ROTC hosts military ball

The ASU ROTC Red Wolf Battalion held its annual Military Ball in the National Guard Armory Friday.

Friday night was a special occasion for the cadets of ASU ROTC's Red Wolf Battalion.

It isn't often that they have the opportunity to don their pressed, forest-green Class A dress uniforms, or floor-length formal dresses for the female cadets, and mingle with alumni of the ROTC program and other distinguished guests. Such opportunities only come about once a year.

The Military Ball is a traditional formal function in the Army and other branches of the US military. The ASU ROTC program holds either a Military Ball or a dining-in ceremony, which is similar, every year.

These functions are planned and executed by cadets and take months to prepare.

But the focus of Friday's event was not on the cadets, or even on the visiting alumni. It was on retired Major General Lynn Hartsell, a 1971 graduate of ASU who was surprised with an unannounced induction to the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes.

Maj. Gen. Hartsell was the guest of honor and speaker for the event. His military career began with a commission as an artillery officer from ASU ROTC upon graduating, and spanned 34 years until his retirement in 2005.

He was awarded numerous decorations over his career, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Maj. Gen. Hartsell spoke to the cadets about leadership and the Army values and how to apply them in their future Army careers.

Soon after he finished his speech, however, he was surprised to find that speaking at the event wasn't his only honor.

Professor of Military Science Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Helms presented Maj. Gen. Hartsell with his induction into the Hall of Heroes, an award that has gone to 51 other ASU ROTC graduates.

"When we secured Maj. Gen. Hartsell to speak at this evening's event, I walked out into the armory to look at the pictures of all the members in the Hall of Heroes to find his entry," Lt. Col. Helms said. "I was more than a little surprised when I didn't see it there…being a somewhat mischievous person, I thought, 'wouldn't it be fun to orchestrate an induction unbeknownst to Maj. Gen. Hartsell.'"

Major General Lynn Hartsell received his plaque representing his induction into the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes from Lt. Colonel Jeff Helms at Friday's Military Ball. Photo by Jackie Wilson.

Lt. Col. Helms said he contacted Maj. Gen. Hartsell's wife Janet to plan the award without his knowledge. Together, they got 15 members of Maj. Gen. Hartsell's family to attend and witness the event.

Maj. Gen. Hartsell's portrait now hangs in the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes, sharing a wall in the Armory with a Medal of Honor recipient, an Olympic bronze medal winner, an All-Pro football player, a Deputy Secretary of Defense, an ASU President and eight other generals. Many of the awards were given posthumously.

"It was a tremendous honor for me to receive that," Maj. Gen. Hartsell said. "It's a great university here, it's a great ROTC program and my hat is off to the program here."

Over 200 ROTC cadets, active and retired officers and their guests attended the formal function.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, ASU Chancellor Robert Potts and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research Glen Jones were also in attendance.