In November 2001, as a result of the events of 9/11, Donald Chier (MT '73, CJ '77) was called up as an individual reservist for the U.S. Army. Don's service to his country meant leaving his family and putting his career on hold for 7 months to fly halfway across the world to Japan.

    As Captain of the Binghamton University Police, Don's personal response to the 9/11 bombings was to volunteer in October 2001 to work at a police check point near Ground Zero, checking vehicle and pedestrian traffic to make sure people had proper security clearance to pass through.

      While doing that job, he heard from his wife who said, "You've been called up." As an army reservist since 1978, he knew that being called up was always a possibility. Don came home quickly to arrange his personal details, and passed out assignments at his office at Binghamton University so things could continue while he was gone. Then, after reporting to Fort Benning, Georgia, he was on a plane to Japan. He left everything in his life on hold.

     While there, he looked at local military bases and what they were doing to protect themselves in the wake of 9/11. Japan is a strategic staging area and of special interest to the United States. With heightened awareness of threats, it was important that the bases remained secure. Don worked in a number of locations including bases in Okinawa, Hiroshima and Camp Zama in his position as Provost Marshal Operational Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army in Japan. In Ichigaya, the Japanese version of our Pentagon, he worked three levels below ground. His duties involved testing computer operations and acting as liason between the Japanese military and the United States Army. He also developed a security training operation where U.S. soldiers learned the proper method of inspecting vehicles and persons who enter U.S. bases.

    "It felt good that I was able to serve my country again and be involved in such a worthwhile operation," Don said. He first served in the military after high school when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He left the Marines to attend Broome Community College.
He had plenty of time to experience local Japanese life while he was there, and he took language classes to get around, leaving the base to go to movies, enjoy a local delicacy "fish on a stick", and a community kite festival with kites the size of sailing ships. He even felt the tremors of two good-sized earthquakes! He returned home in June of 2002.
     
     In the Fall of 2002, he returned to Japan to retire from the U.S. Army and was honored with a celebration that took place in Japan. The official ceremony included a band, color guard and 150 guests. There he received a number of commendations for his years of service: certificates from President Bush and General Shinseki, U.S. Army Chief of Staff; a career Legion of Merit Medal along with a U.S. Army Commendation Medal for his work during 9/11; and a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol. His wife Nancy was also honored with a certificate for all of her support during his career.

     Don returned to his job at Binghamton University a few days later, back once again to his civilian role of investigating crimes and supervising a police staff of over 30 people. Whether working with the military on bases in Japan or college students on the Binghamton University campus, what he says he enjoys most about his law enforcement career is "serving the local community."

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