Soleil Vets Club - Lou & Betty Rothenstein

Sergeant Major is the highest enlisted rank in the Army, and the base rank required for the leadership position of Command Sergeant Major. A Sergeant Major assists Officers in a battalion-sized force of 300 to 1,000 soldiers, and leads soldiers and junior officers placed directly under his command. A Sergeant Major may also serve as the senior non-commissioned officer at a battallion-sized headquarters unit. Command Sergeant Major is the 12th rank in the United States Army , ranking above Sergeant Major and directly below Sergeant Major of the Army.

Betty & Lou (both are Military Veterans) live here in Soleil on Larkspur Drive.

Lou retired is a Command Sergeant Major (CSM).

Betty is a retired Army Nurse (Major)

Honoring Women Veterans

Lou ~ Thank you for your service to this Country

I enlisted into the Second Infantry Regiment of the Regular Army at Fort Ord, California on 21 February 1956. That was right after my 17th birthday. My parents initially objected but then agreed when I told them how bad I was in school. Back then my hometown of Oakland, California was a great place to grow up. Not quite so nice now. I really disliked school except for JROTC - so MSG Whitaker, the senior Army guy around helped me out. I finished school plus a college year in basic training through the GED system. Following combined basic and advanced individual training as an Infantryman, I also got some training as a backup Company Clerk.

Later that year, thoroughly irritating my First Sergeant, I was assigned to Europe where I did administrative, security and other duties such as wrecker operator in France. I deployed to Lebanon in July 1958, during the Middle East crisis from Evreux Air Base with security elements. I was hijacked by some Special Forces personnel in civilian clothes. A plus was my small unit was located right among the major WWI Battle areas. I learned a lot about WWI and II on the ground. I had a Brother-in-Law whose unit lagered less than 20 miles from our small depot before trekking off to Bastogne.

I returned to CONUS working with special personnel actions at Continental Army Command Headquarters, Fortress Monroe, Virginia in mid-1960. Having to work on cases such as miso genetic marriages vs State Laws; hardship discharges, and draft exemptions, I discovered how the Army had to deal with draft board corruption and posts where laws were different and in some cases, quite ugly. It was depressing and I requested overseas duty. Since I had a security clearance, I had an extra duty of supervising a cleaning team in the Command Building. General Clarke apparently liked his newly shined plaques and memorabilia and put in a good word for me. I saw him again in Heidelberg a year or so later. I was assigned in December of 1960 to the Korean Military Advisory Group. There I worked for the SGS-Chief KMAG until promoted to SSgt. So, I became a gopher. Whoever needed help got me. I was also tasked with collecting biographic information on Korean and other officials and compiled intelligence reports. This was my introduction to a new Army Branch, Army Intelligence and Security.

On several TDY trips, I assisted in augmenting (gophering) US Military Assistance and Advisory Group/USMACV elements working at supporting new advisory personnel, new facilities, and distributing field corrections to old maps in Vietnam. I flew often, usually hitchhiking to deliver things. Sometimes I had to ride in a CH-21. This was the downside. But I had a shared room at the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon and that was the upside. Met a few correspondents and let them ask me questions about what was going on (SSgt didn’t have much information about anything) as long as they bought the cold beer.

In 1962, I was assigned to Office of the CINC, USAREUR. Again, I met General Clarke getting a haircut in the CG’s barbershop. My job was custodian of all file copies of classified messages in and out of the Hq. 11 Mosler safes I had to remember the combinations – each one a different classification/restriction. Boring it was. The General chatted with me and asked about my tour in Korea. He smiled on that and asked where I wanted to go this time. I told him Berlin as that is where the action was. He made it happen. Bless him.

