Ol'Harry

GLENWOOD ARMY RANGER GAVE -- AND KEEPS GIVING

Thousands of U.S. Army soldiers have trained at Fort Lewis, Washington over the years, but Greensboro’s Al Stewart must have been the most atypical when he reported aboard the sprawling base during the summer of 2012.

Without a doubt, he was the only combat veteran of Vietnam in his battalion.  Over 40 years prior, he had fought on the ground, wearing the Combat Infantry Badge, Jump Wings and tab of an Army Ranger, and in the air, wearing the wings of an Air Crewman. 

   

Secondly, he was 20 years older than his Battalion Commander.  Additionally, he was the only civilian in his battalion.  Without a doubt, he was the only retired Greensboro Police Officer in the group.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A VIETNAM VETERAN TO
SERVE IN AFGHANISTAN?    ASK AL STEWART

The battalion would deploy intact to Afghanistan after three months of extensive training.

Stewart understood deployments – he had recently spent a year deployed to Iraq, where he served as Regional Commander – Iraq Police Mission.

Prior to that, he had deployed to Beirut, Lebanon where he served as first Contingent Commander for establishing the initial Lebanese Police Mission.

There were two other year-long deployments to multiple areas in Iraq, where he trained and advised Iraqi police officers and served as Mosul Police Academy Director.

According to Stewart, he has a perfectly logical explanation for these unique deployments, “I was a Greensboro Police Officer from 1973-2003, and began work with the District Attorney’s Office the day after I retired.  A government contractor came along and offered me the first job in Iraq.  I had major reservations about getting shot at again, but figured this would give me some fresh material to tell my grand-kids.”

In a more cogent mode, “These were exciting and rewarding assignments.  Even though I did not mention it to my contractor(s), the work was so enjoyable, I would have probably worked for free.  Living conditions were tough but working with young soldiers and foreign nationals who really want positive change makes me happy and proud.”

Stewart’s persona of giving back continues to this day.  The Guilford College graduate chaired the 2015 Piedmont Triad Red Cross Heroes Event and is on the Servant Center Board of Directors.  He leads the Steve Millikin Black Caps Veterans Group and heads up the Guilford County Veterans Memorial Committee.  He has also worked tirelessly with the Carolina Field of Honor.

STEWART RAISED ARMY FLAG FOR
GREENSBORO'S NEW VETERANS MEMORIAL

Admitting to “barely graduating,” from Smith High School, Stewart went to Elon College to play football, “That didn’t work out, in more ways than one.  At an early age, I may have been drawn to the military from seeing a huge poster with photos of over 200 Glenwood Boys in Service in my grandparents’ Grove Street Café.”  That poster is still around – in the Glenwood Branch Library at 1901 West Florida Street in Greensboro.

Fast forward to 2015 – Stewart went back to his roots when he married a former schoolmate and Glenwood girl – Nicki DiMaria. 

Whatever the motivation, Stewart proved to be a better soldier than collegian.  After basic, Advanced Infantry Training, Parachute and Ranger schools, he became an Army Ranger.  This pretty much assured him of his first deployment – to Vietnam.

AL STEWART (L) SERVED IN VIETNAM AS RANGER
ON GROUND AND AERIAL GUNNER IN THE AIR

“We operated in six-man teams on primarily long-range reconnaissance missions.  Sometimes we walked off a fire base but mostly we were inserted by helicopters.  Since we could not be re-supplied, most of our missions were six days or less – my longest was 12 days.”

During an extended tour in Vietnam and after his Ranger Company (Golf) stood down, he earned his Air Crew-member Wings.  “I was a gunner on a Night Hawk helicopter – we were flying or on stand-by all night, every night.  After dark, we were about the only game in town!”

Stewart doesn’t dwell on his year of jungle fighting as an Army Ranger, on the sizeable number of combat mission he flew, on being shot down three times in five months, or on personal decorations earned.  “The opinions and respect of the men and women I served and worked with over the years are all I care about.” 

NICKI & AL STEWART -- GLENWOODERS AT HEART

  

While Stewart disdains public recognition, he promises full disclosure to his grandchildren – one of whom is surely destined to write a book about their grandfather, Al.  

He may need more grandchildren -- theirs will not be an easy write.  I can empathize with them.  Writing about valorous service in Vietnam, distinguished police career, multiple civilian deployments to Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, veteran advocacies, and civic leadership is certainly beyond the purview of a newspaper column.