| A West Berbice based aunt of Brigadier General Leland Tony Shepherd has reflected the happiness and pride of herself and local relatives over his achievements as a member of the United States Army. Ms. Gloria Shepherd told WeNews Guyana (Region 5 & 6) of her nephew: “Over the years on his journey to the top he always told us: I want to do things that would make my father and mother proud of me, and he did”. Brig. Gen. Shepherd is now the second Black general officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard. The Brigadier General is one of three children born to Guyanese parents George Leyland Shepherd and Gwendoline Shepherd nee Griffith. He moved to the United States with his mother when he was twenty years old. Since then, he acquired a doctoral degree in executive leadership from the University of Charleston, W.Va.; a master’s degree in information technology management from Webster University; a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Philander Smith College. During his service to date in the US Army the Brigadier General has been honored with numerous medals, including the Iraqi Freedom Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. According to the Arkansas newspaper the Gazette in referring to all of the medals pinned on Shepherd’s uniform, Maj. Gen. Kendall W. Penn remarked that it was obvious that his comrade had excelled in all of his positions. “Tony has shown that capability as long as I’ve known him,” said Penn who met Shepherd in the early 2000s, before deploying to Iraq. “Tony was able to do things with radios, computers and wiring that nobody else in the brigade could do,” Penn recalled. “I can’t wait to see all the accomplishments you bring to the table.” During his recent promotion ceremony at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, the newly minted Brigadier General said: “This is an American story. Where a young private dreamt the dream of getting to the top.” He added: “This may be one small step, another step of promoting an officer to the rank of general, but it is a giant leap for African Americans across the state, across the nation and across this world.” He stressed: “There is a saying out there that you can’t be what you cannot see,”. In the Arkansas National Guard, I have been able to see quite a bit.” The distinguished Guyanese born has taken over command of Arkansas four brigades of 6,500 guardsmen: the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade, 87th Troop Command and the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade. (WeNews) |
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