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Rockford Register Star
Former Rockford cadet joins inaugural Army Junior ROTC Hall of Fame
A former Rockford West High School JROTC cadet was inducted into the inaugural Army Junior ROTC Hall of Fame nearly five decades after beginning a career that would take him around the world. Retired Army Col. John Gessner, now of Sparta, Wisconsin, was one of three people honored Oct. 22 at U.S. Army Cadet Command headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky, according to a community announcement. The inaugural ceremony recognized Gessner for his military service, mentorship and contributions to youth development. Gessner attended West High School in Rockford, Illinois, where he participated in Junior ROTC from 1970 to 1974. He recalled deciding early in his freshman year that he wanted to become an Army officer. The other inaugural Hall of Fame inductees were retired Maj. Gen. Alfred Valenzuela and retired Sgt. Maj. Leon McMullen. Valenzuela was recognized for a career that began in high school JROTC and continued through military service and community advocacy. McMullen was recognized as Army JROTC's first civilian deputy director, overseeing training, curriculum and program support affecting more than 1,700 programs and approximately 300,000 cadets nationwide. From Rockford JROTC to an Army career Gessner credited his JROTC instructors, particularly experienced sergeants, with helping shape his leadership, character
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