Lanny G. Asepermy
Sergeant Major, U.S. Army

The Early Years

Lanny G. Asepermy was born on 16 August 1946 at Iola, KS. In November 1946 he went to live west of Apache, OK, where he was raised by his grandparents, the late George Asepermy Sr., a full-blood Comanche Indian, and Hattie Jones Asepermy, a full-blood Kiowa Indian.

He graduated from Apache High School in 1965 and attended Cameron Junior College until March 1966.

Military Career

Initial Training

Asepermy enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1966. He received Basic Combat Training (BCT) with Company E, 1st Training Battalion, 2nd Training Brigade, US Army Air Defense Center, Fort Bliss, TX, graduating in May 1966.

From May to July 1966, he underwent Advanced Individual Training (AIT) with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, US Army Training Center Armor at Fort Knox, KY.

During the period July 1966 to February 1967, Asepermy cross-trained as an Armor Crewman, as a Loader, Driver and Gunner, Scout and Infantryman with E Troop, 1st Cavalry, 11th Infantry Brigade, at Schofield Barracks, HI.

Duty Assignments

March 1967 - October 1968: Served as a Gunner and Tank Commander with Company A, 1st Battalion, 73rd Armor, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Beavers, Korea.

November 1968 - July 1969: Served as a Drill Sergeant Candidate and Drill Sergeant with Company B, 18th Battalion, 5th Training Brigade, US Army Training Center, Armor at Fort Knox, KY.

August 1969 - August 1970: Served as a Tank Commander with Company C and Scout Section Leader with HQs & HQs Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division at LZ Sharon, LZ Nancy and Quang Tri Combat Base in I Corps, Vietnam.

September 1969 - January 1973: Served as a Drill Sergeant with Company B, 18th Battalion, 5th Training Brigade, US Army Training Center, Armor at Fort Knox, KY.

January 1973 - October 1973: Served as a Tech Supply Platoon Sergeant with the 514th Maintenance Company, Supply & Service Battalion, US Army Armor School at Fort Knox, KY.

October 1973 - August 1974: Served as a Platoon Sergeant and Security NCO in Charge with the 165th Military Police Company, 64th Ordnance Battalion, US Army, Europe at Fischbach, Germany.

August 1974 - December 1976: Served as an Instructor, TAC NCO and Senior TAC NCO with the 7th Army NCO Academy at Bad Tolz, Germany.

January 1976 - December 1979: Served as the Prescribed Load List NCO for the Materiel Management Company, Division Support Command (DISCOM), 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX.

January - December 1980: Served as the NCO in Charge of Supply Point 39 (Class I) with 305th Supply & Service Company, 227th Maintenance Battalion, 19th Support Command at Camp Kyle, Korea.

January - September 1981: Served as the NCO in Charge of Site Support, US Army Reserve, HQs & HQs Battery, Staff & Faculty Battalion, US Army Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill, OK.

September 1981 - June 1984: Served as a First Sergeant with HQs & A Battery, 3rd Cannon Training Battalion, US Army Field Artillery Training Center, Fort Sill, OK.

July 1984 - January 1985: Student with Staff & Facility Student Company, US Army Sergeants Major Academy at Biggs Field, TX on Fort Bliss.

February 1985 - June 1986: Served as a Senior Supply Sergeant with the Logistics Division Staff, US Army Information Systems Command, Western Command at Fort Shafter, HI.

June 1986 - July 1989: Served as a Chief Enlisted Advisor and Senior Army Advisory Group Sergeant Major with HQs, US Army Reserve Component, 5th Army at Fort Sam Houston, TX, with duty at Camp Mabry, TX.

August 1989 - September 1990: Served as the Depot Sergeant Major with Tooele Army Depot, Depot Command, Army Materiel Command at Tooele, UT - this included sites at Fort Wingate, NM, Pueblo, CO and Umatilla, OR.

