CSM Verne James Washington Sr.

Verne J. Washington, Sr. was born to Leroy Washington and Sandy M. Alston on May 8, 1966 in New York City, New York. After graduating from Julia Richman High School in 1984, he joined the Army to begin his military career. He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and completed his Advanced Individual Training as a Multi-Channel Communications Equipment Operator (31M) at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He then got on a bus and made the trip to Fort Benning Georgia to become an Airborne Soldier. CSM Washington has earned Masters Degrees in Human Resource Development and Management from Webster University. He was studying for his last LSAT. CSM Washington planned to pursue a Juris Doctorate Degree and practice Criminal Law. CSM Washington was united in holy matrimony on February 8, 1999 to Tia Williams of Augusta, Georgia. To this union 1 child was born Verne J. Washington, Jr. affectionately called "VJ". CSM Washington’s assignments included: Section Sergeant, 82nd Finance Company, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Team Chief, Multinational Force and Observer, Egypt; Team Chief and Section Sergeant, 25th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Platoon Sergeant, HHC 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Section Sergeant, 50th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Section Sergeant 17th Signal Battalion, Gibbs Kaserne; Frankfurt Germany; Instructor/Writer, 369th Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon, Georgia; Platoon Sergeant, 154th Signal Battalion, Fort Clayton, Panama; Battalion S3 Operations Sergeant, 82nd Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Platoon Sergeant, 385th Signal Company, Camp Doha, Kuwait; Communications Chief, 5th Army Headquarters, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; First Sergeant, HHD and 580th Signal Company, Riyadh Saudi Arabia; First Sergeant, 307th Signal Battalion, Camp Carrol, Korea; First Sergeant, United States Army NATO, Belgium; Operations Officer United States Army NATO, Belgium; Brigade S3 Sergeant Major, Area Support Group, Qatar; Operations Sergeant Major, 307th Signal, Hawaii, Command Sergeant Major 30th Signal Battalion, Hawaii, Command Sergeant Major 2-1 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Fort Riley; Command Sergeant Major 43D Signal Battalion, Heidelberg, Germany. CSM Washington cumulated his career as the J635 Contingency Operations Sergeant Major at the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Headquarters, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa Florida. CSM Washington had been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Panama, Kuwait, Turkey, Qatar, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, and Saudi Arabia. During the September 11 attacks on our nation in 2001, CSM Washington was assigned to a Weapon of Mass Destruction Task Force. While serving as the G6 Telecommunications Chief on the day of the attacks, MSG Washington and his team stood ready to deploy their assets by plane or specialized Communications Vehicle to any site within his 21 state region. CSM Washington’s awards and decorations include the Bronz Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Join Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal tenth award, Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon with numeral four, Humanitarian Service Medal, United Nations Meda, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, 2 National Defense Service Ribbons, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral six, Multi-national Force and Observer Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. CSM Washington also earned the Canadian, British, Honduran, Thai, and Egyptian Parachutist Badges. CSM Washington was a member of the prestigious SGT Morales Club and an honorary member of the SGT Audie Murphy Club. CSM Washington was the recipient of the Signal Corps Bronze Order of Mercury, Silver Order of Mercury, and the Armor Corps Order of Saint Barbara. CSM Washington proudly served his country for 31 years and retired in 2015 with full military honors. CSM Washington was a proud Triple Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He was initiated through Phi Xi Chapter at Fort Riley, Kansas on 4/11/2012. While a member of Chi Tau Chapter in Orlando Florida, he held the following positions, Keeper of Records and Seal, Keeper of Finance, and Vice Basileus. After retirement, CSM Washington worked with Orange County Public Schools teaching and counseling students. He was a die hard fan of all the New York sport teams; the New York Giants (NFL), the New York Knicks (NBA), and the New York Yankees (MLB). CSM Washington loved and enjoyed spending time with his family. He leaves behind to cherish his memories a devoted and loving wife of 25 years Tia Washington; son, Verne Washington, Jr.; daughters, Veronica and Yvonne Washington; sister, Monica Freeman, mother-in-law, Carolyn Williams; and a host of other relatives and many sorrowing friends.

Tributes

CSM Verne James Washington Sr.

May 8, 1966 - May 23, 2024