Archive for the ‘soldier of the week’ Category
February 8, 2010 By CJ
Posted in soldier of the week
After sitting in classrooms for many semesters learning about endangered species preservation and wildlife regulation enforcement, Matthew Groppi had the chance to apply his knowledge in the great outdoors working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. However, just months into his job, the Army Reserve staff sergeant was called to serve his country and apply the lessons learned in school during a deployment in Afghanistan.
“Being that I am a recent college graduate, I wanted my role in the military to be applicable to my civilian job. I wanted my employer to benefit from my time overseas too,” he said. “My time in Afghanistan gave me an international application to what I had learned in class and in the U.S.”
While deployed to Afghanistan with the 330th Military Police Detachment from October 2008 to August 2009, Groppi and his unit were responsible for law enforcement patrols, specifically to ensure compliance regarding customs regulations. In conjunction with his law enforcement patrol duties and tying in his natural resources background, he was responsible for training Soldiers about wildlife conservation and threatened or endangered species native to Afghanistan. Since animal furs are a popular tourist export, the Soldiers were responsible for ensuring that outgoing customs items were thoroughly checked.
Although much of his deployment was spent within the wire regulating customs and training his fellow Soldiers, Groppi had the opportunity to visit a national park in Afghanistan, which he says was the highlight of his time overseas.
“It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. The landscape was quite striking and very beautiful,” Groppi said. “After seeing it, it was hard to stay on base knowing what was out there.”
Groppi also deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 330th Military Police Detachment. In June 2004, while the unit was performing a mission at the Police Academy in Mosul, a suicide bomber attacked the academy with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Two of the Soldiers were killed and six Soldiers, including Groppi, were wounded in the incident. Groppi returned home a month later to undergo surgery for his injuries and was awarded the Purple Heart. He has since made a full recovery.
After returning from Afghanistan in August 2009, Groppi continues to work as a conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is responsible for traveling throughout the state to enforce hunting, fishing, environmental and RV laws. In the coming months, he will be finishing his probationary period with the DNR that was put on hold during his most recent deployment. The Soldier is a graduate of Waukesha North High School and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
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January 7, 2010 By CJ
Posted in soldier of the week
With two deployments to Iraq as a Special Forces medic, Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Lane has seen firsthand the progress that has been made. The Noncommissioned Officer, who has always wanted to serve in the Army’s Special Forces, has received multiple awards for his valorous and meritorious service overseas and will be honored at the 2010 Army All-American Bowl.
While deployed in 2006-2007 to An Najaf, Iraq, Lane was a team medic responsible for providing daily and emergency medical care to Soldiers as well as members of the Iraqi National Police Force. Additionally, the Special Forces medic helped train members of the Iraqi Army and police force for combat operations and provided them with basic emergency medical training. For his involvement in a combat operation during the deployment, Lane was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor.
During his most recent deployment from January to August 2009, Lane served as the company senior medic in Baghdad, Iraq. In this role, he provided leadership to the team medics and procured the necessary medical supplies. Additionally, he served as the Special Operations Task Force-Central liaison to the Baghdad Combat Support Hospital, and provided a friendly face as wounded Special Forces Soldiers arrived and ensured the appropriate medical care. For meritorious service throughout the deployment, he received the Bronze Star Medal.
Comparing the two deployments, Lane noted the substantial progress in Iraq that had taken place over the three-year span.
“The biggest change was the ability of local security forces, both police and the Iraqi Army, to do their job successfully with less support from the American and coalition military. While they had limited abilities in 2006, they had stepped it up quite a bit by 2009,” he said.
A native of Sellersburg, Ind., he graduated from New Albany High School, and enlisted in the Army. After 15 years of service, Lane is currently stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., with the 5th Special Forces Group. His father served as an Army Reserve Special Forces Soldier, and Lane considers it an honor to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve in the Army.
“Right now, I get to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little boy. I’m lucky that I get to live out my childhood dream,” he said.
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December 26, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, soldier of the week
The commitment to one’s fellow Soldiers is part of the Army Strong mentality that guides Soldiers’ daily decisions and actions, especially when deployed. When his unit came under enemy attack during a combat operation in Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Michael Norton risked his own life to rescue two of the Rangers in his unit who were injured by enemy fire. His gallant actions not only saved the lives of his squad members, but his leadership led to the destruction of an enemy headquarters camp.