From 1963 to 1966 I was blessed with a move to Berlin Brigade. Being rather security conscious and having clearances I didn’t want, I drove my 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Hardtop up the Berlin-Helmstedt autobahn. I was not allowed to even visit a neutral country in Europe but I drove 116 miles through the Soviet Zone of Germany. Somehow, this travel restriction was forgotten. I served as G2 Air NCO, and technical intelligence analyst, and ultimately as G2 Operations NCO with G2, Berlin Brigade. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and we did well to gather some new intelligence information on the Soviets and East Germans. I was on flight status, running cameras, taking photos, processing reports and submitting thousands of photos of the Berlin Wall and military targets. Scheduling all patrol activity in the Berlin area, training recon and unit personnel in Soviet Bloc matters, training personnel in surveillance and other collection activities, I became intimate with everything Berlin. I knew East berlin better than my hometown. My career field became Intelligence Analyst, Military Intelligence Corps.

Lou's Army Medal Rack

UNIT Citation ~ Vietnamese Ranger Badge

VN ~ 50th Year Anniversary Medal

In 1966, due to previous experiences, with advisory efforts, I was assigned to advisory duty from the 519th MI Battalion (ABN) first to USMACV Team 96 special projects with ARVN Rangers, then Advisory Team 93, Kien Hoa Province in the Mekong Delta as Intelligence Team Sergeant. Here, the Army in all its wisdom stopped my flight pay in a combat zone. Working with Several different elements from ARVN, USAF, the Brown Water Navy, Coastal Group, Mobile Riverine Force, and Naval Intelligence/special operations, I got a deep appreciation for other services. Without a USAF Spooky mission,(armed AC-47) I would not be around.

Following that tour in Vietnam I was assigned to the 66th MI Group in Germany as an analyst at USAREUR/7A/ CENTAG Headquarters where I was able to update several Order of Battle books, converted old manual files to an ADP system, and assisted with the publication of two identification handbooks at the USAREUR Technical Intelligence Center. I was able to go to military parades in the Sov Bloc to take some needed photos. A NATO wartime assignment at CENTAG was interesting as it was special weapons targeting.

In July 1969 I was again assigned to Vietnam Advisory Duty, from the 525th MI Group (Abn). This tour was with Advisory team 50, 44th Special Tactical Zone, covered the area from III/IV Corps Border to the Gulf of Thailand, this was primarily a special operations zone of Company D, 5th SF Group and US Navy CTF 116 (COMNAVFORV) logistical denial activities - Operation SEALORDS. I did a lot of ground and air reconnaissance missions along both sides of the Cambodian border and after the Cambodian Incursion, worked for a while in Takeo, Cambodia with the Khmer Army along with my ARVN counterpart. I caught something in Cambodia and since I was placed on light duty, became the Team Sergeant.

<-----Vietnamese Ranger Badge - Unit Citation

From 1970 to 1972 I again was an advisor, this time to USAR intelligence and support units. We were quite understrength and had too any units to cover well but since the draft and Vietnam were still warm, the Reserve folks did well.

Returning for another tour in Korea, I worked as an intelligence and security sergeant and also with the IG and Surety Team in Korea with Korea Support Command and HQ Eighth Army. I later had charge of geographic intelligence elements compiling data for the Intelligence Center, Pacific. Interesting in that Korea was odernizing so fast, we had trouble keeping up with all the new roads, bridges, ports, airfields, and with the Eighth Army Team that covered North Korean DMZ tunneling attempts.

Following work with the Combat Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (CEWI) concept team and duty as First Sergeant at the Intelligence School, Fort Huachuca, he enjoyed B Troop, 4th Cavalry (Memorial), the History of the Buffalo Soldiers and the Southwest in general. Although there is the problem of a 1SG spending 90% of their time with problem Soldiers there are the 10% os Soldiers with problems that can be helped. I think it is the best job in the Army for an NCO.

Being selected for Sgt Major, I was sent to a hardship tour in Hawaii. I served with the 25th Infantry Division. First working with the a new formation the Combat Intelligence Company as a part of DISCOM and HQ DA special interest programs as the Inspector General Sergeant Major. Special interest areas included the increased availability of jobs for female Soldiers in an Infantry Division, and increased emphasis on the importance of equal opportunities for training and promotions. A period of instilling new and necessary values into the old Army. I eventually became Division G2 Sergeant Major, doing MI things and learning how a division really works.

