Rodney Walls
U.S. Army, 1989-2013
Desert Storm
I was born on 15 April 1960. I grew up in the small town of Oxford, IA. It is a small town with great neighbors. One thing I remember about growing up in Oxford back in the day, families were huge. We had six, eight, ten people per family. There were a lot of kids and I think we were all very close in Oxford. I went to William Penn College, now the University of William Penn. I studied industrial arts and physical education. I was a three sport athlete; I played football, two years of baseball, and tried my luck for one year of wrestling. Wrestling was a disaster but it taught me that the wrestlers were tough in that sport. That was the toughest sport of my life.
I have been a high school football coach for 30 years. I was able to coach at the same school I graduated from, Clear Creek Amana. We built a great facility there and it is a great accomplishment that I was part of the planning for the turf field. We were the first team to go on and play in the playoffs, first and second round. We did that about three times and we still have kids that are holding state records in football for WR and QB. We put CCA football on the map and I am pretty proud of that. I have also taught at Coe College. It has been a dream of mine to coach at college but even as a high school coach I have told kids there are more scholarships in academics. There’s a lot more money in the fine arts and other academics.
I highly encourage young people to join the military and at least do a two or four year tour. I think it is important for us as citizens of America and it makes a better well rounded person. You get to network and see different places. They may never have an opportunity to be where I have been and meet the people I have met. It is crazy not to do it if you do not know what you are going to do, just jump in the military and get after it.
I married my high school sweet heart, Tina Portwood. We have three kids. Anthony, who is in the National Guard and went to Luther College, Savanna, who went to University of Northern Iowa, ran track and is now up in Minnesota with my first granddaughter, and Melissa, my youngest, went to Kirkwood and then the University of Northern Iowa to play softball.
I was a captain in the Iowa National Guard for 24 years, eight years enlisted then I went to OCS and got my commission. I was the Platoon Leader for Washington, IA during Desert Storm when they got activated. On my second deployment to Iraq, I received the Bronze Star for my services as the supply and equipment officer. I had five active duty and five National Guard units assigned under my battalion. It was very interesting and I enjoyed it. The best part of my military experience is the friends that I have made and met.
As for my future plans I have two more years for the City of Iowa City and I will have the rule 88 (retirement) then I plan on moving to Fort Meyer, FL. I am looking forward to going to Fort Meyer because no more snow blowing or mowing the yard. I just get to enjoy life. The kids are excited about it also because they will have a place to go for spring break. I grew up and we never had spring break so my dad would just throw us in a car and go down to Clear Water, FL to go fishing. As an adult you have to make life what you want and enjoy it, go where you want to go. Life is too short.
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