Top Ranger Appears On Show

FORT LEWIS - A Fort Lewis Ranger and Snoqualmie native, recently named 1996 Best Ranger in a grueling 60-hour competition, was a guest last night on "The Late Show With David Letterman."

Spec. Isaac Gmazel, an M-249 gunner for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, followed by a week a "Late Show" cameo by Seattle Mariner Alex Rodriguez.

Gmazel's partner for the competition and show was Staff Sgt. Jeff Struecker, 75th Ranger Indoctrination Program Detachment, Fort Benning, Ga. The two were paired by individual scores in qualification competitions.

The competition tests the mental and physical ability of two-man teams in night-marching, weapons firing, obstacle running, swimming and climbing.