JACKSON MAN RETIRES FROM NATIONAL GUARD AFTER 34 YEARS

JACKSON -- When Col. David Ray Moll enlisted in Company A of the former 140th Infantry, Missouri Army National Guard, now the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, at Jackson on Dec. 20, 1960, the nation was at peace with most of the world.

John F. Kennedy was the president-elect, the Cuban Missile Crisis was several years away, and only a few American advisers were in South Vietnam.

During his 34-year career in the National Guard as a citizen-soldier, Moll rose through the enlisted ranks to positions of command. He retired Friday as the former deputy brigade commander and assistant corps engineer of the 35th Engineer Brigade headquartered at Fort Leonard Wood and as assistant corps engineer with the Army's First Corps at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Moll was honored for 34 years of service to his country and the guard during a retirement ceremony held last week in Cape Girardeau. During the program, Moll received the U.S. Legion of Merit from Brig. Gen. Ron Hoppes of headquarters, Missouri Army National Guard, at Jefferson City.

Moll was cited "for exceptionally meritorious service from June 7, 1984, to June 6, 1994, while serving in positions of great responsibility, culminating in his assignment as assistant corps engineer, 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard."

His other awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.

Moll graduated from Jackson High School in 1960, and received his bachelor of science degree in personnel management from Tarkio College.

He enlisted in the 140th Infantry's Company A at Jackson in December 1960. In 1964, he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., and was commissioned a second lieutenant in May of that year.

Moll is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Training Course, the Engineer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College.

After OCS, Moll was assigned to Company A, where he served as platoon leader until January 1970, when Company A was reorganized as Company A of the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion based at Cape Girardeau.

In August 1972, Moll was transferred to Headquarters Company of the 1140th, where he served in various staff positions until 1979. Following his promotion to major in 1975, Moll was transferred to the 35th Engineer Brigade headquarters at Jefferson Barracks, where he also served in a number of staff positions. During that time he was elevated to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On Sept. 1, 1983, Moll assumed command of the 1140th Engineer Battalion, where he served as the commanding officer until Sept. 30, 1987, when he was promoted to colonel and assigned to the 135th Combat Engineer Group. He returned to the 35th Brigade headquarters on April 1, 1991.

Moll said his greatest satisfaction has been the quality of training of the young men who join the National Guard, as they develop into well-trained, educated and motivated citizen-soldiers.

"The caliber of young men entering the Guard today has changed considerably from when I enlisted in 1960," Moll said. "Today, a high school diploma is a must in order to enlist. Most people do not realize that many of our guardsmen, including enlisted men, have college degrees.

"These young people are looking for the challenge, discipline and opportunities that service in the Guard can provide, and at the same time use it as a way to repay their country."

Like other guardsmen, Moll is apprehensive about the drastic down-sizing of America's armed forces in recent years. He said: "I really believe they have gone too far with the whole agenda of downsizing. We were led to believe that we would never cut our forces to the point that we could not deal with two contingencies in separate parts of the world at the same time. But we're now at that point.

"With all of the budget cuts, we no longer have the means to adequately train or equip guardsmen and active duty people. The guard is especially sensitive to cutbacks in funding for training and equipment."

Moll said since Desert Storm many people erroneously believe that high-tech weapons and equipment are all that's needed in today's armed forces. "Sophisticated, high-tech weapons will hopefully help save more lives, but in the end it's men and women in uniform with the necessary training and discipline that get the job done.

"Realistically, when you look back in history, if you have to take and hold an objective, you have to have the people and the logistical support to sustain that kind of operation."

Moll said he plans to stay active in both the state and national guard associations to continue working for the dual mission of the Guard in the defense of the nation and service to their individual states.

Moll's civilian occupation is owner of Jackson Transfer Co. of Jackson and Gulliver's Travel Inc. of Cape Girardeau. Moll also serves on the board of directors of Capital Bancorporation.

Moll is the son of Helen E. Moll of Jackson and the late Wilbert A. Moll. Moll and his wife, Lynn (Vamer), formerly of Clearwater, Fla., have four children: Lance, Tracey, Bethany, and Scott.