The Legend of SGT Skinner
Fort Hood, Texas, the fall of 1975

     Any veteran will tell you it is almost impossible to become a legend in the military during peace time. One envisions a legend as someone who performed one or more great feats of heroism, while under fire in combat with a determined enemy. The hero image just doesn’t come close to fitting anyone pulling military police line duty at Fort Hood, Texas. Please hold that thought and let me introduce you to the legend of SGT Skinner of the 411th MP Company.

     The story begins in late 1975, hunting season had just opened in this part of Texas and Fort Hood as always, accommodated the local residents by opening parts of the post grounds to the hunters. It was also a weekend night and, weekends were always busy, especially at the base hospital emergency rooms. SGT Skinner and his partner Shelly Borne were on post patrol when they were assigned to deliver some forms to the MP on duty in the emergency room at the Darnell Army Community Hospital.

     While dropping off the forms three local hunters arrived at the hospital emergency room with a problem. One of the group broke his leg during their day in the field, and as in any hospital, arrivals in emergency rooms are assigned medical assistance based the "Triage" system. The order of treatment is based on the severity of the wound or injury. A busy day and broken leg doesn’t rate immediate treatment, not unusual, unless you mix alcohol into the equation.

     One of the hunters from the group, who was alleged to be inebriated, took umbrage over having been given a wheel chair and told his injured friend would have to wait his turn in line. One can only guess what he was thinking when he decided to grab an emergency room nurse around the neck and put a hand gun to her head. He insisted that his buddy get treated immediately or else! The routine noise and activity in the emergency room came to a sudden halt as the medical staff, patients and onlookers realized there was a serious hostage situation unfolding right before their eyes.

     SGT Skinner took immediate advantage of the initial confusion by quickly removing his MP helmet liner, dropping down and crawling along the floor behind a nearby counter. He was now in close proximity to, and had a clear view of the gunman and hostage from his hidden position. Drawing his side arm, SGT Skinner took aim and ordered the gunman to drop his weapon. Taken by surprise the gunman removed his hand gun from the head of the hostage and pointed it directly at SGT Skinner. Taking advantage of the gunmans error, SGT Skinner fired striking the gunman dead with four rounds, bringing the hostage situation to a swift and immediate end.

     The follow up investigation ruled the actions of SGT Skinner as justified.

     What happened next I must admit is only rumor since I can’t vouch for the accuracy and details.

     Standard procedure dictates that when an MP is involved in a serious shooting incident, especially when it results in the loss of life, a transfer of duty stations follows. The procedure removes the temptation of any possible revengeful retribution against the MP.

     SGT Skinner was placed on a "no duty" status pending receipt of transfer orders. He would spend his remaining time on post at Fort Hood in his quarters. As the story goes, his room mate was scheduled for a day shift and had a date scheduled for the same time. He chose to go on the date rather than report for duty and asked his buddy SGT Skinner to take his place. This would make SGT Skinners actions "unofficial" and put both he and his room mate in jeopardy for disciplinary action if they were caught.

     SGT Skinner put on his partners shirt (with name tag) and reported for duty. He made it past the guard mount and went out on patrol with his partner. It was a weekend, and all he needed was a quite shift and no one would be the wiser. He chose not to drive (lest he have an accident), they left guard mount and immediately received a dispatch call directing them to a routine domestic complaint. As his partner parked the patrol jeep in front of the residence in Chaffee Village, the door of the house opened and a man stepped out pointing a shotgun at him. SGT Skinner drew his sidearm and fired killing the gunman where he stood.

     It will suffice to say that when his unofficial duty status was brought to light, all hell broke loose and rained down on SGT Skinner, his partner and probably anyone else at the guard mount that knew of but didn’t say anything about his standing in for his partner.

     I was told that the shooting was determined to be "justified," and that SGT Skinner was placed under close MP guard, up to and including his being placed on whatever mode of transport used to take him to his new duty station.

     Thus through the years has passed the Legend of SGT Skinner.

SP/4 (SSG Retired) Ralph E. Jeffries, 411th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 1975-1976 and 1990-1993.