LTG John T. Meyers – 1987 Inductee – Bachelor of Science, Physics
Lieutenant General John T. Myers was born in Canton, Ohio, on April 6, 1935. Upon completion of the Reserve Officers Training Corps curriculum and the educational course of study at èßäapp¹ÙÍø in 1957, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. He received his Masters of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965.
His military education includes completion of the Signal School, Marine Corps Communications School, Infantry School, Command and General Staff College, and the Naval War College.
He is married to the former Colette A. Geiss and they have five children. Lieutenant General Myers served as a director for the defense communication agency.
Prior commands include Company B, 93rd Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca; 593rd Signal Company, 69th Signal Battalion, Vietnam (During a second tour in Vietnam, he served as the assistant division signal officer for the 25th Infantry Division); 123rd Signal Battalion 3rd division, Germany; 1st Signal Training Brigade Fort Gordon; 7th signal command, Fort Ritchie; Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Communications command Fort Huachuca. General Myers awards and decorations include the distinguished service medal, Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, four awards of the bronze star medal, and the air medal.
From June to October 1957, General Myers was a student at the Signal School and the Infantry School. Upon completion of this training, he became a platoon leader in the 16th Signal Battalion at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and later became the commander of Company B, 93rd Signal Battalion. He served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Fort Huachuca, from September 1958 to January 1960.
Following this tour, he went to Paris, France, and served as Assistant Executive Officer of the Communications-Electronics Division of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe. After attending the Signal Advanced Course and graduate school, General Myers was assigned to Vietnam in January 1966 where he commanded the 593rd Signal Company, 69th Signal Battalion. Upon his return to the United States, he became Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. After completion of Command and General Staff College in June 1969, he was again assigned to Vietnam as Assistant Division Signal Officer for the 25th Infantry Division.
Returning to the United States in September 1970, General Myers served in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Pentagon. He then became an Analysis Directorate, Office of the Chief of Staff. Later he became a manpower analyst in the Plans, Analysis, and Evaluation Directorate, Office of the Chief of Staff.
Transferred to Germany in 1974, General Myers was assigned as Special Assistant to the Community Commander in Wurzburg. He was later transferred to the 123rd Signal Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, where he served as Division Signal Officer and Battalion Commander.
General Myers returned to the United States and attended the Naval War College from July 1976 to July 1977. In July 1977, he was assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia, as Director of Training, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon. General Myers was assigned as Commander, 1st Signal Training Brigade, Fort Gordon, Georgia, in July 1978. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General on September 25, 1979, and was reassigned as Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Communications Command, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. On August 1, 1983, he assumed command of the 7th Signal Command and Fort Ritchie, Maryland. He was subsequently selected for promotion to Major General, was frocked on August 5, 1985, and was permanently promoted on June 1, 1986. Selected for promotion to Lieutenant General, General Myers was frocked on May 26, 1987, and on May 28, 1967, and became Director, Defense Communications Agency, Washington, D.C.
Major General John R. Piatak – 1988 Inductee – Bachelor of Science
Major General Piatak was commissioned in the Army through the ROTC program in 1958 at èßäapp¹ÙÍø where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received a Masters of Business Administration degree in Transportation/Traffic Management from the Wharton School of Finance & Commerce, University of Pennsylvania. His military education includes completion of the basic and advanced Transportation Officer Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Major General Piatak served as the director for plans and resources, J5 U.S. Transportation Command Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Prior assignments include director of logistics, J4, U.S. Special Operations Command; Director of Logistics, J4, U.S. Readiness Command; executive to the Inspector General, U.S. Army Washington, D.C.; commander of the 4th Transportation Command, U.S. Army Europe; and commander of the 45th Support Group, U.S. Army Western Command at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. General Piatak’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf clusters, Bronze Star medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal. He is married to the former Clare Anne Shehan and they have six children.
