KU News Release

Father returning from Iraq to commission son in KU Army ROTC ceremony Dec. 21

LAWRENCE — Five students in the University of Kansas’ Army ROTC program will be commissioned as second lieutenants at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, in the Military Science Building.

Daniel Roper Jr., Lansing senior, will receive his commission from his father, Col. Daniel Roper Sr., who will return from active duty in Iraq for the ceremony. Others will receive commissions from family members or friends.

Lt. Col. John A. Basso, KU Army ROTC battalion commander and professor of military science, will welcome the cadets and their families, friends and guests and introduce the speaker, retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert Forman of Overland Park.

Forman has held numerous command and staff positions, culminating in his final assignment as deputy commanding general for training at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va. He is a former deputy commandant at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and commanding general at the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Dix, N.J. Among his awards are the Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with “V” Device with two Oak Leaf Clusters and seven air medals with “V” Device. He was commissioned a second lieutenant through Arizona State University’s ROTC program. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and has attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

KU is one of only 50 universities in the nation offering an ROTC program that represents all branches of the military. Commissioning ceremonies were held Dec. 15 for the Navy, Marine and Air Force ROTC programs at KU.

KU’s ROTC programs include students from Baker University in Baldwin City, Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Washburn University in Topeka, Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Army ROTC members Joseph Dessert from the University of St. Mary and Tramaine Young from Washburn University will be commissioned at the Dec. 21 ceremony.

The ROTC participants to be commissioned are listed below by hometown, parents’ names, majors or schools, high schools (when available), assignment and name of the officer administering the oath of office.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing 66043
Joseph Dessert, University of St. Mary, is the son of retired Army Col. Rolland and Karen Dessert. Rolland Dessert will commission his son, who will be assigned as an infantry officer to the 137th Infantry, Kansas Army National Guard, in Lawrence.

From Lansing 66043 and Nashua, N.H.
Daniel Roper Jr., who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science, is the son of Col. Daniel and Vicki Roper and a graduate of Lansing High School. Daniel Roper Sr., based at Fort Leavenworth and serving in Iraq, will return to KU to commission his son. Daniel Roper Jr. will be assigned to the 635th Armor, Kansas Army National Guard, in Lenexa.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Brandon Eicher, who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in economics, is the son of Lawrence Eicher and a graduate of Rose Hill High School. His uncle, Col. James Eicher, currently stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, will commission him. Brandon Eicher plans to go to Fort Benning, Ga., for Basic Officers Leaders Course training and subsequent duty in Korea.

LOUISIANA
From Marksville 71351
Tramaine Young, Washburn University, is the son of Christopher and Jacqueline Young. He will be commissioned by Maj. Ted Culbertson, KU ROTC recruiting operations officer and Kansas Army National Guard liaison. Young will be assigned with the signal corps, Texas Army National Guard, Houston, Texas, and later to Fort Benning, Ga., for Basic Officer Leadership Course training.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
From Nashua 03062 and Lansing, Kan.
Daniel Roper Jr. See LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

VIRGINIA
From Petersburg 23803
Jacob Kennedy, who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology, is the son of retired Army Lt. Col. John and Bobbi Kennedy and a graduate of Leavenworth (Kan.) Senior High School. John Kennedy will commission his son, who will be assigned to the military police, Virginia Army National Guard, Manassas, Va.

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