BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - When the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, many Americans were deeply affected and some were moved to serve their country. Because he grew up in New York state, Capt. William Denn III '06, commander of Alpha Company, 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade, found that the events made him more determined than ever to serve.
Denn, who received his acceptance letter to West Point dated Sept. 11, 2001, said he wasn't initially sure if the Army would be a career for him but after his first couple of years he realized it would be.
"I grew to love the Army, and I realized how much I admired and respected the American soldier," he said. "I love leading soldiers in combat."
The intelligence officer, who once served as an M1A2 Abrams Tank platoon leader during a 15-month tour in Iraq, is a recipient of the General MacArthur Leadership Award. This is given to company-grade officers who demonstrate outstanding leadership characteristics and embody the ideals held up by Gen. Douglas MacArthur: duty, honor, and country. Fewer than 30 officers receive this honor each year.
Photographed: Capt. William Denn III, commander of Alpha Company, 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th MI Brigade, poses with his team during the Bataan Memorial Death March.
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Denn is in good company. Five of his classmates -- Captain James Perkins, Captain Shane Sullivan, Captain Benjamin Summers, Captain Jasmine Walker, and Captain Andrew Webb -- also received the MacArthur Leadership Award. Captain Michael Kelvington and Captain Widmar Roman, both Class of 2005, are also recipients this year.