Military
Marksmanship
Association
Formerly
AMUA
- Army
Marksmanship Unit Association
|
Taps, Present Arms
Jeremiah M. McKenzie Colonel Jeremiah M. McKenzie, died on August 4, 2008, in Tennessee. Jeremiah was drafted in October 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in July 1943. He then was shipped to Hawaii in late 1943 as an officer replacement where served with the Central Pacific Command and Pacific Ocean Area Command. He was further assigned in April 1945 to Army Garrison Force 331, Okinawa, which was preparing for the invasion of Japan. Jeremiah was honorably relieved from active duty in 1946 and assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve with the rank of Captain. He joined the Tennessee National Guard in 1947. Jeremiah was called back to active duty in September 1950 with an assignment to the 278th Regimental Combat Team at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He attended the Adjutant General School at Fort Lee, Virginia, and returned to Fort Devens as the Post Adjutant. Jeremiah was shipped to Korea in December 1951 and assigned to 24th Infantry Division as the Assistant G1 for Personal. The division withdrew from Korea to Japan in March 1952. He entered Tokyo Army General Hospital March 1953 and was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Upon discharge from hospital in March 1954, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia as the Adjutant of the Combat Training Command, 30th Infantry Regiment. He then attended the Officer Advanced Course and was assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry Center as Assistant G1 for Personal. In the spring of 1957, he was assigned to 4th Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, as the Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, and then as Executive Officer of Combat Command A. Upon completion of his Fort Hood tour, he was transferred to Headquarters, 7th U.S. Army as Assistant G1. Jeremiah returned to the U.S. in January 1960 and assumed command of Chattanooga Sub-sector Command, XIII U.S. Army Corps. In July 1964, he was assigned to U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), Fort Benning, Georgia, as Executive Officer and Director Small Arms Firing School (The USAMU conducted the school is a part of National Matches, Camp Perry. Ohio). He retired from the Army on December 1, 1969 with rank of Colonel. Mr. "Mac" rejoined USAMU in the summer of 1974 as a Department of the Army civilian employee and functioned as the Executive Officer until he retired 1986 for health reasons. Jeremiah McKenzie was inducted into USAMU Support Hall of Fame in 1982 and the USAMU Hall of Fame in 1996. "Jack" said in his biography, which was published in the USAMU 50th Anniversary Book, “No hero medals, just ribbons for being present for duty.” For those who served with him know that humble statement does not reflect the many “battles” Jack fought for the existence of the USAMU or the “battles” to build the world-class Pool Range Shooting Complex. And for those who worked for him, we knew that we could expect 100 percent backing from him. No hero medals, but he was our hero. |