On Aug. 4, 2009, Norton led his team on a raid to a known heavily armed enemy camp in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. However, as the squad approached the camp in Khowst Province on a dismounted patrol, they were ambushed and began receiving heavy fire at close range. Trapped on foot in the valley, Norton and his squad returned fire from their position, but continued to receive enemy fire from all directions.
When two Rangers were injured by rocket-propelled grenades and lay unconscious in the line of fire, Norton risked his own life in order to revive and extract his injured squad mates. Re-entering the kill zone to recover his downed Rangers, Norton acted immediately and without hesitation.
“Any Ranger would have done the same thing,” he said. “The Ranger Creed says, ‘I will never leave a fallen comrade.’ There was no moment of thinking about what to do. I had to get my brothers and the most important thing in my mind was how hurt they were.”
Relying on other squad members to continue attempting to suppress the insurgents, Norton began administering medical attention to the Soldiers, crouching on the ground next to them and gently shaking them while repeating their names. After successfully reviving the Soldiers, Norton then led them to cover, using his own body to shield them from enemy fire.
“We receive a lot of great training here at 3rd Ranger Battalion and I was just acting on instinct,” said Norton.
A true team player, Norton chooses to focus on the brave actions of his squad that day, not just his own heroics.
“I’m proud of the actions of my squad, because we continued the mission after that,” he said. “It was just two minutes out of our overall mission.”
In addition to saving the lives of two Rangers, Norton also brought his entire squad out of the enemy onslaught intact. Throughout the two-day assault, the squad was able to disrupt the enemy headquarters and prevent the insurgents from interfering with the then-upcoming Afghani national elections. For his distinctive heroism, risking his life for the call of duty and the lives of his fellow Soldiers, Norton was awarded the Silver Star Medal, which he received in a ceremony last month.
Since joining the Army in June 2004, the NCO has deployed four times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Norton returned home from his most recent deployment in September, and currently resides at Fort Benning, Ga., with his wife and his two daughters.
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December 15, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, Military History, soldier of the week
Faced with split-second decisions regarding life and death, Soldiers are trained to evaluate the situation and act in the next moment, knowing that their decision will affect not only themselves, but other Soldiers in their unit. On Jan. 5, 2009, Maj. Troy Scott was faced with one such decision, and acted without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety.
On what was supposed to be a routine site inspection in the Ghanzi Providence of Afghanistan, his patrol unit came under an attack from insurgents. When a grenade was thrown from a nearby rooftop, Scott risked his own life to save the lives his Soldiers. After throwing the grenade away from his fellow Soldiers before it detonated, he used his own body to shield a Soldier from the blast.
As a result, Scott sustained shrapnel wounds and dislocated his right shoulder that prevented him from firing with his dominant arm, but remained focused on the mission. After hearing the detonation, other Soldiers in the unit responded and were able to capture seven of the insurgents. Despite his injury, Scott led several other Soldiers in a foot chase to capture additional insurgents, as well as a substantial cache of bomb-making materials and ammunition.
In addition to receiving the Purple Heart, Scott has been nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions that day, as well as the Silver Star Medal for his exceptionally valorous actions while engaged in ground combat earlier in his deployment. Additionally, the Soldier was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service and leadership throughout the year-long deployment. However, like most Soldiers, he does not consider himself a hero.
“Im not sure if that day was any more dangerous than the other 400 days during my deployment. I witnessed a lot of heroic acts on a nearly daily basis from American, Polish and Afghani troops,” said Scott.
In conjunction with the National Guard State Partnership Program, more than a dozen members of the Illinois National Guard serve with thousands of Polish troops in the Ghazni Providence of Afghanistan. Working side-by-side with the Polish leadership, Scott served as the senior advisor to Task Force White Eagle and developed close bonds with many of the Polish troops.
“I was very happy with the time spent with them. They are all very well equipped and trained; they are great war fighters. At the unit level, they were as good as any force I have ever seen,” he said.
Scott currently resides in Springfield, Ill., with his wife and young son. He currently serves full-time with the Illinois National Guard as the Chief of Strategic Planning Division. After returning from his deployment, he keeps in touch with many of the Polish troops he worked with and has traveled to Poland several times. In the coming years, Scott anticipates another deployment to Afghanistan and looks forward to the chance to serve alongside the Polish Army again.
