November 08, 2012
A proud member of a family steeped in military tradition, Andrew
Lyons ’82SVC, ’97G originally came to St. John's University because
of its acclaimed Army ROTC
program. “I had always wanted to join the United States Army,
but my father — who went in as an enlisted man — encouraged me to
get my degree and go in as an officer.” Now a Lieutenant Colonel,
Lyons has spent 28 years in the army — 12 on active duty and 16 in
the reserves.
Lt. Col. Lyons has also spent 22 years at St. John’s, currently
as Associate Director of the University
Freshman Center. He is part of a three-generation ROTC
tradition. His father-in-law, Colonel Jim Rafferty, is the former
Professor of Military Science at St. John's ROTC, and his oldest
son, Captain Andrew A. Lyons III ’04C, received his army commission
from the program.
Both father and son were briefly deployed together in Iraq,
their tours overlapping by three months. Although they were in
separate units, Lt. Col. Lyons, who served as an advisor to the
Iraqi army, was able to visit his son frequently. “I traveled all
over the country, while my son was assigned to the 10th Mountain
Division out of Camp Victory,” he said. “I would fly in and visit
him there.”
Capt. Lyons spent two tours of duty in Iraq as an evacuation
team and medical platoon leader. He said their time there was a
great opportunity to show support for St. John's ROTC and the
University as a whole. “We're both very proud of that,” Capt. Lyons
said.
ROTC Program Provides Focus
ROTC at St. John's has enjoyed a proud tradition for more than
40 years, annually producing an average of 12 lieutenants for the
US Army, Army Reserve and the National Guard. Last year, St. John's
Red Storm Battalion received the 2010 MacArthur Award, which
recognizes exceptional performance among university battalions.
While his military family history initially led him to St.
John’s, Lt. Col. Lyons stressed that joining ROTC was what kept him
in school. “It gave me focus. I knew I had an endgame. I knew this
was something I wanted to do, and even if I didn't stay in the army
it was a set of experiences I wanted to have. How many people can
say that when they graduate, they're an officer in the army?”
Following eight years of active duty, Lt. Col. Lyons returned to
St. John's in 1990 as an ROTC instructor. He taught for three years
before entering the reserves. Lt. Col. Lyons accepted a full-time
position at the University in the Office of Student
Financial Services in 1994, and from there he was selected to
join the Office of Retention, now the University Freshman
Center.
When his reserve unit was called up in 2004, Lt. Col. Lyons
said,
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John's,
personally wished him well. In Iraq, Lt. Col. Lyons served as an
instructor for the army's Command
and General Staff College, teaching Iraqi officers how to do
staff work and plan operations. “Our job was to train their army
and bring them up to speed.”
Describing his military experience as “an adventure,” Lt. Col.
Lyons, who also served in South Korea for one year, said that ROTC
training gives students a unique perspective when they graduate.
“The amount of training young officers receive, and the
responsibility they’re given, just doesn't happen in the outside
world. You're thrown into things a lot faster, being responsible
for a platoon of 15 to 20 men at 21 – 22 years of age.”
Like his father, Capt. Lyons credited the University for his
successful military service. “I can honestly say that it completely
changed my life. At first, I didn't think the army would be a
career for me. ROTC taught me how to work with people.” The
experience also added a new dimension to his relationship with his
father. “My dad is definitely a mentor to me.”
Looking back on it now, Capt. Lyons concluded, “if it wasn't for
those experiences, I wouldn't be the person I am today.”