a 100% Disabled American Veteran living with his wife, Joyce, in Austin. They have three children, and they now engage in Christian ministry and travel.

Robert A. Barker, Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief of Staff to the CG, Fort Gordon And Cyber Center of Excellence

Retired Col. Barker is a native of Jonesboro. In 1985, he was commissioned through the A-State ROTC program with a reserve commission as an Army Signal Corps officer. He graduated Arkansas State in 1986 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Col. Barker was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his Signal Officer Advance Course. He also completed Command and General Staff College (2000)-receiving an M.S. in computer resources and information technology (Webster University); the U.S. Army War College (2009)-earning an M.A. in strategic studies, and the U.S. Army War College Senior Leader Seminar (2014).

Col. Barker's notable assignments include Operations Officer, Theater Communications Control Cell (TCCC) (Fwd), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. As part of an eight-person Army cell operating at Khobar Towers in Dhahran the night of the Khobar Towers bombing, he was instrumental during recovery operations and the reactivation of the operations center after the terrorist attack. In 2004, he commanded the 63rd Signal Battalion during combat operations in Iraq. In 2008, Col. Barker was tasked to deploy to Moscow, Russia, in support of a Joint Operation's exercise with the Russian General Staff to develop a working relationship with Russia for future joint operations. He served as the director, Concepts, Requirements, and Doctrine Division (CRDD) and the director, Capabilities Development Integration Division (CDID) of the Signal Center of Excellence, and was the garrison commander at Ft. Gordon, Ga. Col. Barker retired in 2016 as the chief of staff to the Commanding General Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) and Ft. Gordon, where he was directly involved in the activation of the CCoE, Cyber School, and the new command and control, and training facilities for Ft. Gordon to support the transition to Cyberspace Operations and the move of Army Cyber Command to Ft. Gordon. He wore the uniform for over 30 years.

His noteworthy awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1 OLC), Bronze Star (1 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Silver OLC), Air Force Achievement Medal with "V" Device, Joint Staff Officer's Badge, and Basic Parachutist Badge.

Col. Barker now resides in Harrisburg with his wife Barbara and two granddaughters, Kya and Aunna. He manages the family business, Brasco Service Inc.

Jerry W. Cheatom, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Director of Army Instruction, San Antonio Independent School District

Retired Lt. Col. Jerry Cheatom is a native of El Dorado. In 1976, upon graduation from Arkansas State University with a degree in printing technology, he was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate into the Active Duty force as an Infantry officer. A recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, he was also the president of the Black Students Association and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Military Society.

Lt. Col. Cheatom's education includes a master's degree in adult education (Kansas State University) and a master's in school administration (Trinity University), as well as a doctorate in educational leadership (UT-San Antonio).

His senior level assignments included Space Surveillance Commander, Space Defense Commander, and Chief, Training Evaluations, Standardization, and Exercises, U.S. Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Base, Colo.; and professor of military science, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, Tallahassee.

Lt. Col. Cheatom has served an additional 22 years in uniform with JROTC as Senior Army Instructor (SAI) at Theodore Roosevelt and Sam Houston High Schools in San Antonio, and as director of Army Instruction for San Antonio Independent School District, where he continues service today. He also served as assistant principal for five years at Roosevelt High. He concurrently serves as a senior counselor for Texas American Legion Boys State and is a member of the Alamo Area, Texas, and National Alliances of Black School Educators. In essence, Lt. Col. Cheatom transformed 21 years of military experience into 27 years and counting of youth mentorship.

His awards include the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and U.S. Army Space Operations Badge.

His civilian awards and recognitions include the North East Independent School District Superintendent's Award, induction into Phi Delta Kappa Educators Hall of Fame, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Psi Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, National Board of Rocks Incorporated Chairman's Award for Exceptional Service, and Rocks Incorporated Robert B. Burke Award.

Lt. Col. Cheatom and his wife Judith are the parents of four daughters-Keyna, Amber, Mila and Asante, and five grandchildren-Quinten, Camryn Lane, Grayson, Julius and Cassian.

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