Posted by Chris Maxfield on October 1, 2014:

I had the good fortune to come under the command of Sealon R. Wentzel in September 1972 when he was the Commander of Company B (Airborne) 75th Infantry (Rangers) at Fort Carson, Colorado. At the time, I was an enlisted soldier, who had just arrived from the 82nd Airborne Division on reassignment. From the first meeting, there was no doubt that he was a "soldier's soldier" and embodied all of those qualities that makes a superb leader - one that you would gladly follow to hell and back. He always led from the front and never asked any soldier to do anything that he wasn't willing to do himself; furthermore, he demonstrated that ideal on a daily basis. One of his first acts, was to send me to winter Ranger School, from which I graduated in February 1973. (No need to extoll on the virtues of Ranger School, especially in the winter.) CPT Wentzel was there at the graduation to pin on my hard-won Ranger Tab and my new Sergeant stripes, along with several others from the Company - another strong indicator of his leadership. A couple of months afterwards, an opportunity presented itself for me to attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS), but I needed his support as the Company Commander. Despite a misstep in my personal life, he had the faith and confidence to support me for the Prep School to which I was accepted, eventually graduating from West Point in 1978 as a Second Lieutenant. For me, Sealon was one of those rarest of rare, almost mythical, individuals who appear during your lifetime that change the course of your life forever. He was one of those for me (one of three). Without his support, I would never have attended West Point, enjoyed a full career in the US Army and reached the levels of success that I have achieved. Who knows where I might have ended up. Well, I didn't, thanks to him. I salute you Sir, now and forever more. Rangers Lead the Way!

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