Smoke Rise Veteran Selected for Army OCS Hall of Fame

Smoke Rise resident Alfred J. Lipphardt has been selected for induction in the United States Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame 2018. The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, March 26, 2018 at Fort Benning, Georgia, beginning at 4.00 p.m. followed by the OCS Hall of Fame Dinner. Attendees will include inductees and their families as well as notable guests such as Brigadier General (retired) Joseph “Smokin’ Joe” Stringham.

The OCS Hall of Fame honors graduates of the federal Army Officer Candidate School who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. The Hall of Fame is an elite group that includes many notable and prestigious graduates, such as former Vice President Bob Dole and General Tommy Franks, former Commander of the U.S. Central Command.

Lipphardt was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School in 1966, Class 2-67; he separated from the Army in 1979 with the rank of Captain. His many command and staff assignments included Infantry Platoon Leader, Liaison and Chief Support Branch in Vietnam; Photo Intelligence Interpretation Officer in Washington, DC; Counter Intelligence Officer at Ft McPherson, Georgia; and Company Commander, Forest Park, Georgia.

Lipphardt’s military education includes Infantry Officer Candidate School; Military Intelligence Aerial Surveillance Officer Course; Military Intelligence Officers Advanced Course; Foreign Service Institute Department of State; and United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School.

Awards include Bronze Star with V Device for Heroism, Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and Vietnamese Staff Service Medal 1st Class.

As a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars since 2002, Lipphardt has diligently sought to fulfill the mission of the VFW including advocating for service members and veterans in the halls of Congress. He has received VFW’s highest recognition of achievement in the form of the VFW Triple Crown Award for successful leadership as an All-American Post Commander in 2006, an All-American District Commander in 2010 and an All-American Department Commander in 2015 for his leadership as the VFW Department of Georgia State Commander. He is currently serving on the VFW National Legislative Committee.

As a civilian, Lipphardt has been a member of Rotary International since August 1984 and has received numerous leadership awards including Rotary International’s highest award for Service, the Service Above Self Award. He has also been awarded the Rotary International Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Stone Mountain, where he has twice served as president of the club as well as serving as District Governor for District 6900 from 1999 to 2000.

Lipphardt has lived in Smoke Rise since 2003 with his wife Carol; they have two children and seven grandchildren.