Bob served as the commander of Alpha Company 3/187th Infantry Regiment in Vietnam 
during the Battle Dong Ap Bia (Hill 937 and Hamburger Hill). He remained in the U.S. Army for 27 years retiring as a Colonel in 1993. He commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, and brigade level during his career. That included commanding the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Dragon Brigade during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  After retiring from the Army, he worked in Higher Education at the University of Pittsburgh (where he obtained a Doctorate in 1998) and he was the Associate Vice President for Campus Safety and Security for the University of Texas from 2005 to 2017.  

     He retired from the University of Texas in January 2018 and lives in Austin with his beautiful wife Sue. Their two sons, Greg and Patrick, are both retired from the U.S. Army. Greg retired after twenty-seven (27) years and his younger son Patrick after twenty-five (25) years. Patrick, commanded Iron Battalion from 2013 to 2015.  Bob has been the President of the Hamburger Hill Chapter for several years.  

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Contact Bob at president@rakkasanassociation.org

     Frank joined the Army on 14 Feb 1985.  His first tour with the Rakkasans was in Leader Bn D Co 1-187th IN from 1995 -1998.  He joined the association then as an active duty sergeant.  Tours to Korea and Drum interrupted his stay in Rakk land but by the grace of God he was brought back to Iron Bn D Co 3-187th IN in late 2000 and served until 2004.  Frank deployed with the Iron Rakkasans to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. During the Iraqi Freedom mission SFC Peterson was assigned as the Rear Detachment Commander of D Co 3-187 and the Rear Detachment NCOIC of 3rd Bn 187th IN.  His final tour was at FT Benning as an Advanced Non Commissioned Officer academy instructor.

     After retiring, he moved back to the FT Campbell area and became a member of the Samurai and Torii chapters.  In 2007 he became the president of the Samurai Chapter and held that position until the merger of the two Chapters as well as president of the National Association.  Among his awards are the Distinguished Member of the Regiment Crest, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Patriotic Civilian Service Pin.

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Contact Frank at info@rakkasanassociation.org

     Upon completion of Basic Training Erik was assigned to A Co., 5th BN 87th Infantry Regiment of the 193rd Infantry Brigade in Panama.  After Panama, he assigned to A Co. 3rd BN 187th Infantry Regiment, Rakkasans. In August of 1990 he deployed with the Rakkasans to Desert Shield and Desert Storm and redeployed in April of 1991 after completing combat operations in Iraq.

     After the Army he went back to school and completed a degree and went to work at a few manufacturing companies.  He has currently been working for Abbott Labs for the last 9 years in the contracting and compliance department. In August of 2018 he assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of the National Association. He now lives in Austin TX, with his wife and has a daughter who lives in Chicago.

 

Contact Erik at info@rakkasanassociation.org
 

     Jim is the President and founder ATS Advisors, A Certified Public Accounting Firm, Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan Founded in 1996 as a sole practice the firm has grown to more than 30 employees with offices throughout Michigan.  Jim is a licensed CPA and a member of the MICPA and the AICPA and carries a Forensic and Valuation Specialty (FVS) Credential.  A 1995 Graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Jim is also the primary instructor for the University of Michigan Tax Practitioner Institute.  
     Jim served in the Rakkasan’s from 1988 to 1991 where he was assigned to D. Co 3/187th AARCT and was a member of the Advance Party during Operation Desert Shield and a TOW Gunner during Desert Storm, Jim extended his time in country to remain on Trail Party for the Wolfpack.  Jim has been the treasurer of the association since 2013. 

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Contact Sully at info@rakkasanassociation.org

      Beau retired from the army as a Chief Warrant Officer after 23 years of service as an infantryman and Blackhawk pilot. Beau has multiple tours with the 101st and is now living in Florida. He has been on the board since 2003 and serves as Quartermaster and membership chairman.

 

Contact Beau at beau@rakkasanassociation.org

      COL (Ret.) Martin J. Bowling, served at all levels within the Department of Defense, including commands and deployments across the Balkans, Europe, Africa and the Middle East with the 3rd Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division, and United States Africa Command. As a Rakkasan, COL Bowling commanded ABU Co., 1-187 IN and the Iron Rakkasans, 3-187 IN.

     COL Bowling is a former Omar Bradley Fellow and holds a Master’s degree from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University where he later served as the U.S. Army’s Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy before being selected as the LTG Robert Eichelberger Chair for Marine Corps University.

     Today he is the Chief Operating Officer for Ionburst, a cutting-edge cyber security company, the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Longest Climb Foundation and a founding partner of the Blackjack Group.

     Mike entered the service in 1968, and experienced Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training, back to back at Ft. Polk, Louisiana.  On May 1st, 1969, Camp Evans, Vietnam, he was assigned to Delta Company, 3rd/187th, and served in 2nd Platoon.  Later in his service with Delta Co. he assumed the duties of RTO for Platoon Sergeant Jackson, and eventually PL Lt. Salisbury.

     He is a former President of the Weldon F. Honeycutt Hamburger Hill Chapter and the current Treasurer of the Chapter.  Awards include the DMOR, C.I.B., Bronze Star w/’V’ w/Oak Leaf cluster, and Air Medal.

     Retiring in 2017 after 45 years in public service at Federal and County Government levels, Mike now volunteers at the Chillicothe, Ohio Veterans Administration, Community Living Center and Medical facility.

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Contact Mike at mike@rakkasanassociation.org

     COL (Retired) Harvey Watson was born September 3, 1944, in Rochester, New York. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and was trained and assigned as an infantry anti-armor crewman with the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of infantry upon completion of Officer Candidate School in 1967. He went on to complete the Airborne and Ranger courses, as well as the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. His civil education was completed after return from Vietnam. He was awarded the Bachelor of Arts (1973), Master of Science (1973), and Doctor of Philosophy (1980) degrees in Research Psychology from Auburn University.

     Following his career in the Army, he spent nearly 20 years working as a defense contractor, marketing IT products and systems to the DoD and VHA. Finally, after that period of time, he returned to his real interest, that of Research Psychology. During the four years before his retirement in May of 2015, he conducted research to determine new and better ways to diagnose and treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

             

     Hunter Everett served from 1988-1991 with D Co, 3/187 Infantry - including service in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm.

​      He is a mechanical test engineer for medical device companies in Cincinnati, Ohio where he lives with his wife of 12 years and their 10 year old daughter. 

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