The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was part of the division’s “All American Days,” which was held this week in place of All American Week.Īll American Week, which honors veteran and current paratroopers, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the deployment to Afghanistan of the division's Immediate Response Force in August.Īlso attending the induction ceremony was Maurice Renaud, who was 2 years old when paratroopers liberated his Sainte Mere Eglise community, where his father was mayor. Christopher Donahue look at a photo from Capel's time in service. 19, 2021, ceremony at Fort Bragg, as he and Command Sgt. Capel is inducted into the 82nd Airborne Division's Hall of Fame, during a Nov. They stood next to me in the tough times, the rough times and we had good times together.” I had peers that were more than just friends to me, brothers and sisters. “I had subordinates that worked for me that did everything I asked them to do.
“I had thousands, if not millions of young guys and girls who helped me to get to where I am,” he said. Though he said the soldiers trained hard, were prepared and equipped, he said he prays for the Gold Star families of the division daily.Īfter retiring in 2013, Capel joined a nonprofit group that works to build homes with veterans, prevent suicide and provide service dogs to veterans.Ĭapel said his induction into the Hall of Fame and his 36-year Army career weren't accomplished by himself. I feel it today, and I feel it every day.” “They planted bombs on the side of the road, and the toughest times I had was sending my guys and girls back home. “We started taking our guys and girls into an awful unfamiliar territory to fight an enemy that sometimes didn’t have a face,” Capel said after the Nov. Army Europe.ĭuring his career, he deployed six times, including an 18-month deployment with ISAF, and spent more than five years overseas during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Forces-Afghanistan and command sergeant major for U.S. Other assignments he’s had have included as the senior enlisted leader for the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Capel, who served as the division's command sergeant major from May 2006 to July 2010.Įnlisting in the Army in 1977 at 18, his first assignment was with the division. CapelĪlso named to the Hall of Fame was retired Command Sgt. Capel was named to the 82nd Airborne Division's Hall of Fame during a Nov. The spirit and the morale that lives in a place like this is very special.”
“It’s filled with great people who do amazing things every day, whether it be in combat, in peacetime or just training out here. Rodriguez said he’s honored to be selected for the Hall of Fame. They went into a chaotic situation right outside of Baghdad,” he said. “Then we set a lot long quickly after that. He said his daughter, who is also a paratrooper, was part of one of the first brigades that deployed to the region. Rodriguez was commander of the division during the 2007 enemy surge in Afghanistan. David Rodriguez was commander of the division from April 2006 to August 2008 and is the division's longest-serving commander who served in combat, with a total of 15 months.Įarlier in his career, he commanded the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and deployed with the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. David Rodriguez was named to the 82nd Airborne Division's fourth Hall of Fame during a Nov. There are many other good units, but this was my Army unit the 19 out of my 30 years.” “The motivation and esprit de corps here can’t be beat. “The officers, the NCOS, the soldiers are the best in the Army,” Slocum said. Slocum, who was present at this month’s induction, said he considers it a significant honor to be included in the Hall of Fame. In 1991, he became the division's command sergeant major and led the division through the Green Ramp disaster, where 24 paratroopers died during an aircraft accident near Pope Air Force Base.ĭonahue said Slocum took “care of people,” during the incident. He returned to the division in 1972 and again in 1989 to become the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s command sergeant major, leading the brigade through Desert Shield and Storm, assisting in the liberation of Kuwait. Slocum first joined the division in 1968, after a deployment to Vietnam. Steven Slocum was named to the 82nd Airborne Division's fourth Hall of Fame during a Nov.