Colonel Roger D. Cotton was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986 and retired from the Army in April of this year as Colonel. Cotton said he’s worn 8 uniforms including 6 parachutes leaving 13 aircraft landing on 17 drop zones 101 times. He’s been to Panama, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Germany, Italy, England, Holland, France, Spain and Slovenia. Throughout his career he’s seen the introduction of computers, local area networks, copiers, Berettas, and now sees vehicles on post he’s not sure are American. He said he’s lived in 14 homes, jumped into frozen drop zones in Utah, endured dust storms in Iraq, and learned about poisonous animals in the jungle. In short, he said, he is thankful for JROTC in high school when he switched electives in 9th grade from art, which he was failing, to Navy Junior ROTC. He said he found his niche. Special to the Press Gazette
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local soldier Col. Roger D. Cotton retires