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November 9, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, soldier of the week
Although the Apache Indian tribes may be known for their historical conflicts with the Mexicans throughout much of the 17th and 18th centuries, Master Sgt. Gabriel Fierro Sr. is proud of his blended heritage. Tracing his family’s roots back to the Apache and Aztec Indian tribes, his parents’ ancestors set foot on American soil long before the creation of our nation and the Army. His father, who is part Apache Indian and part Mexican, and mother, who is part Mayan and part Aztec Indian, raised Fierro to be proud of his heritage and devoted to the land in which he lived. The Soldier, who is the fourth family member to serve in the Army, uses his blended background to help others, including the younger enlisted Soldiers in his unit and his own children.
The self-proclaimed “cultural chameleon” has been able to use his blended American Indian and Hispanic heritages to better relate with both cultural groups, speaking Spanish to Hispanic Soldiers and discussing the warrior ethos of the Indian tribes with American Indian Soldiers. However, regardless of a Soldier’s heritage, Fierro is committed to helping them prepare for life within the Army. In addition to mentoring and leading the Soldiers in his unit, Fierro is also a dedicated father, striving to instill Army Strong values in his children.
“Everything I teach my Soldiers, I teach my kids, and vice versa. I want everyone to be treated for who they are, not what they look like,” said Fierro.
Drawing on his own blended cultural heritage, Fierro emphasizes to both his fellow Soldiers and children the importance of being open-minded and accepting, as well as teaching them to base opinions on others’ actions, not their race or heritage.
When Fierro enlisted in the Army in the late 1970s, he was following in not only a tradition of excellence for Noncommissioned Officers (NCO), but his family as well. With Fierro’s father and two brothers serving as NCOs in the Army, he joined right out of high school, thinking he would serve for a few years before starting a civilian career. However, he has continued to serve, knowing that his Army service provides him with a meaningful career and enables him to do what he loves most – helping others.
An extension of Fierro’s commitment to helping others, the Soldier deployed to Balad, Iraq in 2007-2008 to serve as a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. While deployed, the 431st Civil Affairs Team successfully completed more than 130 combat missions working with local provincial government to improve employment options for Iraqis. One of the most notable projects during his deployment was helping to institute the first micro-loan program in the Salah- Ah-Din region, to create economic stability. For meritorious service throughout his deployment, the NCO was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. True to his commitment as a leader and mentor, Fierro took it upon himself to maintain the morale of the unit, frequently sharing care packages with other Soldiers who didn’t have an active support system at home.
Fierro, along with his wife and children, currently lives in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves with the 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training) as a Human Resources Manager. In that role, he works to prepare Soldiers for mobilization, as well as help them balance their roles as citizens and Soldiers. With more than three decades of Army service, the Reservist has plans to retire in the fall of 2010, and feels confident that the Army has provided him with skills transferable to many civilian occupations.
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October 19, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Patriotism, soldier of the week
When Sergeant First Class Gregory Stube volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan in 2006, the Special Forces trained medic was expected to fill a civil affairs role. When he was asked to serve as the medic for an upcoming mission, he knew he had no other choice than to help the 3rd Special Forces Group. It was a decision that would change the course of the rest of his life.
On Sept. 6, 2006, as Stube was en route to set up a triage area for Soldiers wounded during the five-day Operation Medusa in Kandahar, his vehicle was hit by a remotely detonated improvised explosive device. A one-pound piece of shrapnel penetrated his leg, traveling through his pelvis and abdomen.
Despite his injuries, the NCO continued to focus on accomplishing the mission and the welfare of his fellow Special Forces Soldiers, even crawling out of the burning wreckage to fire his weapon at the enemy. Also, because he remained conscious throughout the incident, he was able to guide his fellow Soldiers through the care he needed, a benefit of his medical training. Reflecting on the day, Stube said he was not heroic, simply focused on self-preservation.
After being airlifted to Germany and eventually flown to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Stube had a long road to recovery ahead of him. In the past three years, he has undergone 17 procedures and surgeries. As a result of the shrapnel injury, Stube suffered devastating internal injuries, in addition to third-degree burns on his lower back and legs.
