User:Okiecajun

Jack Benny Shoalmire, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Retired Ford Motor Company Management (Sept 1968-Jan 2005) - Avid Automotive and Motorcycle Enthusiast.

Jack Shoalmire was born 09/30/1942 in Converse,LA - Sabine Parish, to Rube Robert Shoalmire (1913–1984) a welder and the former Melba Agnes Elliott (1915–1995). Jack had two older siblings, Robbye (1937-1982) Jimmy (1940-1982). Shoalmire graduated in 1960 from Fair Park High School in Shreveport, LA. Shoalmire is a Life Member of Fair Park Alumni Association. After graduation from high school, Shoalmire worked for Arkla Natural Gas Company, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army.

Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army on September 12th 1966. After completion of basic training and advance individual training (Field Artillery Operations and Intelligence) at Fort Hood, TX, Shoalmire was assigned to 1st Battalion 6th Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division Fort Hood, TX. Shoalmire volunteered and reported for assignment February 1st 1968 to 1st Battalion 30th Artillery Regiment, 1st Calvary (air mobile) Division in the Republic of South Vietnam. He was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" Device, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Service Stars, 2 Overseas Bars, Unit Awards: Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Shoalmire was discharged from the active U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, WA with a Honorable Discharge. Other Honors: Military Order of Saint Barbara Medal. Shoalmire is a Life Member of the 30th Artillery Regimental Association, Vietnam Veterans Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, U.S. Field Artillery Association and a member of the American Legion.

Shoalmire, worked with Ford Motor Company in Shreveport, LA, Lima, OH and Tulsa, OK. retiring January 2005 as Superintendent. During his employment at Ford, he received many Suggestion Awards for his operations improvement ideas. Shoalmire has always had a interest in specialty cars (Street Rods) and motorcycles. His cars have won awards at car shows in several states. Shoalmire raced off-road motorcycle events for 20+ years winning two American Motorcyclist Association Class National Championships. After retirement he started enjoying long distance traveling on his motorcycle. He has ridden his motorcycle in 49 states and to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, Ushuaia, Argentina, Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Inuvik, Northwest Territory, Canada and in several European countries. Shoalmire is a Charter Life Member of the American Motorcyclist Association. Shoalmire held a Sporting Stewart license from The Federation International Motorcyclist when he was Deputy Clerk of Course for the 1994 International Six Days Enduro, held in Tulsa Oklahoma. This world championship event has only been held in the USA twice since it's innception in 1913. Shoalmire was president of the Tulsa Trail Riders Motorcyclist Club for 5 years (1995-1999) and was chairman of the BlackJack Enduro Circuit in 1997. Shoalmire has won numerous awards in off-road motorcycle events.

After retirement Shoalmire's interested continued in motorcycle riding. He is a Premier member of the Iron Butt Association, a world wide long distance motorcycle riding group. Among his accomplishments in long distance riding; 14th member of the IBA to ride 100,000 miles in less than 365 days, member of the IBA-Mile Eaters Club. In the 2007 Iron Butt Rally,(11,000 miles in 11 days) Shoalmire finished Silver.

In 1969, Shoalmire married the former Rebecca Jane Phillips (born 1944) now a resident of Zachery, LA who graduated from Fair Park High School (1962). After a long separation the marriage ended in divorce in 1975 One child came from this marriage, Rebecca Ann Shoalmire (born Dec 17, 1969). Rebecca resides in Owasso, OK and is married to Barry Bennett of Tulsa, OK.

In 1975, Shoalmire married the former Marilyn Kay Stalter of Elida, Ohio (born 1952) now a resident of Broken Arrow, OK. From this marriage came one son Jon Robert Shoalmire (born August 26, 1981). The marriage ended in divorced in 1998. Jon Shoalmire resides in Stillwater, OK and is married to Mindy Evans of Columbia, MO

Name: Jack B. Shoalmire.

Rank: SP5.

Current Mailing Address: 4204 N. Battle Creek Dr Broken Arrow, OK 74012.

Date Entered the Service: 12 September 1966.

Date: ETS from the Service: 3 September 1968.

Honorably Discharged from the US Army Reserves on 11 September 1972.

Assignments:

1966: Inducted into the Army 12 Sep 1966.

1966: Assigned to A-4-3rd Arty, 1st AD, Ft Hood, TX, and completed Basic Training on 14 November 1966.

1966: Assigned to HHB, 1st Armored DIVARTY on 15 November 1966 for AIT.

1967: Completed AIT 10 February 1967, awarded MOS 13E20 - Field Artillery Operation and Intelligence.

1967: Assigned 11 February 1967 to FDC Section, A-1-6th Arty, 1st AD Ft Hood, TX.

1967: Received orders to Vietnam on 15 December 1967.

1968: Arrived Vietnam and assigned 31 Jan 1968 to A-1-30th Arty, 1st Calvary Division (Airmobile).

1968: DEROS to Fort Lewis, WA on 1 September 1968.

Awards and Decorations:

Bronze Star Medal

Purple Heart

Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 Bronze Service Stars

Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" Device

2 Overseas Bars

Unit Awards:

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with/Palm

Other Honors:

Military Order of Saint Barbara Medal