BG Paul C. Hurley – 1989 Inductee – Bachelor of Science
BG Paul C. Hurley was born in Glen Falls, New York. He received his commission upon graduation from èßäapp¹ÙÍø, Cleveland, Ohio, in spring 1957. He has completed the Transportation Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Fixed and Rotary Wing Aviation Course, Armor Company Officer Course, Command and General Staff College, the Naval War College, his master’s degree with George Washington University, and the Advanced Management Program at Northwestern University. His career began in 1958 serving in the command and staff positions with the Armored Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky. He later served in Germany with the 24th Infantry Division and the 8th Transportation Battalion in several command and staff positions. In 1964 BG Hurley was assigned to the Transportation School, Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a logistics instructor and branch chief. In 1966 he served in Vietnam with the 339th Transportation Company (Direct Support). Upon his return, he was assigned to the Corpus Christi Army Depot and later with the 1st Transportation Battalion aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Bay in Vietnam. He returned to Washington, D.C., serving as Chief, Company Grade Assignments, Transportation Branch, Military Personnel Center. In 1972, BG Hurley was assigned to Fort Bragg as commander of the 7th Transportation Battalion (MT). While at Fort Bragg he also served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel and Chief of Staff, 1st Corps Support Command. In 1976, he returned to Washington, D.C., serving as a staff officer in the Aviation Logistics Office and also as the chief of performance analysis Division in Chief of the Logistics Readiness Division within the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army. During February 1979, BG Hurley assumed command of the 8th Transportation Brigade (TNS) at Fort Eustis where he remained until assuming duties as Deputy Commandant US Army Transportation School, till May 1980. He served in this capacity until November 1982 when he was assigned as the Chief of Staff, Military Traffic Management Command, Washington, D.C. He was assigned as the executive to the Deputy Chief of Staff of Logistics, Department of the Army, in November 1983. In October 1984, BG Hurley assumed command of the Military Traffic Management Command, Eastern Area, at Bayonne, New Jersey. During December 1986, he returned to Washington, D.C., as the Director for Transportation, Energy, and Troop Support, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army. Among BG Hurley’s awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters and V device, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Master Army Aviator Badge. BG Hurley and his wife Shirley have four children Barbara, Catherine, Paul Jr., and Mitchell.
BG Joseph T Ellis – 1990 Inductee – Bachelor of Science
Brigadier General Joseph T. Ellis was born on 19 January 1940 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He was commissioned as a second Lieutenant upon graduation from èßäapp¹ÙÍø, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1962. He was later appointed in the Regular Army (Transportation Corps) in 1967. He received his Masters of Science degree from Florida Institute of Technology in 1978. General Ellis initial assignment was as Platoon Leader, 15th S/T Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Korea, from 1963 to 1964. In 1964 BG Ellis was assigned as Battalion Motor Officer, 502nd S/T Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Then from 1966 to 1967 he served as a Company Commander 502nd S/T Battalion. In 1967 he served in Vietnam as the Motor Plans Officer, 1st Logistics Command. From Vietnam he was assigned as Commander, Liverpool terminal, Liverpool, England from 1968 to 1969, then from 1969-1970 he served as the Secretary General Staff, HQ USAREUR, Heidelberg, Germany and Aide-de-Camp, CINCUSAREUR, Germany from 1970 to 1971. BG Ellis was again sent to Vietnam in 1972 to 1973 as a Logistics Plans Officer USARV/ MACV. Following the tour he served from 1973 to 1976 as the S3 (Operations Officer), 37th Transportation Group Kaiserslautern, Germany. Upon his return he served as Commander, 38th Transportation Battalion, Fort Eustis, Virginia, from 1976-1978 and then Chief, Transportation Branch, MILPERCEN from 1978-1980. He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1980 and was then assigned as Chief, Investigations Division, Inspector General, AMC from 1980-1983. In 1983 he was assigned again to Germany as the commander, MTMC Bremerhaven Terminal. He returned in 1985 to serve as the Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Plans, HQ, Military Traffic Management Command, Falls Church, Virginia, and then Garrison Commander and Chief of Staff, Fort Eustis, Virginia, from 1986 to 1987. BG Ellis assumed command of the Army and Airforce Exchange Services-Europe, Munich, Germany, in 1987. On 24 October 1988, BG Ellis became the Vice Commander, Army and Airforce Exchange Services, with headquarters in Dallas, Texas. General Ellis attended the Transportation Orientation and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, National Security Management Course, Industrial College the Armed forces and Installation Management Course. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal. General Ellis is married to the former Joyce Sadler of Klein, Texas. They have five children – one son, Tom, and four daughters: Stacy, Angela, Elizabeth, and Christina.
