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The Cramer's Saber Battalion |
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| The Army ROTC Battalion on the URI campus originated from
the military training unit established in 1894 by Captain William W.
Wetherspoon, later Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Under the
provisions of the Morrill Act of 1862, more familiarly known as the Land
Grant Act, State Colleges set up military training units to prepare the
college students for leadership in the event of a national emergency. In
1920, the unit was re-designated as the Reserve Officers Training Corps in
compliance with the National Defense Act of 1920.
Starting with a unit consisting of fourteen men in 1894, the unit grew to approximately 1500 cadets during the time ROTC was mandatory for freshman and sophomore students. The unit was organized into a brigade of three battalions consisting of three companies each and one provisional battalion consisting of the junior training company, Kingston Rangers, the ROTC Band and the Drill Team. An Infantry Branch material unit was instituted with military instruction in 1894. Subsequently, Quartermaster and Engineer branch units were incorporated into the program in 1943 and 1951 respectively. Presently, all branch training has been terminated and replaced by General Military Science instruction. Full college credit is received for ROTC courses by all students enrolled. Since 1919, over 1600 cadets have been awarded commissions in the Active and Reserve Components of the United States Army. Approximately 25,000 students have taken basic ROTC courses at the University of Rhode Island during the same period. Beginning with the academic year 1965-1966, Military Science has been on a voluntary basis. In 1986 the University of Rhode Island cadet battalion was named "CRAMER'S SABERS" in honor of First Lieutenant, Parker Dresser Cramer, Infantry Corps, University of Rhode Island, Class of 1959. First Lieutenant Cramer is remembered for his dedication to the service of his fellow citizens, for his exemplary integrity, and for his military service in combat. The cadet battalion motto "Knowledge, Dedication, and Integrity" summarizes his attitude, his actions and his contributions. First Lieutenant Cramer fell in combat in 1963 in Vietnam. |
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| Cramers' Saber Recipients | ||
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1965 James H.P. Kelsey 1976 Henry Herbert 1977 Kevin E. Mikula 1978 William G. Gessner Jr. 1979 Steven G. Schmith 1980 Timothy Shea 1981 Thomas Heaney 1982 Keith Long 1983 John Thompson 1984 Eric J. Hague 1985 Richard C. Ryan 1986 Robert J. Hehl 1987 Mark C. Horoho 1988 William P. LaChance 1989 Duane Severa 1990 Patrick T. Lee 1991 Andrew B. Feick 1992 P. Drake Jackson 1993 Dwight Weber 1994 Michael P. Siravo 1995 Jason C. Glick |
1996 Michael J. Carney 1997 Kevin S. Fracassa 1998 Peter J. Mandeville 1999 Rebecca Meeker 2000 Michael Ceprano 2001 Michael G. Mannix 2002 Nathan T. Seidell 2003 John M. Chiappone 2004 Anthony K. Difruscio 2005 Devin Henry 2006 Adam Schultz 2007 Andrew E. Boorda 2008 Ryan Andersen 2009 Nicholas P. Pelletier |
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University of Rhode
Island Army R.O.T.C. Professors of Military Science: 1894-1898 Captain William W. Wotherspoon 1898-1900 Senior Class – no officer assigned 1900-1903 Captain Solomon E. Sparrow 1903-1904 Dr. Lewis Balch; former Brigade Surgeon, US Volunteers 1904-1905 Captain M.H. Cook, Rhode Island National Guard 1905-1906 Professor R.H. Lee 1906-1907 Major Fingal C. Black, 3d United States Volunteers 1907-1908 Captain M. H. Cook, Rhode Island National Guard 1908-1911 First Lieutenant Harry G. Stahl Aug 1911-Dec 1911 Captain Edward N. Macon 1919 Captain W. E. Dove 1919-1923 Captain Alfred S. Knight 1923-1928 Captain C. G. Hammond 1928-1929 First Lieutenant Ulmont W. Holley 1929-1930 Captain Paul D. Carter 1930-1938 Captain Thomas W. Freeman 1938-1939 Major George S. Beatty 1939-1940 First Lieutenant Robert C. Beckett 1940-1941 Colonel Frank U. Greet 1941-1942 Colonel Roscius H. Back 1942-1943 Colonel Charles E. Coates 1943-1946 Major George W. Gage 1946-1948 Colonel B. R. Degraff 1948-1950 Colonel Leroy C. Wilson 1950-1955 Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Marsden 1955-1956 Lieutenant Colonel Daniel A. MacDonald 1956-1961 Colonel Charles R Hermann 1961-1965 Colonel Elisha O. Peckham 1965-1968 Colonel Maurice A. Belisle 1968-1971 Colonel Frank A. Bates 1971-1974 Lieutenant Colonel David A. Carter 1974-1978 Lieutenant Colonel James E. McKeon 1978-1980 Lieutenant Colonel William H. Riley 1980-1981 Lieutenant Colonel John E. O’Grady 1981-1982 Major William L. Anderson 1982-1985 Lieutenant Colonel Paul K. McNamara 1985-1988 Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Davis 1988-1990 Lieutenant Colonel Calvin C. Seybold 1990-1993 Lieutenant Colonel Leo J. Fitzharris 1993-1995 Major Robert McGowan 1995-1997 Lieutenant Colonel Raoul Archambault 1997-2000 Lieutenant Colonel William Smith 2000-2002 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Papadopolous 2002-2006 Lieutenant Colonel Paul C. Krajeski 2006-2008 Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yager 2008-Present Lieutenant Colonel Deborah Wilson |
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