2016 Ranger Hall of Fame: Part 4
Last but definitely not least, we will learn more about the last group of the 2016 Ranger Hall of Fame Inductees: Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Tommy F. Shook, Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Willie W. Snow, Sgt. Gary A. Linderer, and Col. (Ret.) Robert S. Poydasheff, who was inducted as an honorary member.
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Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Tommy F. Shook
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Sgt. Maj. Shook enlisted in the Army on October 19, 1960 and served two tours in Vietnam. In 1978, Shook was hand selected by then Lt. Col. Joe Stringham and then Command Sgt. Maj. Glenn Morrell as 1st Sgt. of Bravo Company, 1st Ranger Battalion. This was a citical period for both 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions as they were the tip of the spear in the rapidly evolving war on terror.
The 1st Ranger Battalion was critically short on Ranger qualified Non-Commissioned Officers to the point it was impacting unit readiness. Lt. Col Stringham and Command Sgt. Maj. Morrell knew 1st Sgt. Shook personally and were aware of distinguished combat record and his ability to train soldiers for combat. He was the perfect man for the job; however, in order to accept the assignment, Shook was sent to attended Ranger School.
Shook attended Ranger School at the age of 38 and was the Honor Graduate and recipient of the Merrill's Marauder Award of Ranger Class 9-78. He went on to lead the way at Company level in the 1st Ranger Battalion, redeveloping and redefining the role of the US Army NCO in what would evolve into the 75th Ranger Regiment.
After almost 21 years of military service, Sgt. Maj. Shook retired from active duty in September of 1981.
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| Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Willie W. Snow |
Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Command Sgt. Maj. Snow enlisted in the Army on February 28, 1961. His first assignments included Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Hood, Texas.
Snow graduated Ranger School Class 08-65 in May 1965. Upon graduation he returned to Fort Bragg and deployed three days later to the Dominican Republic with the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division and earned his Combat Infantryman's Badge and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
During his first deployment to Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 502d Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Snow receive a Purple Heart for wounds received in connection with military operations against a hostile force.
In July 1970, Snow returned to Vietnam and distinguished himself by valorous action while serving as a Reconnaissance Team Leader for a seven man patrol near Bong Son. Upon moving his men into an ambush site near an enemy base camp, he spotted a 30 man enemy element within 50 meters of his team. He alerted his men by initiating fire upon the enemy force. Under heavy fire from the enemy, he remained exposed to better observe and direct fires against the enemy. Discovering he could not communicate with his headquarters, he established communication with an unidentified aircraft on an emergency radio frequency and requested air support. When the gunships arrived, he directed the aircraft fires accurately to disrupt and rout the enemy. His action aided the team in killing seven enemy and capturing equipment with no friendly casualties.
Later that same year, Snow also received a Letter of Commendation for the rescue of a 21 man platoon that was stranded in rising flood waters. Snow responded to an urgent request for assistance to rescue 21 personnel from Delta Company that were in extreme danger of drowning due to rapidly rising flood waters. He was instrumental in the successful extraction of the 21 personnel to include their rucksacks and weapons.
As if that wasn't enough during this tour, Snow was also responsible for developing the tactics, techniques and procedures for employment of the XM21 Sniper Rifle System. The system was adopted by the Army and was designated the M21 Sniper Rifle System, His nine man element was responsible for more kills than most companies in the Brigade.
Sgt. Gary Linderer enlisted into the Army on October 5, 1967; and completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Shortly after completing his training, Linderer was sent to Vietnam and was assigned to Co. F, 58th Infantry (LRP) (ABN) and then in Co. L, 75th Infantry (Ranger). On November 20, 1968, then Spec. Linderer and his team ambushed a ten-man North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Patrol, eliminating nine of the enemy. While en route to the extraction landing zone, the point man was seriously wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. Linderer immediately returned automatic weapon fire and grenades toward the enemy position, allowing two of his team mates to pull the wounded man to safety. Linderer was wounded in the legs but continued to defend the position, allowing the MEDEVAC helicopter to land and load the wounded team member. Linderer then called in air support to turn back the company-sized NVA element that was attacking the remainder of the team. An NVA Claymore mine detonated ten meters away, killing three team members and wounding the remaining eight. Linderer, although badly wounded in the legs, maintained his fighting position near the radio and continued to fight until he was extracted about one hour later.
It was during this tour that he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device and Oak Leaf Cluster.
Sgt. Linderer was Honorably Discharge on December 2, 1970. After completing college at Southeast Missouri State University and St. Louis University School of Law. He went on to work as the CEO of Quad City Real Estate and Construction in Branson, Missouri and owned four restaurants. Between 1986-1991, Linderer authored five books; Eyes of the Eagles, Eyes Behind The Lines, Six Silent Men - Book III, Phantom Warriors Book I and Phantom Warriors Book II. Over the years, Linderer has mentored/assisted 32 other veterans/authors in publishing their books.
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| Col. (Ret) Robert S. Poydasheff |
Col. (Ret.) Poydasheff graduated from the Citadel in 1954 and was commissioned as an Infantry 2Lt. in May 1955. After serving as Aide de Camp to General Mark W. Clark, the president of the university, he went on leave without pay to attend Ulane College School of Law.
After graduating from law school, Poydasheff was assigned to the Infantry Center Troop Command. In 1961, he was transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps as the Infantry Center with duty as Chief of Administrative Law. With the activation of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test), Poydasheff became the division's acting Judge Advocate and held that position until he was promoted to Lt. Col. While in this position, he supported Rangers through his expertise and advice.
Poydasheff retired from active duty in 1979 but never stopped his support of Rangers. He freely shared his time and knowledge helping Rangers and Ranger organizations, preventing and solving problems in law and regulation, ranging from personal matters, to major legal and military justice issues. He assisted in the formation of the U.S. Army Ranger Association and the National Ranger Memorial Foundation. Poydasheff served the Army as a liaison to Congress on a wide range of issues to include the management of the Defense Dependent School System.
Because of these reasons and for his service and support to the Ranger Community for over 50 years, Col. Robert Poydasheff has been inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame as an Honorary Inductee.
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