‘Think the best, be the best, always’ motto follows Veteran his entire life

story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor

Command Sgt. Maj. Lesley Freeman Jr., was born in 1952, grew up in Martin and attended the Weakley County Training School (WCTS) until integration in 1966.

The motto of WCTS was “Think the Best, Be the Best, Always” and that is the phrase Freeman always followed and still lives by today. “My entire life has revolved around that motto,” he said.

During the 2019 homecoming parade in Martin, he and his wife of 47 years participated and decorated his car with a banner thanking God, his parents and the faculty of WCTS. He put the motto on his car as encouragement for the youth and adults of the town.

Freeman also worked for The Weakley County Press in the 1970s for a short while under general manager Randall Benderman when he was younger, prior to enlisting in the Army. He said Benderman was extremely influential to him and that he had actually worked with him prior to The Press right across the street at Western Auto Store. “I learned a lot from Randall,” he said. “He was my mentor. He inspired me and I’m still beholden to him now and everything he taught me.”

Freeman entered the Army in 1971, along with his older brother both courageously choosing the combat arms Military Occupation Specialty of Field Artillery and they were assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. Because of the potential seen in Freeman by his sergeant, he was selected to be squad leader, and that was just the beginning of an extensive career in the Army and numerous achievements made along the way.

“When I joined the military, I wanted to set an example for some of the other folks around here that were not as fortunate,” he said.

During his first assignment to 1^st Battalion, 17^th Field Artillery in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, his section won the inaugural “Fastest Gun in the West” competition among all field artillery units.

From 1973-76, Freeman was stationed in Korea and was the unit clerk, training clerk and legal clerk and with the introduction of the Standard Installation and Division Personnel Reporting System (SIDPERS), he received an Army Commendation Medal for maintaining a 100% process rate for transactions.

In 1975, Freeman completed the 2^nd Infantry Division Taekwondo Instructor Course, which earned him a black belt in Taekwondo. In 1979, he received an Army Commendation Medal. In 1981, he was presented with the 101^st Airborne Division Trophy by MG Jack MacMull for having the highest retention rate of any unit within the 101^st Airborne Division. He was also selected by the Department of Defense to receive top secret clearance, with special background investigation (SBI), for enrollment in the nuclear surety program and placed in the Personnel Reliability Program. In 1981, he was designated the honor graduate of the Field Artillery Atomic Cannon course. In 1982, he was the honor graduate of the field artillery noncommissioned officer advanced course.

In 1982, he received a Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional performance of duty while serving on a NATO base in Greece. In 1983, he received another commendation medal for scoring a perfect 100% on his field artillery skill qualification test (SQT). In 1984, he was selected to attend the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. From 1984-87, he was assigned as the Senior NCO, and NCOIC of Fort Polk, Louisiana Equal Opportunity Office. He provided outstanding advice and assistance to the Commander of the 5^th Infantry Division, MG K.C. Leuer, and other subordinate Commanders in the execution of the Army’s EO Program. For his dedication and commitment to the program, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

In 1990, he received another Meritorious Service Medal for his exceptional meritorious service while assigned as the Detachment First Sergeant of a restricted Pershing Missile Base in Germany. In 1990, during Desert Shield/Storm, Freeman was presented with the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara by MG J.H. Binford Peay which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character while displaying an outstanding degree of professional competence in the United States Army Field Artillery.

In 1993, while in Korea, CSM Freeman realized there was a need to improve relations, within his battalion, between the United States soldiers and their Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) soldiers so he implemented a Cultural-Heritage Awareness Program (CHAP). The program required a KATUSA to pair up with a U.S. soldier and learn as much as they could about each other heritage and then present it to the entire battalion. The program was televised on the Armed Forces Korean Network (AFKN) and, because of its overwhelming success, was adopted by other units and earning Freeman another Army Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts.

In 1994, CSM Freeman linked up with Sgt. Leonard Holifield (a member of his battalion), first cousin of world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, and together they developed a Close-Quarters-Combative Program which was featured in the 1994 edition of the Army Trainer magazine. The Army combative program is still practiced today. Now, Dr. Holifield, has since become a five-time inductee into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

In 1997, Freeman was awarded the Legion of Merit for his exceptionally meritorious service while serving in various key positions of responsibility.

Throughout Freeman’s extensive career he always followed the motto ingrained in him from his youth and inspired soldiers to do the same. Freeman retired in 1997, but he has still continued to serve the soldiers, youth and family members of Fort Campbell through his employment and volunteer service at Cole Park Golf Club. He also provides volunteer assistance to the youth programs and the physically and mentally challenged adults and youth of Fort Campbell.

Regarding his time in the Army, Freeman said, “I’ve been very fortunate to get various jobs which include unit clerk, equal opportunity advisor, retention NCO and as a part of the Personnel Reliability Program with NATO units. I earned my psychology degree and have been able to meet a lot of prominent people including four presidents of the United States. I have gotten to travel all over the world to places like Korea, Greece, Germany, France, Austria, The Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.”

In 2004, Freeman received a Sports Appreciation Award from Fort Campbell Youth Sports and Fitness for establishing its inaugural Youth Golf Program and in 2007 and he, along with Dave Burke and Jeff Vaughn, established The First Tee of Clarksville, which is a national youth program designed to use golf to enable children 8-18 years of age to build strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. The curriculum creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that children can carry with them through life to achieve their goals. The nine core values of the program teaches honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. President George W. Bush is the honorary chairman and Joe Louis Barrow (son of former heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis) was the chief executive officer. The new CFO is Gregory T. McLaughlin.

Freeman said teaching children life skills through his volunteer work is a way to have a positive influence on youth. “I’m happy to do it, even if I only impact a few,” he said.

In 2009, Congress approved the Department of Defense The First Tee Military Affiliate Program and Freeman was designated as the program manager for Fort Campbell. Freeman coordinated with the Tennessee Golf Foundation to obtain Starting New at Golf (SNAG) equipment for each elementary school on Fort Campbell.

From 2011-12, Freeman coordinated with The First Tee of Nashville and the Tennessee Golf Foundation to bring The Dennis Walters Golf Show to Fort Campbell for Wounded Warriors, their family members and The First Tee participants.

In 2012, during a book-signing event, Freeman and Gen. Colin Powell met and discussed Powell’s being a friend, supporter and Military Affiliate Program Ambassador of The First Tee Program.

In 2014, Freeman was diagnosed with stomach cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and in 2017 his cancer returned, resulting in his receiving radiation and chemotherapy. Freeman is now cancer-free. After he found out he was cancer-free, he built a partial golf course at his church, and he invites the entire community to play for free.

In January of this year, Freeman received a Resolution (House Resolution No. 123) from the House of Representatives which honored him for his numerous achievements both in the military and in his community. The resolution was unanimously approved.

Freeman has continued, to this day, to implement, in everything he does, the “Think the Best, Be the Best, Always” philosophy that he learned so long ago in his hometown of Martin.

“Today as I approach my 70^th birthday, I can still hear the piercing words of my cousin and elementary school teacher of the WCTR, Ms. Pearlie Mae Hayes, saying, ‘Think, think for yourself, use your head for more than a hat rack,’ an expression she conveyed to all her students. I hope I didn’t disappoint her.

“As we celebrate Veterans Day 2022, I would like to say thanks to all veterans who have served our country. In particular, I would like to say thanks to the current Sergeant Major of the Army, Michael Grinston, my friend, whom I first met on a golf course, as he provides advice and guidance to the United States Army.”

The Weakley County Press Special Sections – Tribute to Veterans (newstogo.us)