Blog

Officer Candidate Class 59 Commissioning Ceremony

Officer Candidate Class 59 Commissioning Ceremony

Almost 20 years ago, John S. Berry was commissioned as a second lieutenant in branched infantry in the US Army. This past weekend, He departed a conference at NOVA (the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates) in Rhode Island to return to Nebraska for a commissioning ceremony where he serves as battalion commander for 2nd Battalion 209th RTI, which trains and commissions officer candidates and warrant officer candidates. The above photo begins the story of Officer Candidate Class 59 commissioning ceremony.

The gentleman on the left is Steve Anderson, a successful Lincoln businessman who currently serves as vice-president of Midland Financial. Fifty years ago, Steve was commissioned in the Nebraska National Guard officer candidate school program. He was the Erickson trophy winner (the honored graduate of the class). Steve now attributes much of his success in the civilian sector to the lessons he learned as a young officer.

To Steve’s right is Staff Sergeant Chet Bennetts, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and currently works with Steve Anderson at Midland. The tall man in the middle is Officer Candidate Borchardt (now Second Lieutenant). Second Lieutenant Borchardt previously worked with Staff Sergeant Bennetts in the civilian sector.

The audience for the ceremony, which included five Generals, briefly interrupted the ceremony with a standing ovation when Officer Borchardt’s great-grandfather, who served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Navy during World War II, rose from his wheelchair to render Second Lieutenant Borchardt his first salute. What is equally impressive is that Second Lieutenant Borchardt’s great grandfather wore his WWII class A uniform for the ceremony.

The mutual respect and gratitude that our military and veterans show for one another is unparalleled.

Berry Law

The attorneys at Berry Law are dedicated to helping injured Veterans. With extensive experience working with VA disability claims, Berry Law can help you with your disability appeals.

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship between the Firm and the reader, and does not constitute legal advice. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and the contents of this blog are not a substitute for legal counsel.

Related Posts

The 2023 Lincoln Nebraska Parade: Celebrating Veterans in Business
The 2023 Lincoln Nebraska Parade: Celebrating Veterans in Business
22nd Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
22nd Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
Veterans Appeals Law Firm of the Year 2021
Veterans Appeals Law Firm of the Year 2021

Subscribe to our E-newsletter

The Service Connection

Our monthly newsletter features about important and up-to-date veterans' law news, keeping you informed about the changes that matter.

Skip to content