Army ROTC honors Veterans

Army ROTC’s Golden Buffalo Battalion marked Veterans Day with the induction of eight of its distinguished graduates into its Hall of Fame. CSM alumni Hugh W. Evans, Colonel Wendell W. Fertig, and Vernon A. (Bud) Isaccs joined CU Boulder alumni Brigadier General Jeffery N. Colt, Douglas Looney, Brigadier General Stephen D. Mundt, Glenn E. Porzack, and Melissa (Hoffman) Stockwell in being recognized for their personal and professional accomplishments. The ceremony took place in CU’s Old Main Chapel Friday, November 12.

Evans graduated from Mines in 1949 and worked for the army language school before entering the mining industry. Evans rose to the top of the mining industry, serving as the president of several mining companies. During the 90s, he worked as an international operations consultant in locations ranging from Russia to Jamaica. Evans served on the Colorado School of Mines Board of Directors for eight years and is presently serving as Chair of the CSM Research Institute. Additionally, he is an Honorary Colonel of the CSM 115 Engineering Regiment and the Chairman of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division (which works to preserve the legacy of the divisions heroics during World War II).

Fertig holds a honorary doctor of engineering degree from CSM and finished his distinguished military career as the Professor of Military Science at CSM from 1947 to 1950. Fertig, who had worked as a civil engineer in the Philippines, was recalled to active service as a Lieutenant Colonel when the US entered World War II. He was in the jungles of Mindanau when the Japanese overran the Philippines. Rather than surrender, Fertig, an army Captain, and a navy Petty Officer, organized what became a massive guerrilla force. Bolstered by supplies delivered by submarine and aircraft, Fertig’s force swelled to over 33,000 personnel of whom 16,500 were armed. After the defeat of the Japanese in the Philippines, Fertig brought his expertise on guerrilla warfare to MacArthur’s staff. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross and contributed to the formation of the Army’s Psychological Warfare Center and School. After a series of assignments including Special Forces Plans Officer and Deputy Chief of Psychological Warfare, Fertig finished his military career at Mines.

Isaacs, a decorated Vietnam veteran, graduated from Mines in 1964 with a petroleum engineering degree. Isaacs fought in the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division and received multiple Vietnamese combat ribbons, the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. After Vietnam, Isaacs worked in production as well as planning and property valuation. After serving as Senior Vice President of Petrol-Lewis, Isaacs founded the consulting company V.A. Isaacs and Associates in 1985 and then RIM Companies in 1989. He is a member of numerous community organizations in the Denver area and has been a strong supporter of CSM.