By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The Charleston River Dogs and Boeing hosted their second Military-Veterans Hall of Honor Ceremony of 2024 on Saturday night, July 6, at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston.
The ceremony was a tribute to U.S. Army Lt. General Roger Thompson (Retired) and U.S. Army Aviation Lt. Colonel W. Larry Dandridge (Retired), who were recognized for their distinguished service and as tireless advocates of our military members, veterans, and their families.
AUSA affiliation
The Association of the US Army (AUSA) Coastal S.C. Chapter covers the coastal counties of South Carolina. Thompson and Dandridge, two members of the Board of Advisers to the Coastal S.C. Chapter, have made significant contributions to S.C. military members, veterans, and their families. Thompson served as the Vice President for Operations of AUSA National Headquarters for 16 years before becoming the Board Chair of the Coastal S.C. AUSA Chapter. Dandridge has been the Past President of the Coastal S.C. Chapter three times and the chapter Vice President for Veteran Affairs for 20 years.
Recognition
Ben Abzug, Senior Vice President of the Charleston River Dogs, was the master of ceremonies for the induction ceremony. Thompson and Dandridge were each presented with a framed River Dogs jersey with a brass inscription plate. This recognition is a testament to their commitment to our military members, veterans, their families, and survivors — and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center/Healthcare System (RHJVAMC/HCS) and Fisher House Charleston.
Boeing and the River Dogs
Three times each baseball season, the River Dogs, a Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, and Boeing hold a special “Military Appreciation Night Game,” and induct two deserving military members or veterans into the Boeing-River Dogs Hall of Honor, illustrating their unwavering commitment to our military members, veterans, and their families.
About Thompson
Thompson was born in Ashland, Ky., graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1966 and served 34 years in the U.S. Army. As a Field Artillery and Transportation Corps Officer, he served and commanded at every level of the Army and retired as the Deputy Commander of the United States Transportation Command.
Thompson became the Operations Vice President for AUSA in 2000, supporting the women and men of the U.S. Army and its veterans for 16 years through its 122 Chapters worldwide. He also served for five years on the Board of Directors of Force Protection, Incorporated.
He has been the volunteer Board Chairperson of the award-winning AUSA Coastal S.C. Chapter since 2016, and has participated in outreach to the Veterans Victory House, the Fisher House Charleston, and the PGA Hope Foundation. As a Citadel Distinguished Scholar Advisory Board member, he mentors high-potential students at the School of Business.
Thompson also serves on the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership Advisory Board. He has also served on South Carolina Members of Congress selection panels for the national service academies, the Flag Officer Committee to the S.C. Military Base Task Force, and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
About Dandridge
Dandridge was nominated for the Hall of Honor by another Hall of Honor Member, USMC Major General (Retired) and Medal of Honor Recipient James Livingston. Dandridge is a Vietnam Wounded Warrior, a combat 100% disabled veteran, an ex-Army Enlisted Infantryman, an ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and a retired Army Master Aviator.
He served 24 years as an Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner, Test Pilot, Airport Manager, Flight Commander, Logistician, U.S.-German Negotiator, Transportation Officer, Adviser to the Iranian Army and German Defense Ministry, Locomotive Operator, and Chief of Aircraft Maintenance at the Army’s Aviation Center.
Dandridge is the CEO of Tigers, Vikings, and Vipers Publishing. He is a Business Process re-engineer and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He is also a retired aerospace industry regional manager. Dandridge founded and was the CEO of the most successful hospice in Missouri for 10 years. He is also a highly praised ex-police officer. He has worked as a re-engineering consultant for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, West Point, and more than a dozen other organizations.
He is a well-known advocate for military members, veterans, their family members, survivors, and caregivers – and the RHJVA/HCS. His articles on veterans’ benefits, leadership, and more have been published in more than 20 magazines and newspapers in the U.S., Germany, and England.
Dandridge serves as a Fisher House Charleston/Friends of Fisher House Good Will Ambassador, the AUSA Chapter VP for Veteran Affairs, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Charleston Chapter VP for Veteran Affairs, a “Past” Volunteer Veterans Service Officer, and a Patient Adviser and a Patient and Family-Centered Care Instructor at the RHJVA hospital in Charleston.
He also writes a widely acclaimed weekly column for The Island News on veterans’ and military benefits, leadership, hospice, and law enforcement. His military and civilian awards include the Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, Combat Air Medals, the German Silver Cross, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the S.C. Order of the Palmetto, and numerous other military, SC, AUSA, MOAA, VA, and Bullets to Bandaids awards.
Nominate a veteran
You can nominate another military member or veteran for induction into the “River Dogs—Boeing Military Hall of Honor” by going to https://www.milb.com/charleston/community/boeing-hall-of-honor.
Mike McCombs is the Editor-in-Chief of The Island News. You can contact him at theislndnews@gmail.com.