Joseph B. Miller, Ph.D. – SY 93-94 Inductee – Bachelor of Social Science
Dr. Miller graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from èßäapp¹ÙÍø in 1959, and was commissioned through its Army ROTC program as a Transportation Corps officer. After completing Transportation Officer Basic Course he was assigned to active duty as assistant Battalion S3 Operations Officer for headquarters units at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Later he served several reserve officer assignments with Transportation units in the Cleveland area.
After completion of active duty, Dr. Miller received a Master of Arts from Ohio University and in 1974, a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University, both in the field of communications. He joined the faculty of the Department of Communications at èßäapp¹ÙÍø in 1961 and became Chairman of the department in 1971. For the Academic Year 1975-1976 he was appointed by President Ford to the President’s Executive Exchange Program in Washington, D.C. During that year he was assigned to the Higher Education Planning Staff of the U.S. Office of Education. Returning to èßäapp¹ÙÍø, Dr. Miller was elected as Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences in 1984 and became the Dean of The Graduate School in 1993. Dr. Miller received the University’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1983 in recognition of his teaching research and advising. In 1987 he received the Conway Award for excellence in the broadcasting from the Radio and Television Council of the Greater Cleveland for his initiative in producing and hosting a weekly cable television program for the local community. He has also been appointed to numerous civic and University committees and selected as a consultant adviser by the major Cleveland-area corporations.
Dr. Miller and his wife Helen are parents of five children.
LTC Peter R. Bernardo – 1997 Inductee – Chemistry
Lieutenant Colonel Peter R. Bernardo received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from èßäapp¹ÙÍø in 1967 and was commissioned as a Regular Army Officer in the Transportation Corps. He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course where he was an honor graduate. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, the Transportation Officer Orientation and Career Courses, and the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia.
He returned to JCU to complete his master’s degree in physics in 1971. LTC Bernardo’s initial assignment was as a Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader at Fort Hood, Texas, and again with the 1/5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam. Other assignments included Commander, HQ Company, Aviation Test Board; Commander, 150th Transportation Company; S3, 28th Transportation Battalion, 37th Trans Group in Germany; Naval Force Planner and Chief of the Logistics Plans Branch for Commander in Chief of the Atlantic (CINCLANT/SACLANT) at Norfolk, Virginia. He was the Professor of Military Science at èßäapp¹ÙÍø from 1984 to 1988.
After retiring from the Army in 1988, he became the Director of Alumni Relations at JCU. He currently serves as a Major Gift Officer at JCU. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star with V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, three Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Combat Infantry Badge. LTC Bernardo was married in 1971 to the former Joanne C. Tricomi of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and they have three sons: Peter, Michael, and Matthew.
COL Arthur C. Dister (Ret.) – 1998 Inductee – Masters of Science
Colonel Arthur C. Dister was born in 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his bachelors of Science and Sociology from èßäapp¹ÙÍø in 1955 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army as an Infantry Officer.
Colonel Dister first served as a platoon leader and staff officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1958 he was assigned to Korea where he served as a Company Commander. Upon returning to the U.S., he served as a Company Commander and staff officer in the 101st Airborne Division. After graduating from Infantry Officers Career Course in 1961, he was assigned as a Combat Arms Instructor at the Army Engineer School. He obtained an MBA at George Washington University, and then attended both the U.S. Army’s and the Pakistan Army’s Command and General Staff Colleges. In 1966 he went to Vietnam for service as an Infantry Battalion Operations Officer and as a Division Staff Officer in the 1st Cavalry Division. Upon returning to the U.S., he served as a staff officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army, in the Pentagon. In 1970 he returned to Vietnam is a battalion commander in the 101st Airborne Division.
After extended hospitalization as a result of wounds suffered in Vietnam, he was assigned for duty in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army. He graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1973. His subsequent assignments including service as a principal staff officer in the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. and Germany, and Deputy Commander of the Army Recruiting Command in Atlanta. His last assignment was Deputy Post Commander at Fort Eustis, Virginia. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Valor device, the Meritorio