From 1978 to 1981 I got a letter from HQ DA stating I was selected as Class President, Class 11, US Army Sergeants Major Academy although I already completed the correspondence course. Besides, I was enjoying the beach life and deep sea fishing. The assignment as an instructor allowed me to proselyte a few senior NCO’s to include some Marines and Navy Chiefs. It also provided an opportunity to complete BA and MA studies in Social Psychology, and Counseling. A DAV Storefront Veterans Counseling Center, the El Paso Crisis Intervention Center and the Army Community Mental Health Activity provided good experience an was an introduction to post traumatic stress disorder in veterans. It helped shape future work in counseling.

In July 1981 he served as CSM of the 102d (CEWI) MI Battalion in Korea at its activation at Camp Casey near the DMZ in Korea. This was my third tour in Korea and the growth and modernization of Korea was stunning. Looking back at 1960, there were no trees – compliments of the Japanese occupation period and the war. There was a two-lane major highway that spanned the country, one railroad line, and commercial transport was handmade made from discarded military vehicles and 55 gallon drums. On completing this last tour, Korea looked like most economically fit countries.

The 102d merged human, technical, and signals intelligence elements into one unit. The battalion operated intelligence points at Division Headquarters, the Infantry Brigades, Division Artillery and Support Command. In addition, five signals intercept sites and six Radar sites were operated by battalion personnel in or near the DMZ, 24/7/365. Integrated into the battalion were 164 Korean Army Troops as augmentees (KATUSA) personnel. This was the largest contingent within the division.

In August 1982 I was appointed CSM, 513th MI Group (INSCOM)at Fort Monmouth, also at its activation. With four battalions and seven smaller units spread around the country, travel was often. The Group had a difficult first year in that it had only half the number of authorized personnel and almost no equipment. The first field exercise was done with Ryder Rent a Trucks, rented vans and POVs. Eventually, the Group became a Brigade and the only Theater level MI Tactical unit in the Army.

My last assignment was the nomination and selection as CSM,USA Communications and Electronics Command and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, then working for a Lt General. During this period, I was fortunate to witness development of advanced communications and electronics gear for the battlefield including counter battery RADARs, internet access from a battle zone, communication standardization across services, major projects such as JOINTSTARS and the Hand-held Global Positioning System equipment. This new technology changed not only the Army, but the world as well.

Over the years, a few awards were received. Some of these were a Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (2), Air Medal (2), Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Air Crewman Badge, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Ranger Badge. He was also the recipient of the Cambodian Military Service Medal, (Rhue), the Korean Veterans Association Ambassador for Peace Medal and Received Korean National Tae Kwon Do Association recognition for work to make this sport international.

Some four years after retirement, I was requested to become the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Military Intelligence Corps on 6 July 1990. I served with LTG Sidney Weinstein the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army. His tasking for me was to assist reserve component MI units when possible. We were inducted as members of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1994.

Since retirement, I was able to complete doctoral studies in clinical and organizational psychology. I opted to do some contract work and travel for a while but eventually convinced myself (with help) that being a contractor/volunteer rather than a traditional employee would be my best route to keep my stress and anger levels low. I did this with psychology services at the Veterans Administration, Bureau of Prisons, and military retirement services offices/Army Community Services. My most recent volunteer work was as a State Veteran Advocate through veteran service organizations, Veteran Hospice volunteer, and as a Mentor, Veterans Treatment Court, City of Henderson, Nevada.

I belong to most Army Historical and Veteran Organizations and when I travel, hit most of the military museums in the area. Most recently, military museums in Auckland, New Zealand and Hobart Tasmania, Australia and a cruise with a dozen or so Australian Veterans, several with Vietnam time was very enlightening.

I live with my wife Betty, a former Army Nurse on Larkspur here in Soleil - when we are not traveling. Betty has a son and grandson living nearby. We see them a couple of times a year.

See Betty's story page on this site ~

Betty and Lou ~ Traveling again

Now reside in SOLEIL on Larkspur Drive