ROCK OF THE YEAR
FOR 1996
Colonel HARRY W. TOWNSEND
U.S. Army, Retired
Colonel Harry W. Townsend, a native of Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from Germantown High School and attended Lincoln University, PA for two years. Colonel Townsend received his Bachelor degree from The University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Always interested in the military, he started training in the Citizens Military Training Corps, a program designed to train civilians who could not attend ROTC at colleges to obtain a commission. This program was phased out in 1940. He next enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Guard and rose from private to Second Lieutenant. In 1944 when the Selective Service attempted to draft him for service in the Navy, he volunteered for Army service as an Infantryman. In October 1945, he was commissioned an Infantry Second Lieutenant. In 1949, he received a regular Army commission after successfully completing one year in the Competitive Tour Program.
A master Parachutist and Master Army Aviator with over 8,000 flying hours, his assignments included service in the Army’s 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Black Panthers), the 24th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, The Green Berets, and the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He served in the Army of Assault Battalion Commander in Vietnam. He also served in various command and staff positions in the 8th Infantry Regiment, the 60th Infantry Regiment, Combat Developments Command, The Office of The Army Inspector General, and the Offices of the Secretaries of the Army and Defense.
In addition to theater and service medals, his decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was married for 31 years to the former Gloria Eleanor Clement of Philadelphia who died in 1978. They have 2 children, Steven and Diana, both of Silver Spring, MD.
ROCK OF THE YEAR
FOR 1996
Major General JAMES R. KLUGH
U.S. Army, Retired
Major General James R. Klugh was born June 22, 1931, in Greenwood South Carolina. General Klugh received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from South Carolina State College and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1953. He earned a Master of Science degree in public Administration from Shippensburg State College. He is currently the Executive Vice President for Executive Security & Engineering Technologies, Inc. (ESET, Inc.).
General Klugh is the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Logistics, the senior logistics policy and management position in the Department of Defense. Immediately preceding his appointment as Deputy Under Secretary, Mr. Klugh was the first retired general officer to serve on President Clinton’s Transition Team and as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Personnel. In this position, he was committed to staffing political appointees in the Department of Defense.
Mr. Klugh is a highly decorated Army Veteran who served more than 30 years in a wide variety of key positions in the continental United States and three overseas theaters. He served in three branches of the Army: Infantry, Chemical and the Ordnance Corps. He commanded three Infantry Companies, a Logistics Battalion, the Chemical Research Development and Engineering Center and a major Department of Defense Test and Evaluation command. He also served as Chief of Staff of the Army Tank and Automotive Command, Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command, Deputy Commander, United States Army Logistics Center, and Army Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics.
Mr. Klugh’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, numerous Air Medals, and he was decorated for valor in combat. He was inducted to the South Carolina State University Hall of Fame and the Chemical Corps Hall of Fame. He is listed in Who’s Who in America.
He is married to the former Theresa J. Minnis of Pratt, Kansas. They have three children: Jerome, Denise, and James, Jr.