One of the University’s professors of military science, Capt. William Conger, was named the winner of the 2012 Distinguished Military Honor Award presented by the Folds of Honor Foundation in September.
On Sunday, Conger was honored and awarded an oil-based painting created by Louisiana native Tony Bernard. The painting featured an American flag with a bald eagle.
He said the honor was “very humbling,” and he was surprised to learn he had won the award.
Conger serves in the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle organization that attends the funerals of fallen soldiers. He also serves in other charity organizations around Louisiana.
He said his service and volunteer work is not done for the recognition, but instead to honor the soldiers. He said he does the work to take care of his military family.
“The things I do for my fellow soldiers are things I do from the heart,” he said.
Conger said he always dreamed of joining the military since he was 5 years old. One of the things that contributed to this desire was that all the men in his family had served in the armed forces.
“I think that it’s just in my blood,” Conger said.
When he was 5, Conger’s favorite film was the black and white movie “The Longest Day.” He said the movie was about the 82nd airborne division liberating a French town during World War II.
“I always said I wanted to be a paratrooper in the 82nd airborne,” he said.
So he joined them.
Conger served in the Army’s airborne division from 1989 to 1991. He went on his first tour of duty in South Korea from 1988 to 1989.
After leaving the Army to attend school, he then served in the Georgia Army National Guard, where he discovered the active duty opportunities in the National Guard.
He met his wife in 1995 while she attended graduate school at the University of Georgia. She originated from Baton Rouge, and together they decided to move back to Baton Rouge in 2000 to raise a family.
Conger and his wife have two children: a 9-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter.
After moving to the Pelican State, Conger transferred to the Louisiana National Guard.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix in 2003. He recently received his master’s degree from LSU after graduating in May.
Human Resources Technician Kim Robinson met Conger when they were coworkers at the University from 2003 to 2005. After Robinson left to serve in Iraq, she said they kept in contact.
Once she retired from the Army, she returned and began working for Conger.
Robinson said she loves working for Conger because she is constantly learning from him.
She said he is a dedicated professional who is dependable and knowledgeable about his work.
Besides serving as the assistant professor of military science, he also serves as the recruiting officer. Conger works to bring in students to the Army ROTC program who will eventually become commissioned officers, Robinson said.
