Austin Peay awards Decorated Soldier Jose Ramoslopez the APSU ROTC CSM Darol Walker Award

Clarksville, TN – The recipient of the 2016 Command Sgt. Maj. Darol Walker Award at Austin Peay State University is ROTC Cadet Jose Ramoslopez, a decorated career soldier.

Ramoslopez, born in Puerto Rico, will graduate May 6th from APSU with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree and a minor in military science.

At the conclusion of APSU’s Spring Commencement ceremony, Ramoslopez will be commissioned as an aviation officer, and will attend flight school and later attend the Aviation Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Ramoslopez joined the Army as an infantryman in 2004, and has served in assignments in both the U.S. and Republic of Korea, as well as one combat tour in Iraq and three combat tours in Afghanistan.

A highly decorated soldier, Ramoslopez’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault badge and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Fort Campbell Garrison Commander, Col. James R. Salome served as the keynote speaker for the event.

Ramoslopez’s award is the fifth consecutive award to be given to ROTC Cadets, following Cadet Kevin Doss in 2015, Cadet Daniel Davis in 2014, Cadet Nathan Brewer in 2013 and the first recipient, Cadet Nicholas Shumpis, in 2012.

The award was started by local businessman, Jack B. Turner, in honor of Turner’s long-time friend and business partner, Darol Walker, retired vice president of Jack B. Turner and Associates, Inc. in Clarksville.

Before retiring from the U.S. Army and starting his career with Turner in 1977, Walker served as a command sergeant major in the U.S. Army, was a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran and later served as senior military instructor for APSU’s ROTC program.

Walker served two tours in Vietnam, and received the Bronze Star with V Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, four Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Medal, China Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantrymans’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

For more information, contact Bill Persinger, executive director of Public Relations and Marketing at 931.221.7459.