Throughout his recovery, he has chosen to focus on his capabilities instead of disabilities. The Soldier could have medically retired from the Army, but chose to use his story to help others. Stube is committed to helping other wounded warriors and their families get the care and support that they need.
“I’ve been very well cared for, and so, now I have to occupy myself in any way I can to continue to support that system and make sure that Soldiers who are wounded behind me get the same kind of treatment that I did,” said Stube.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Stube is currently assigned to the Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office at Fort Bragg, N.C., and lives in Cameron, N.C., with his wife Donna and their young son, Gregory Jr. The Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal recipient has more than 21 years of service in the Army, and followed in the footsteps of his father, who served in the Navy during Vietnam.
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October 6, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Uncategorized, soldier of the week
After deploying twice to work with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Sgt. 1st Class Patrick McDonald helped coordinate the first and second democratic elections in Iraq. Having seen the progress in election procedures overseas, the Soldier knows the price of democracy and freedom, and it is a liberty that he does not take for granted.
“What we take for granted they often would give their life for,” said McDonald, who has voted in every election since he was eligible. Even while deployed to Iraq during the U.S. Presidential Election in 2008, he recalled voting for the next Commander-in-Chief beside a statue of Saddam Hussein.
While deployed to Iraq from August 2008 to August 2009, McDonald served as the Command Liaison to IHEC, the organization that coordinates all elections throughout Iraq. Similar to the role he played when he first deployed from May 2005 to July 2006, the Soldier was responsible for coordinating security missions surrounding the election and assisting with voter registration, as well as providing subject matter expert support to IHEC leaders. For his meritorious service during his first deployment, McDonald was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Reflecting on the change between his two deployments, the Soldier described the considerable progress in the Iraqi election process as “night and day.” He said that prior to 2006, Iraqis were unable to vote freely, and many voters were scared of repercussions. However, when he returned in 2008, McDonald said he witnessed a newfound confidence of the Iraqi citizens when voting.
During his most recent deployment, McDonald was the only Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) in his section and worked with many high-ranking officers, as well as Iraqi government leaders. Using his civilian job experience as the Assistant to Washington’s Secretary of State and his education, McDonald said he worked hard to represent the role of an NCO well. Committed to serving as an NCO and proud of the role he plays in the Army, he hopes to attend the Army’s Sergeants Major Academy in the future.
McDonald serves with the 448th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Lewis, Wash. He recently returned to his civilian job and is thankful for the support they provided him during his deployment, including frequently sending care packages and notes of encouragement.
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September 11, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, MilBlogger Interviews, Patriotism, Top Posts, soldier of the week
Sgt. 1st Class Sean Bennett and Sgt. Daniel Jens are Soldiers and storytellers. Both are gifted musically, and have teamed up to use their talents to share their experiences through music. Both Soldiers recently participated in reality television music competitions, and are now participating in musical tours across the country. Their families, who supported them unconditionally during their deployments, continue to support them as they take to the road and share their stories with audiences who leave with a view on what it means to be a Soldier and what their families go through to support them.
As a member of the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Army Airborne Regiment, Bennett deployed to Iraq in September 2006. While serving as the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge, he was responsible for helping provide humanitarian aid and medical support to locals in Karbala, Iraq. He remained focused on the mission at hand, even after his unit was ambushed on Jan. 20, 2007. For continuing to lead his fellow Soldiers even after being wounded, Bennett was awarded the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Jens completed a 15-month deployment in Iraq from 2006-2008 with the 82nd Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division. While deployed, he primarily served as a convoy escort driver and gunner in Baghdad. However, he also served on a four-month special duty with the Criminal Investigation Division guarding family members of a kidnapped Iraqi-American Soldier. Jens was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for volunteering his time to perform for Soldiers while deployed to Iraq.
After returning home, both Bennett and Jens turned to music to help them express the emotional realities of war and provide an outlet for others to understand their experiences overseas. In 2008, just a year after receiving the Silver Star Medal, Bennett was a top-ten finalist on NBC’s “Nashville Star” show, and had the opportunity to sing with Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus. Jens also found the national spotlight when he made it to the Top 20 on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in the summer of 2008, after winning the Army’s Blackjack Idol contest while he was deployed.
