The legend of Billy Jack West

I was born on March 27, 1973 in Lexington, Ky. I am really proud of that. I love Lexington and will try to stay close to it my whole life.

What I find amazing though is that Colonel Billy Jack West, our Brigade Commander, joined the Army before I was born. I mean really think about this….he joined the Army as a Private in 1971, during the Vietnam War.

As a private! He is now one promotion away from General! Incredible!

Improbable? I guess not, because here he is at that door.

But 1971! Wow.

My earliest happy memory as a kid, that I recall in color (since most TV’s weren’t in 1971when he joined) was being at Riverfront Stadium with my Dad, and sitting behind George Foster, watching the Big Red Machine. That was like 1977. He was already a SGT by that point. He joined the Army with the country at war.

I respect that.

I joined the Marines during Desert Storm. He joined the service however, during a time of great resistance to the war, and when soldiers and service members were being insulted by some US citizens, for whom he was giving service to, and yet he decided to join anyway.

Well, here you go-

The Commanding General of the 4^th Infantry Division and leader of the Multi-National Division in Baghdad (MND-B), Major General Jeffrey Hammond (also an incredible leader, America can and should, be proud of), refers to Billy Jack West as “a champion.”

His words. “The 138 Fires Brigade from Kentucky did an amazing job and I don’t think they can truly be replaced.”

Why? Leadership.

I love Billy Jack, and let me tell you, he is one cool Colonel. Allow me to count the ways.

His name is cool. I mean how many people do you know with a name, that sounds like it was made for an old western movie? Can’t you just hear it on TV before the days of cable… “Tonight’s feature is our movie week, it’s ‘The Legend of Billy Jack West,’ starring Billy Jack West as he hits the prairie with Ol’ John Knox, the fair law-man! Cool name – check.

I am an NCO (Non-Commisioned Officer) and so was Billy Jack West (in the 70’s). NCO’s enforce the standard, and our NCO Corps in the US Military is the largest, most active and squared away, organized military Corps in the world. Fellow NCO – check.

Billy Jack West just happens to be a Cincinnati Reds fan. Me too. Pretty cool to me – check.

Billy Jack West has an incredibly sweet and genuine family (whom I told before deployment ‘he’ (their dad) was the reason I went with the unit), and that just proves what a good husband and father he has been. Great role model for me – check.

Billy Jack West is tough. I mean really tough. After deploying to Afghanistan twice, in the mountains for over two years, he came home and had quadruple bypass open heart surgery, and then re-deployed to Baghdad for a year. Toughness and intestinal fortitude – check.

He has always made me feel like I was his son and treated me with nothing less than 100% respect every time we have ever spoke. Class act – check.

Want to know the best part though? Billy Jack is a man dedicated to his faith, family, and Army and truly believes in the cause of helping others from all walks of life no matter the background. I’ve seen it firsthand, – wonderful and genuine human being – check.

I love you Lindsay and Kenadee,

Lindsay YAMWW,

Steve