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Today's Featured Biography
James Spoo
After graduating from McCaskey High School I entered the United States Marine Corps. I served in the Republic of Viet Nam from December 1966 until June 1969 (30 consecutive months).
When I returned home, I took time to mend and enrolled at the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (formerly Stevens Trade). After graduating and receiving my degree I decided to return to military service.
I continue to support the College since graduation, and I was presented their Alumni Service Award in 2006, and their Citizenship Award in 2014.
I entered the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) in 1973. My special qualifications included: Special Forces (Weapons, Demolitions, and Operations & Intelligence), Airborne, Pathfinder, Ranger, Military Free Fall (HALO), Combat Diver (SCUBA), Sniper, extensive qualifications in winter warfare and mountain operations, and formal training in a variety of foreign languages. I remained in Special Forces until I retired in 1999. My career included combat service in the Gulf War, the Bosnia Conflict, the Kosovo Campaign, and special missions that included the evacuation of the US Embassies in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Freetown, Sierra Leone. Plus, I was able to serve for 20 consecutive years on Special Forces "A" Teams, the basic combat element in Special Forces.
My career included assignments with organizations conducting Counter Terrorism, Unconventional Warfare, Clandestine, and Guerrilla Warfare Operations.
For my Special Forces service, I was selected as a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment (DMOR) and inducted into the Special Forces Hall of Fame at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, NC in 2013.
After serving in the military I became the Chief of Special Operations for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) at the US Department of State. My position enabled me to live and serve in 100 countries which many times required responding to emergency situations during conflicts and crises. These actions resulted in my being awarded Department of State Superior Honor Awards for service in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Pakistan, and Yemen. I retired from DSS in 2013.
After that, I was the Director of Interagency and Special Operations Integration for Oak Grove Technologies. However, in 2015, I decided to slow down and enjoy life by consulting and doing contract work which still requires international travel.
During my adult life I've continued to be active in sports. I was a high school cross country coach, competed in numerous road races, and completed 79 marathons. The list of marathons include Boston, Chicago, New York, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. I also ran a marathon in Nigeria when I was assigned to the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in 1986.
I was also a certified German Ski Instructor and I competed in numerous Alpine and Nordic ski races. My best skiing experience was winning two consecutive US Forces Europe Combined (Slalom and Giant Slalom) Ski Championships. Additionally, I climbed the most famous mountain peaks in Europe and completed the "Haute Route", a famous High Alpine Ski Tour that begins in Chamonix, France, travels across Switzerland and Italy, and then finishes in Zermatt, Switzerland.
I've also spent a great deal of time volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). I was proud to earn the rank of Eagle Scout as a teenager, but I'm ten times prouder being the father of two Eagle Scouts, my sons Jimmy and Josh. I also served as a Scoutmaster at one National Scout Jamboree and I served on the Staff at three other National Scout Jamborees. I continue to serve on the District Committee, and I'm a Staff Associate of the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia (the National BSA High Adventure Camp).
However, my greatest achievement was marrying a Lancaster County girl, Mary "Missy" Rynier. She was a caring wife, a loving Mother, and a dedicated elementary school teacher. After almost 25 years of marriage, she lost a gallant three year battle against Breast Cancer in 1995. Her academic skills and adult supervision enabled myself and our two sons to become well mannered and respectable gentlemen. Jimmy graduated from Penn State, Josh graduated from Old Dominion University, and I graduated from the University of Maryland (attending night classes).
Both of our sons are married. Jimmy and his wife (Tabitha) have two daughters, and Josh and his wife (Christian) have two sons. I'm enjoying my role as Grandpa.
My three years at J.P. McCaskey High School were educational, rewarding, and I value my experiences as a student and athlete and my interaction with teachers, coaches, friends, and classmates. So, I was very honored when McCaskey presented me with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.
Thank you J.P. McCaskey for everything, and congratulations and a special salute to everyone from the class of 1965.
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