2025 Doughboy Awards
Ranger excellence was on full display for the 2025 Doughboy Awards. The night honored GEN (Ret) Vincent Brooks, CSM (Ret) Gerald Klein and civilian small businss owner Paul Voorhees.
The U.S. Army's Chief of Infantry is responsible for the Doughboy Award, the highest honor the Infantry branch can bestow. The National Infantry Association plays a significant role in presenting the awards, working in conjunction with the Chief of Infantry. The Doughboy Award is presented annually to recognize an individual for outstanding contributions to the United States Army Infantry. The award emphasizes not only battlefield actions but also lifetime service, contributions to infantry doctrine, training, readiness, and the esprit de corps of the Infantry branch.
All roads seemingly lead back to Texas. The term “Doughboy” was a common nickname for U.S. infantrymen in World War I. One commonly cited origin: during training along the Rio Grande in Texas, soldiers’ white-dust covered uniforms led mounted troops to call them “adobes”; over time that became “Dobies” then “Doughboys.”
The award’s trophy is a chrome replica of a World War I/early World War II “flat-brimmed helmet” worn by American Expeditionary Soldiers. The award was established in 1980, by COL Edward “Shy” Meyer (Chief of Staff of the Infantry Center) and first presented to entertainer and icon Bob Hope.
Selection & Ceremony
Recipients are nominated (by infantry-qualified personnel) and reviewed by a selection process involving many active and retired infantry leadership and former awardees. Infantry Association
The award is typically presented during the annual Infantry Warfighting Conference at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Georgia.
There are categories: officer, enlisted soldier, and civilian (in recognition of non-uniformed contributors to the Infantry)
CSM (Ret) Gerald Klein
CSM (Ret) Gerald Klein is a member of the distinguished Ranger Hall of Fame.
CSM Klein’s career extended far beyond the Ranger community, fulfilling GEN Creighton Abrams’ vision for the modern-day Ranger Battalions: leaders of Ranger quality strengthening Army units with integrity and strength.
CSM served both stateside and in overseas tours in Germany and Korea. He has two combat jumps as a Ranger. The first was into Grenada in Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 with 2d Ranger Battalion as a Platoon Sergeant where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for his actions. His second Combat Jump was into Panama as part of Operation Just Cause in 1989 as the 3d Ranger Battalion Command Sergeant Major.
CSM Klein served as a Drill Sergeant as well as in every leadership position from Squad Leader to Command Sergeant Major. He culminated his career at Fort Benning as the Command Sergeant Major for the United States Army Infantry Center and School.
CSM Klein’s career allowed him to export his Ranger leadership skills outside the Ranger Community, a fulfillment of the vision GEN Abrams had in creating the modern day Ranger Battalions, where outstanding leaders of Ranger quality strengthened other units with the same integrity and strength so befitting Rangers. CSM Klein is an icon and example to be emulated in the Modern Day Ranger Battalions and the United States Army.
GEN (Ret) Vincent Brooks
General Vincent Keith Brooks is a retired four-star U.S. Army general, notable for being the first African American "First Captain" (Cadet Brigade Commander) at West Point and the first African American to command U.S. Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command. His extensive military career includes commanding the U.S. Army Pacific and Third Army, service as a spokesperson during the Iraq War, and numerous national-level assignments. After retiring in 2019, he has remained active in leadership roles, including on corporate and non-profit boards.
Mr. Paul Voorhees
Mr. Voorhees is the President of Ranger Joe’s in Columbus, GA — a business that has faithfully served our military and law enforcement communities since 1963. Under his leadership, Ranger Joe’s expanded to multiple locations and a global distribution center, remaining a staple in the lives of Soldiers, Rangers, and families around the world.
Beyond business, Mr. Voorhees is a licensed and ordained minister, a combat-area chaplain, and a passionate supporter of the Airborne, Special Forces, and Ranger communities. His legacy of selfless service spans decades — from traveling to Iraq and Kuwait to minister to deployed troops, to sponsoring the Best Ranger Competition and Army Sniper Competition, to supporting wounded warriors and underprivileged children here at home.
