Since the Medal of Honor’s establishment in 1861, less than 1% of servicemembers have received one — a select few out of millions. Two of them have UTA roots.
Col. Neel E. Kearby and Gen. Richard E. Cavazos were members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program when the university was known as North Texas Agricultural College. Now with the National Medal of Honor Museum honoring their service, UTA’s military roots are being brought into the limelight.
“I think it shows that not only do we create leaders of character, but we also create leaders of great potential for immense levels of command and leadership to the highest ranks possible of the Army,” said Lt. Col. Greg LeClair, UTA military science professor.
Ken Smith, UTA Cadet Corps Alumni Council vice president of finance, said that in being chosen to host the Medal of Honor Museum, UTA’s support with cadet escorts, color guard services and the backing of the alumni network was critical in influencing the selection board’s decision, giving Arlington an edge over other finalists such as Denver.
Smith said the museum will be a powerful source of inspiration for younger cadets and alumni. Having it in the city will help maintain the military culture that UTA has had for decades.
“Just touring the museum, seeing the actions, seeing the Medals of Honor that are displayed, seeing some of the equipment, hearing the stories of just regular people in moments of highly outstanding drive, dedication, caring for their fellow soldiers, and devotion to duty and honor and courage will definitely serve them,” he said.
Anyone who meets the basic requirements at 18 can enlist in the military, but to be a leader such as an Army officer, you must have a college degree.
Kearby, Medal of Honor recipient, attended NTAC in 1930 and 1931, and was described as the “perfect combat leader.” In 1943, he shot down six enemy aircrafts in one mission. That mission earned him the Medal of Honor.
Not only is Kearby’s heroism recognized in the museum, but he also has a statue that sits outside City Center Plaza in Arlington to ensure he will be remembered for his valor.
Cavazos, Medal of Honor recipient, attended NTAC from 1947 to 1949 and was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Cadet Captain of the Sam Houston Rifles drill team. After being commissioned in the Army in 1951, he was deployed in the Korean War and selected as a platoon leader.
His consistent acts of bravery to rescue multiple men on various occasions during his leadership earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, as well as the Silver Star for capturing a wounded enemy soldier.
LeClair said about 80% of commission officers in the U.S. Army come from Army ROTC programs like the one UTA has.
With its wealth of programs and support, UTA recently ranked as the No. 1 public university in Texas and No. 5 in the nation for military service members and veterans in the Military Times Best for Vets 2024 Colleges list.
UTA’s Military and Veteran Services program assists students in transitioning to UTA, health and well-being, educational benefits, engagement and career readiness.
The university has served over 70,000 military-connected students since 2017, according to the UTA website.
Smith said UTA brings a sense of support to those transitioning out of the military and into “civilian life” — a difficult process due to the military’s traditions and structure.
Despite the sometimes overwhelming process, he said the university’s additional support and programs are what continue drawing veterans to UTA. Most schools don’t have as much depth to their veteran programs, he said.
“The emphasis, the time, dedication and the excellence they have developed, really over the last decade, has shown with being number [five] in the nation, being number one in Texas,” Smith said.
UTA’s strong military support system dates back to 1902 when Col. James Carlisle established Carlisle Military Academy. Though undergoing several identities, the university has stayed true to its roots by establishing the Department of Military Science and the Maverick Battalion.
To be a leader, he said cadets must hold themselves to a higher standard of discipline. Of the people who serve as leaders in the U.S. military, many are graduates who had to earn their degrees.
“It’s been people from campuses like Arlington that have kept the world safe for prosperity as we know it today, so we should celebrate it,” LeClair said.
Formed in 1924 under a different name, the Sam Houston Rifles drill team members are living examples of the guiding principles of the ROTC program. The department continues to honor UTA’s military history by reinstating the ceremonial Carlisle Cannons, which marks the heritage and military presence of university veterans and cadets.
After being admitted into UTA, Smith joined the ROTC program his second year and later joined the Sam Houston Rifles.
Now a veteran and alumnus, Smith and the alumni council members continue to help grow the culture UTA began decades ago.
Smith said he continues to give back to the university because UTA showed him a path to the military, one allowing him to serve for 30 years.
“I look at it from an alumni standpoint, mentoring those cadets to really grow and develop into our replacements, so to speak, and then fostering the spirit of showing their cadets, or their youngsters, or their family, their high school buds, folks coming up behind them, ‘Here’s what military service is,’” he said.
Capt. Hunter Callahan, Maverick Battalion Color Guard executive officer, said UTA’s military history is a testament to the veteran culture in Texas, specifically in Arlington.
Callahan said he appreciated that the museum’s committee chose Arlington, a dedicated and involved environment, to be the host because it represents what the city stands for. The support also fosters opportunities to give his cadets a spotlight and a chance to build their legacies.
“It’s just a phenomenal opportunity to be a part of a nationally recognized museum organization,” he said. “It’s a huge scope and scale.”
LeClair said the amount of leadership produced from UTA’s ROTC program is remarkable and he’s proud to be a part of it.
“These cadets, they are the face of the Army. They are the ones that lead in this country, in the United States Army, I think that’s what we really need to understand,” he said. “Those leaders are coming from places like UT Arlington.”
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