On 1 October 1990, Sergeant Major Lanny G. Asepermy retired from the US Army after 24 years, 6 months and 23 days of honorable service.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal (8 Awards)
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea)
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
Korean Defense Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 5
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Ribbon with Numeral 3
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device
Combat Infantryman Badge
Drill Sergeant Identification Badge

Other Awards

Overseas Bars (2)
Various Weapons Qualification Badges & Bars: Rifle, Tank Weapons, Pistol, Grenade
Army Physical Fitness Patch (Scoring over 290 on Physical Fitness Test)
Texas Army National Guard Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal
Texas Army National Guard Outstanding Service Medal
Imjin Scout Patch (Completion of 2nd Infantry Division Advanced Combat Training Academy
Over 70 Letters and Certificates of Congratulations, Commendation, Appreciation, Graduation, Promotion, Recommendations, Completion, Thanks, Retirement, etc.

Military Honors

Outstanding Assistant Drill Sergeant of the Cycle – 28 October 1970
Outstanding Drill Sergeant of the Cycle – 1 April 1971 and 7 February 1972
Outstanding Trainer Award – 9 June 1971
Noncommissioned Officer of the Month – 19 November 1971
Distinguished Graduate and Leadership Award – 1st Army NCO Academy, 24 May 1973
Third most decorated Comanche Indian veteran (there are 1,109 Comanche veterans)
One of two Comanche veterans to graduate from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy
One of four Comanche veterans to earn the enlisted grade of E-9

Military Education

1967 - Graduate 7th Infantry Division Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Warfare Course
1967 - Graduate 7th Infantry Division NCO Academy
1968 - Graduate 2nd Infantry Advanced Combat Training Academy
1969 - Graduate 1st Army Drill Sergeant School
1973 - Graduate1st Army NCO Academy
1978 - Graduate 1st Cavalry Division First Sergeant Course
1985 - Graduate, US Army Sergeants Major Academy
1986 - Graduate, US Army Senior Supply Sergeants Course
1966-90 - Graduated/Completed numerous US Army technical and leadership schools/courses

Civilian Education While in the Military

During the period 1965-1985, Asepermy attended Cameron Junior College, Lawton, OK, and El Paso Community College, El Paso, TX. He was credited with completing 57 semester hours.

In Retirement

Civilian Awards and Recognition

C.I.R.C.L.E Humanitarian Award in 1992
Honored Veteran of the Comanche Nation Fair on 30 September 1995
Honored Veteran of the Comanche Indian Veterans Association on 11 November 1995
Honored Veteran of the Dirty Shame Gourd Club in 2005
Honored Veteran of the American War Mothers, Kiowa Chapter 18 on 13 May 2007
Outstanding Indian of the Year of the American Indian Exposition for 2007
Man of the Year by of the Apache, OK Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture for 2007
Honored Veteran of the Oklahoma City Indian Hills Celebration in July 2009
Governor’s Commendation from Brad Henry on 21 July 2009
Ambassador Appointment for the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation in September 2011
Honored Veteran for the VA Medical Center Annual Veterans Day Pow-Wow in November 2011
Governor’s Commendation from Mary Fallin on 10 November 2011
Special Recognition by the Comanche Indian Veterans Association for outstanding support and service on 6 September 2013

Civilian Accomplishments

The following accomplishments were achieved as a Researcher, Volunteer, Public Speaker, Historian, Politician and Community Leader/Worker:

Funeral Honors: Performed over 161 military funeral honors since 2003 for the families of deceased veterans – this service includes research and presentation of the deceased military service, posting of Colors and Service Flags, in some cases folding and presentation of casket flag and coordinating a firing squad (consisting of detailed members of the Comanche Nation Police Department) and bugler.

Cemetery Markers: Installed, with the assistance of wife and members of the CIVA over 177 military markers for the families of deceased veterans since 2003.

Ceremonial Entries: Participated in over 800 grand entries since 2003 at pow-wow’s, homecomings, parades, banquets, ceremonies, celebrations, memorials, conferences, fairs, graduations, boxing matches, basketball games, etc.

Flag Honors: Participated in over 60 flag raising/lowering ceremonies since 2003.

Speaker: Made presentations as a speaker at Fort Sill, Sheppard Air Force Base, funerals, Youth Programs, grade and high schools and numerous other events throughout Oklahoma.

Publications: Researched and published over 400 military bio’s of Comanche, Kiowa, Apache Nation veterans and a few non-Native veterans.

