Northwestern State University’s Army ROTC Demon Regiment held its 72nd annual military ball in the student union’s ballroom Saturday, April 23. Alumni who served in conflicts from the program’s founding at NSU in 1951 through Afghanistan and Iraq were joined by the current cadets, instructors and guests in celebrating the remarkable group of nine young men and women who will take their place in the defense of our nation as Army officers upon graduation.
Colonel Edward S. Twaddell, III delivered the keynote address to the assembly. In an address largely devoted to the cadets present, the colonel offered advice to the young men and women starting their military careers.
The late Major General Erbon W. Wise established the Touchstone Award for the Demon Battalion’s top cadet each year. Cadet Anthony Cantrell won the award for 2022. He will be commissioned into the Infantry upon graduation.
There was also a local graduate among the future officers. Cadet Alex J. Wade is a 2018 alumnae of NCHS who will go on to serve her nation and her fellow Louisianans in the Louisiana Army National Guard upon her commissioning. NCHS Army JROTC instructors Lt. Col. Anthony Mault, 1st Sgt Shelby and several cadets from NCHS were on hand to celebrate their fellow chief alumnae.
Four NSU Army ROTC Alumni were inducted into the Northwestern Demon Regiment Hall of Fame. One of the honorees was Natchitoches’ own Richard J. Hooter.
Northwestern State University has hosted Army ROTC for the past 72 years. During its history, over 1,000 young men and women have become Army officers through the program and have gone on to serve our nation with distinction in peace and war. ROTC is a force for good in our nation, a meritocracy blind to race, class or creed in which a person’s character and work ethic can take them far.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating the night’s photography. Copy protection is off and anyone may download any photos they wish. “Kevin’s Gallery” will take you to the photographs.
