Page 20 - FCA Diamond Point June 24

APPLAUSES

Speer went on to say Morrissette was the primary example of what a finance Soldier should be in
the Profession of Arms and encouraged the U.S. Army Finance Corps to remain professional and
guide the future.

The National Defense University defines the Profession of Arms as more than just a vocation.
Richard M. Swain and Albert C. Pierce wrote in the “Armed Force Officer,” published by NDU, that
it is “a higher calling to serve others, to sacrifice self, to be about something larger than one’s own
ambitions and desires, something grander than one’s own contributions and even one’s own
life…with special expertise, a collective and individual responsibility to serve society, a sense of
corporateness, and a professional ethic and ethos.”

By all accounts of those taking part in the ceremony, Morrissette is the epitome of that definition.

A native of Fulton, Alabama, he began his active-duty service in October 1972 at Maxwell Air Force
Base, Alabama. He completed basic combat training at Fort Johnson, formerly Fort Polk,
Louisiana, and advanced individual training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Benjamin Harrison,
Indiana, as a clerk typist and finance specialist.

Throughout his military career, spanning more than 30 years, Morrissette served in various
leadership roles, including senior enlisted advisor positions and overseas assignments.
Those include serving as a command sergeant major for the 101st Finance Battalion, as the first
Finance Corps Soldier selected to serve as a CSM of the 45th Corps Support Group, and as the
Finance Corps regimental and CSM of the U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller School.
“He’s been in everything,” said Speer. “He’s been in budget and accounting, he’s been in
disbursing, he’s been in military pay; he’s broad-based in his technical competence, but he’s been
a leader in addition to that.”
During the ceremony, Morrissette was recognized as “the Godfather” of the modern Army Finance
Corps for “his unwavering commitment to the core values of the Finance Corps.”

Even with hall-of-fame recognition on top of numerous military and civilian awards including the
Legion of Merit and Distinguished Member of the Regiment and Brigadier General Goetz
Medallions, the retired CSM said he could have accomplished nothing on his own.

“There’s an African proverb that truly resonates with me that says if you want to go fast, go alone,
but if you want to go far, go together,” said Morrissette after receiving his hall of fame regimental
lapel pin from his wife, Renee Warren-Morrissette. “I thank God for guiding me in my steps and
placing some amazing people on my path throughout this journey.”

After thanking God, he went on to thank Renee for her support as his wife; his ex-wife wife Celia
for her support and encouragement during the earlier portion of his career as she allowed him to
focus on his career by taking care of their two children; and his children, Michael Morrissette and
Myesha Morrissette-Johnson.

He also recognized his stepdaughters Mesha and India Deramus along with his 11 grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.

Signifying the historic importance of the event, all active Army Finance Corps general officers
were in attendance for the ceremony, except one.

Official duty kept Brig. Gen. Paige M. Jennings, U.S. Army Financial Management Command
commanding general, away from the event, but her presence was still felt and served as a
testament to Morrissette’s legacy.

18