Gerald George Chikalla

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Dan Moses on August 23, 2008:

Some memories of Chick are as follows: 1. One of the greatest Infantry, Airborne, Ranger Officers to ever serve in our wonderful U. S. Army! 2. Chick and Pembo put me on the truck in Ranger School at Ft. Benning after I hurt my knee, and had to drop out. 3. Chick came to Ft. Bragg as a member of the 101st Abn. Div. football team while I was in the 82nd Abn. Div.--the 101st beat us. 4. Chick, Jerry Hagen, and I went thru one of the first MATA Courses at Ft. Bragg, N.C. in 1962 enroute to Vietnam. Chick was assigned as an Advisor to the VN. Rangers in 1963.. Tom, Wil, Bill Hadley, and I were with the VN. Abn. Bde as advisors, and Charley Johnson was with SOG. Chick was on jump status, so I saw him several times 5. Chick went back to Vietnam twice, and I think that he probably served more months there than any of the rest of us-31/2 years by my count.. Once with the 1st Inf. Div.for a year about 1966-67, and the third time for 18 months with that special Sector/Area Advisor Preogram.after that.. 6. I was stationed at West Point in 1970-72 when Chick brought his outstanding Inf. Bn. from the 101st Abn. Div to support the Cadets one summer. Was wonderful to see that proud Battalion Commander at West Point! 7. My wife, Henry, and I were so pleased to have been at Ft. Bragg when Chick and his wonderful wife Jessie were there .also. Chick was the Deputy Chief of Staff, XVIII Abn. Corps-and his workouts every day about noon were something to see.plus he did an outstanding job! 8. I got to know several great officers while I was working at Ft. Polk, La. at the Joint Raediness Training Center from 1993-2006 who had been fortunate to have been cadets at Norwich University while Chick was in charge of the R.O.T.C. program from 1981-85/lots of great comments from them. My attempt to say "THANKS" to Chick and to Jessie! Dan Moses

admin