My name is Amanda DiStefano and I am from Philadelphia, PA. At the age of 25, I decided to join the Army. I want a career change into something more meaningful. I also desire to apply my skills and strengths as a civilian to better serve my country. I always had the Reserves in the back of my mind but decided to go Active Duty. My MOS is 42A Human Resources Specialist. After being in DEP for 5 months, I am confident I made the right decision and am looking forward to the transformation into Specialist DiStefano. Hooah!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Future Soldier Ashley Baylor
My name is Ashley Baylor. My MOS is 68E Dental Specialist. I decided to join the ARMY because I was uncertain about my future last summer when I was seventeen. At that moment, I knew my four years of JROTC was meant for something and I love the military lifestyle. I may be young at nineteen to serve my country, but I was meant for it. Now, I have about four months to wait before I leave for BCT. I'm ready for this new part of my life in the ARMY.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Future Soldier Justin Miller
My name is Justin Miller and my MOS is 25S Satellite Communications Systems Maintainer/Operator. I always had a strong sense of duty and loyalty towards my country. I spent two years in my High School's JROTC program and during that time, my dedication, patriotism, and efficiency allowed me to rise up to the rank of Captain. I decided to join the Army, because I saw it as a way to maintain my family's honor and tradition of serving in the military. I want to do my country proud and lay everything that I can on the line if need be. I leave in November to go to Ft. Benning, GA upon my graduation I will officially be a PFC thanks to my JROTC and FS Training. After my BCT and AIT I will go back to Benning for Airborne School and afterwards hopefully Ranger School. I want to stay true to what the Army commands of me and be all that I can be. I strive to be the top in everything that I do.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Future Soldier Keila Orozco
Hi my name is Keila and I am 27yrs old. I joined the Army because my father was a proud Vietnam Veteran and when I was little he would to sit me down and tell me his war stories. I knew since then that this is what I was meant to do. I tried to join right out of high school, but in my last month of school I found out that I was going to have a child. Eight years later I am now married and have someone I trust to look after my son once I leave. It's taken me a long time to do this and Im so EXCITED that I now am able to!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The 150th Anniversary Celebrating the Medal of Honor
The 150th anniversary celebrating Medal of Honor recipients took place in Louisville, KY. On September 26, 2011, MOH recipients arrived in Louisville. They were greeted by Patriot Guard members and civilians wanting to show support for these national heroes.
On September 29, 2011 the MOH ceremony was held. The show was hosted by Dennis Haysbert and Tony Orlando. There were musical performances by Military acts such as 4Troops and Ladies for Liberty. Darryl Worley was there to perform, “Have You Forgotten” as well as some of his other hits. There were also special appearances by local artists.
During the ceremony, Sammy Davis, one of the Medal of Honor recipients, told a story about how he did not write home for a few months and his mother began to worry. She contacted Red Cross and Red Cross contacted the Pentagon who in turn contacted Sammy’s Chain of Command in Vietnam. Sammy was in his foxhole when his NCOI (Noncommissioned Officer In Charge) came to his foxhole and asked Sammy if he had been writing home to his mother. Sammy said he hadn’t. His Captain instructed him to write home every day. Sammy, not wanting his mother to worry about him in Vietnam wrote to her about the mud, bugs and anything else he could find to write about other than the war. He even went so far as to draw one of the millipedes across three MRE boxes and drawing all TEN THOUSAND legs on it. After a month or so of doing this, Sammy received a package from his mother and it had a harmonica and a note that said, ‘Maybe this will keep you from being so bored.’ Sammy was in his foxhole when his NCO came over and asked him if he had gotten a harmonica in the mail. Sammy said yes and the Sergeant asked him to play the song Shenandoah for him. Sammy told him he had never played the harmonica before. The Sergeant went on to tell Sammy that back home he was a college student and worked full time before the draft. He said when things got hectic, he would take a ride to the Shenandoah River, let his feet dangle in the water and when he would return to town that night, he would feel at peace. He then taught Sammy a few chords of the song and would teach him more every time he would see him until Sammy knew the whole song.
His NCOIC was later killed in Vietnam. When Sammy went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, (dressed in his blues and wearing his MOH) he found his NCO’s name on the wall, reached out and touched it, grabbed his harmonica from his pocket and said, “Sergeant Dunlop, may you be at peace now.” He then played Shenandoah for him one last time.
There have been a total of 3,458 MOH recipients since 1861 when initiated by President Abraham Lincoln. There are a total of 85 MOH recipients living today and 52 of them attended the ceremony in Louisville, KY.
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