What Are Mustangs?
In military terms, a “Mustang” is someone who rises from the enlisted ranks to become an officer. It’s a rare and difficult path—one that requires grit, determination, and a willingness to do things the hard way. Retired Colonel Max H. Krupp is one such Mustang, and his story is extraordinary.
Krupp, born in El Paso and now living in Graham since 2019, dedicated 28 years of service to the U.S. Army and National Guard. His journey began at the very bottom as an E-1, the lowest enlisted rank. By the time he retired in 2022, he had become an 18A Special Forces Officer and earned recognition few achieve in a lifetime.
From Enlisted to Officer
Krupp was accepted into ROTC while an E-4. He completed the program in just three years and returned to service as a commissioned officer— back at the bottom again, but this time in the officer corps. Along the way, he sought out some of the Army’s toughest training, including Air Assault School, where he learned to rappel from helicopters into rugged or hostile terrain.
Elite Training and Special Forces
Over his career, Krupp became an Army Ranger and Special Forces officer, completing some of the military’s most demanding schools: Ranger, Pathfinder, Military Mountaineer (ice climbing), Jump Master, and Free-Fall Jump Master.
His airborne résumé is staggering: 440 parachute jumps, including more than 200 High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) free-fall jumps, some from as high as 24,999 feet. Krupp joked he was disappointed they didn’t let him go one foot higher to reach the symbolic 25,000 mark. He often jumped four times a day for training, sometimes packing his own parachutes—though he admitted with a grin that the two malfunctions he experienced weren’t ones he had packed.
These high-risk jumps, designed to insert soldiers covertly behind enemy lines, required nerves of steel. His lowest opening occurred at just 800 feet—barely enough time for the chute to deploy before hitting the ground.
Valor in Combat
Krupp’s combat record is equally remarkable. While serving as a combat advisor in Afghanistan, he commanded 35 Afghan soldiers during an ambush. When his interpreter was shot in the leg, Krupp carried him to safety while simultaneously directing the Afghan troops. The unit fought its way out under his leadership, suffering losses but eliminating the enemy.
For his actions, Krupp received the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor. His other awards include two Legions of Merit, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)—the latter earned by only 10–14 percent of candidates after grueling tests of physical fitness, land navigation, weapons skills, medical tasks, and a timed 12-mile ruck march.
Life After the Army
After retiring in 2022, Krupp traded his uniform for ranch clothes. He now runs Halo K Cattle, raising all-natural Black Angus beef for direct-to-consumer sales. He and his wife are raising two children, a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son.
Krupp’s story reflects the words of philosopher Heraclitus, who said of warriors: “Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn’t even be there. Eighty are just targets, nine are real fighters, and we are lucky to have them. But the one is a warrior, and he shall bring the others back.”
Colonel Max H. Krupp is that one—a warrior who fought, led, and returned home to build a new life while reminding us that freedom is never free.
As President Ronald Reagan once said: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”