Four Inductees to Enter 2021 ROTC Hall of Heroes Saturday
JONESBORO — Four outstanding veterans of Arkansas State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program will join the prestigious Hall of Heroes in a special induction ceremony Saturday, Nov. 6, and receive additional recognition at A-State’s Homecoming game with Appalachian State in Centennial Bank Stadium.
The inductees include Maj. Gen. Boniface Campbell (honored posthumously), retired Col. Denise Beaumont, retired Lt. Col. Steven Beaumont, and retired Lt. Col. Henry "Herb" Sennett, Jr. The ceremony is from 9-9:45 a.m. in the Lt. Col. Frederick C. Turner, Jr. Military Science Building.
The Hall of Heroes provides an opportunity for Arkansas State University to pay tribute to ROTC alumni who have distinguished themselves through commendable service to our nation and outstanding representation of the university. The Hall of Heroes is located at the East entrance. The list of members can be found on the A-State website.
Maj. Gen. Boniface Campbell (Deceased)
Maj. Gen. Campbell experienced a long and varied military career after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in general studies from Bowdoin College in 1917. His military education included Bowdoin College’s ROTC program (1917), Artillery Officer Basic Course (1924), Artillery Officer Advanced Course (1932), Command and General Staff College (1936), and Army War College (1939).
One of Campbell’s many military assignments was service as professor of military science and tactics at then-Arkansas State College from 1936-38.
He served in all commissioned grades from second lieutenant to major general with duties and assignments commensurate with grade, branch and experience. These duties included command staff, troop duty, student and instructor at service schools and ROTC instructor, which took place in the continental United States, including Washington, D.C., the Philippine Islands, Hawaii, Japan, China and Europe.
Among his awards and decorations are two Legions of Merit, the Order of Ulchi with Gold Star (Korea), the National Defense Service Medal, WWI Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Philippine Independence Ribbon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze service stars.
Retired Col. Denise M. Beaumont
A native of Searcy, Col. Beaumont completed her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1994 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army through the A-State ROTC program. In 2006, Col. Beaumont earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN) from the University of Texas Health Science Center. In 2017, she received her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree from Texas Wesleyan. Her last active duty assignment before retiring April 1, after 27 years of active duty service, was director for USAGPAN.
Her military assignments included pediatric staff nurse at the 121st General Hospital in Seoul, Korea, staff nurse in the emergency department at Raymond W. Bliss Army Community Hospital in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Ga.
She provided service as a program director and anesthesiologist in medical facilities in Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Eustis, Va.; and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before being deployed to Afghanistan and Africa.
Among her awards and decorations, Col. Beaumont earned the Legion of Merit; two Bronze Stars; three Meritorious Service Medals; six Army Commendation Medals; three Army Achievement Medals; Navy Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Award; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars; Iraqi Campaign Medal with one bronze service star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korea Defense Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; and two NATO Medals. She also received the Army Combat Action Badge; Army Combat Medic Badge; and the Army Surgeon General’s 9A proficiency designator. In addition, Col. Beaumont is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Sigma Theta Tau.
Col. Beaumont is married to retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. and A-State ROTC alumnus Steven Beaumont and they have two children, Tyler Beaumont and A-State Cadet Zachary Beaumont (class of 2022).
Retired Lt. Col. Steven D. Beaumont
Lt. Col. Steven D. Beaumont is originally from Jonesboro and a 1994 Distinguished Military Graduate from Arkansas State’s Army ROTC program where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
He served as the Cadet Battalion Commander prior to commissioning into the U.S. Army. In 2009, he received his Master of Science degree in information technology from Webster University.
In addition to spending time in Afghanistan, Korea and Iraq, Beaumont underwent numerous assignments as platoon leader, C Company, 304th Signal Battalion, Camp Colbert, Korea; company executive officer, 69th Signal Company in Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; Assistant Secretary of the General Staff, Fort Huachuca; company commander, Bravo Company, 67th Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon, Ga. (two years). He also spent time in Fort Polk, La., Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Monroe, Va.
He deployed pre-operation Iraqi Freedom to Taszar, Hungary with the Warrior Brigade to train Free Iraqi Forces in preparation for the invasion of Iraq and later deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lt. Col. Beaumont’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, six Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, two National Service Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
He is married to retired U.S. Army Colonel and A-State ROTC alumna Denise Beaumont who is also being inducted with this 2021 class.
Retired Lt. Col. Henry H. (Herb) Sennett Jr.
Lt. Col. Herb Sennett was commissioned into the Infantry upon graduation from Arkansas State University in May 1968. Arriving in Vietnam less than 10 months later, he was assigned as assistant team leader for MAT Team IV-97, tasked to work as an adviser and instructor to South Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces in Vinh Long Province. Due to the intensity of the mission, then Lt. Sennett earned the Combat Infantryman Badge within 90 days.
Following redeployment, he moved to Augusta, where he served as a high school English and speech teacher. He then attended seminary then served as a pastor in Dublin, Ohio, from 1979-83. Returning to Arkansas in 1983, he became pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Searcy and was sworn into the Arkansas National Guard as a chaplain for the 39th Infantry Brigade.
In 1985, Sennett joined the faculty of Palm Beach Atlantic University and transferred to the Army Reserves, serving as the chaplain for the 7/9 Field Artillery Battalion (155mm-Nuclear). His follow-on was with the 478th Civil Affairs Brigade as chaplain and religious affairs officer.
In 1989, he joined the Chaplain Team of the 3220th U.S. Army Garrison in West Palm Beach. Following receipt of orders to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield, he was assigned as the installation chaplain at Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF), Fort Stewart, Ga. While serving as one of only eight installation chaplains during the 24th Infantry Division’s deployment, Chaplain Sennett developed the post’s Mass Casualty Response Book and was instrumental in organizing an emergency response group of the local Savannah clergy.
During nine months of active duty, Chaplain Sennett counseled hundreds of family members left behind by their service member, was part of the greeting party for President George H. W. Bush’s visitation, and then aided the Department of the Army in a total rewrite of the Family Support Plan for Mobilization, which was used Army-wide. Chaplain Sennett aided in the recognition of a new religious group allowing its member soldiers special accommodation.
In 1995, he joined the 377th Theater Support Command in New Orleans, where he worked in strategic planning and logistical support for religious activities worldwide. As a senior level chaplain, he advised the command regarding the impact of religious issues on troops while deployed. His input was later used to inform units that deployed in predominantly Muslim areas after 9/11. He retired from the Army in 2004 and from his college professorship in 2016.
Lt. Col. Sennett received numerous military decorations including Combat Infantryman’s Badge, four Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device, two National Defense Medals, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