Fund Raiser and Researcher: Designed, researched and raised funds of $18,000 for the Comanche War Scout “Circle of Honor” – also upgraded the Circle with new dyes, flagpoles and benches (this monument has individual dyes for the 13 Fallen Warriors and 5 former Prisoners of War of the Comanche Nation and is located at the Nation headquarters at the Medicine Park exit north of Lawton, OK).

Fund Raiser, Researcher, and Maintainer: Secured funding in the amount of $23,000 to upgrade the Comanche Indian Veterans Association “Court of Honor” and researches and maintains a list of 1,099 names by rank, branch of service and years of service of Comanche Nation veterans – this monument is located at the Comanche Nation HQ’s.

Monument Researcher and Designer: Researched, helped design and dedicate the Apache, OK Veterans Park monument with the names of 28 veterans from the Apache area who were either killed in action, died of combat wounds, declared dead while missing in action, declared dead while in captivity or were prisoners of war – this monument is located at the intersection of highways 19/281 on the north side of Apache.

Publication: Researched and published a booklet with photos and bio’s of the 23 Fallen Warriors and eight former prisoners of war of the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache Nations.

Researcher, Designer and Coordinator: Researched, designed and had installed for Comanche and Kiowa Nations 6 3’x4’ panels of their Fallen Warriors and former prisoners of war – these panels are located at both Nation’s Elder Centers, museums and Nation HQ’s.

Researcher and Designer: Researched, designed and provided the Comanche and Kiowa Nations with posters of their Fallen Warriors and former prisoners of War.

Researcher and Coordinator: Provided research, set up interviews, helped edited and assisted with the 86-minute DVD production “In the Tradition of the Warrior – a Modern Day History of Comanche Veterans.”

Congressional Coordinator: Lobbied Congress on behalf of the Comanche, Kiowa and Choctaw Nations for passage of the Code Talker Recognition Act of 2002, 2006 and 2008 in Washington D.C. – the 2008 Act was passed and signed into law (Public Law 110-420) by President George W. Bush on October 15, 2008. Fourteen US Army World War II Comanche Code Talkers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal as a result of the public law.

Established Comanche Nation Patriot Room and Gallery on 13 May 2013: Contains 385 photos/brief bio’s of Comanche veterans in uniform, six 2’ x 6’ window wraps with the history of Comanche veterans contribution during World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars and War on Terror, nine 3’ X 3’ window wraps displaying the Great Seals of the United States, Oklahoma, the Comanche Nation Logo and the emblems of the Army, Marine Corps. Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard and 16 photos of CIVA activities.

Trainer: With Military Professional Resources Inc., (MPRI) to the Bosnian Army in 1996-97.

Elected Positions: Elected and served on the Comanche Nation Business Committee – also served on Gaming Board, Gaming Commission, Tax Commission, College Council, Housing Authority and Liquor Board from June 2007 to July 2010. Selected to serve 3-year term on Comanche Nation Game Board in November 2011.

News Reporter: Researched, written and published over 200 news articles for The Comanche Nation News and numerous articles for the Lawton Constitution.

Organizations

Comanche Indian Veterans Association - elected as Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, Quartermaster, Color Guard Coordinator and Historian
Comanche War Scouts - appointed as Historian and Camp Crier
Kiowa-Apache Blackfoot Society - Associate member, researcher, speaker and Ceremonial Dancer
O-ho-mah Lodge - as a Ceremonial Dancer
Comanche Little Ponies - as a Dancer
Comanche Buffalo Dance Society - as a Ceremonial Dancer
Comanche Tu-Whee (meaning Black Knife) Society - as a Ceremonial Dancer
Disabled American Veterans - Post 14 in Sierra Vista, AZ
Apache, OK Veterans Park Committee
Redlands Council of Girl Scouts - as the Camp Ranger, Story-Teller and Security

Family Data

Lanny G. Asepermy is married to the former Shelley E. Klinekole – they have 6 daughters and 15 grandchildren.

Military service and sacrifice is common in the Asepermy and Klinekole families. SMG Asepermy’s great-uncle, PVT Mathew Hawzipta, was killed in action on 10 April 1945 while serving with the 84th Infantry Division in Germany. Mrs. Asepermy’s uncle, SSG Bruce W. Klinekole, was a prisoner of war and survivor of the Bataan Death March during World War II.

This Honoree Record was prepared with information and photos supplied by Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.).