November 8, 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.”