More than just performers, Bennett and Jens teamed up to collaborate on the song, “Life of a Soldier.” Wanting to provide a glimpse into Army live, the lyrics speak to topics such as leaving one’s family and missing holidays or special occasions. The Soldiers will perform a concert at the Grand Strand Freedom Fest on Sept. 11 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in support of Military Family Appreciation Month.
For both Soldiers, who have families of their own, the lyrics about leaving behind loved ones hit close to home. Bennett’s daughter, who has watched her father deploy three times, has provided him with support and encouragement throughout his deployments and injuries. He is currently serving with the 320th Field Artillery at Fort Campbell, Ky. Similarly, Jens, a father of three, knows his deployment was hard on his wife, Caroline. However, after he returned home, she found the strength to help other military wives and is currently working on a book about challenges families and marriages face during deployments. The Jens family currently resides at Fort Hood, Texas.
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September 6, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Patriotism, soldier of the week
Everyday Soldiers of the U.S. Army fight to protect our country, our families and our lives. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice. Many, even after suffering traumatic injuries of war, continue to serve.
Captain Darby Boudreaux, 225th Engineer Brigade, was severely injured by an improvised explosive device on May 25, 2005 in a route clearance mission near Ghazaliya in western Baghdad. A minor artery was severed in his right leg and he lost a significant amount of blood.
Boudreaux spent the next three months recovering and going through painful rehabilitation.
Even with life threatening injuries, Bourdreauz says that the most traumatic part of the whole ordeal was not the impact of the blast or how close he came to death, but the fact he had to leave his Soldiers behind.
So four years later, he convinced his command to allow him to return to Iraq.
Currently, Boudreaux is the officer in charge and an instructor at the 225th Engineer Brigade Task Force Iron Claw Academy. He uses his near death experience to give Soldiers a chance at success and a better chance to stay alive by teaching Improvised Explosive Device identification.
Even with pieces of metal still lodged inside his body, Cpt. Boudreaux is satisfied that he was able to finally complete his mission on the battlefield.
For his heroism on the battlefield and his commitment to his Soldiers, Cpt. Darby Boudreaux is this week’s Warrior-Soldier of the Week.
Photo by Lt. Col. Pat Simon
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August 31, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, Patriotism, Top Posts, soldier of the week
Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Popov is a man answering two calls of duty: one from his country, and one from his faith. After serving as an enlisted Soldier for four years, Popov left the Army to pursue a degree in biblical studies and master’s degrees in seminary studies and counseling psychology. However, in 1999, when he learned that the Army was seeking chaplains, Popov decided it was a perfect way to combine his commitment to serve with his passion for spiritual leadership. Shortly after completing Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course at the U.S. Army Chaplain’s Center and School at Fort Jackson, S.C., Popov was commissioned to the Chaplain Corps.
Popov notes that there are both similarities and differences between the roles of chaplain and civilian pastor. While both positions require the minister to act as a shepherd, caregiver and counselor, a chaplain must also be prepared to address the spiritual needs of Soldiers from a variety of backgrounds. While Army Chaplains may personally subscribe to one particular religion, he or she must also possess a wide-ranging understanding of many faiths and practices.
A large part of Popov’s job as chaplain involves ministering to Soldiers in theater. During his deployments to Iraq in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007, Popov was responsible for conducting Bible studies, holding counseling sessions and ministering to the wounded and dying Soldiers. His mission didn’t end at base boundaries. Popov also conducted humanitarian missions, such as providing food, clothing and fuel to Iraqi citizens. One of his fondest memories from his deployment was the chance to work alongside religious and community leaders, known as imams, to build a bridge between Christianity and Islam, including assisting in the rebuilding of mosques that had been destroyed in battles.
During his most recent deployment with the 25th Infantry Division, Popov spent many hours praying alongside over 300 wounded Soldiers from his unit and preformed rites for deceased Soldiers. It was difficult for Popov to balance the Soldiers’ needs for emotional support with his personal mourning of the loss of friends and colleagues. However, knowing that his Soldiers were counting on him, Popov was able to move forward and was able help those within his unit process their emotional struggles through conversation and prayer.
Popov is currently serving as the chaplain for 192nd Brigade, and oversees five battalion chaplains, including one Jewish rabbi. He currently resides with his wife at Fort Benning, Ga., and is a proud father of three grown children and grandfather of two grandchildren.
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