Category Archives: soldier of the week

Soldier of the Week – CPT Eugene A. Vajna

Posted on July 22, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

As an Army Reserve clinical nurse anesthetist, Capt. Eugene Vajna is committed to meeting both the medical needs of his community at home as well as the needs of fellow Soldiers when on duty. When deployed, his injured comrades look to him for medical assistance and pain management procedures to help them recovery fully.

In his role as a clinical nurse anesthetist, he manages the pain of his Soldier patients throughout their medical procedures, including pre- and post-operative care. He also provides emergency airway management, respiratory care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and fluid therapy.

Vajna deployed to Iraq to work at the 345th Combat Support Hospital in 2009, and the following year, he deployed again to Iraq to support the 911th Forward Surgical Team. With each assignment, he provided much needed care to ill and wounded Soldiers.

For the duration of his second deployment, he was stationed in Basra, which is located in southern Iraq. There, he was the only anesthetic provider on a much smaller medical team.

“I tried to anticipate and be prepared for every possible thing that could happen,” he said. “Sometimes it’s boring, but once every several weeks we’d get a really tough case.”

In addition to Iraq, he has also completed two tours in Kosovo, during which he offered emergency medical training to junior enlisted Soldiers in addition to serving as a clinical nurse anesthetist.

Although Vajna’s path to the Army was somewhat unconventional, the Soldier is proud of his family legacy of service. Vajna served as an enlisted Marine from 1979 to 1985, following in the example of his father who served in the Marine Corps during World War II. Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Vajna wanted to find a way to use his background in healthcare to serve his country. He ultimately joined the Army Reserve in 2007.

“Something I’ve always admired about the Army is that it attracts a high caliber of individuals who will respond to what needs to be done and maintain high standards that are required,” he said.

Although Vajna’s unit is based out of Forest Park, Ga., the Soldier currently resides in the Orlando, Fla. area with his wife. As a civilian, he works as an independent anesthetic provider, which allows him to spend close to eight months each year either deployed or attending military training.

In the future, Vajna hopes to participate in a military humanitarian mission in the Pacific region. But first, he will deploy to Afghanistan early next year along with his brother-in-law and nephew, who also serve with the Army and are scheduled to deploy in the coming months.

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Soldier of the Week – SFC Leroy Petry

Posted on July 12, 2011 by CJ| 1 Comment

The Ranger Creed describes a warrior who readily displays the intestinal fortitude required to fight on and complete the mission, though he be the lone survivor. During a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry characterized those words on the battlefield, displaying true courage in the face of enemy fire and risking his own life to carry out the mission.

For his unflinching perseverance and selfless sacrifice overseas, the Army Ranger was awarded the Medal of Honor today. It is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces, and is given only to the bravest of the brave. In all, nine individuals have received this medal for service in Iraq and Afghanistan – and of those, Petry is the second living recipient.

“The Medal of Honor is reserved for the guys who change the face of the battlefield,” said Petry.

With this medal, the President of the United States conferred on Petry the title of “hero,” and the Ranger is truly humbled by this honor.

“To me, a hero is anyone who serves and is willing to sacrifice part of their life for the defense of the nation. It is hard to think of myself as a hero when I have my own heroes,” he said.

Yet his actions that day proved that Petry was a hero of the highest caliber – one who displays immeasurable courage and uncommon valor even in the face of grave danger. His actions demonstrated the meaning of loyalty, selfless service and bravery. The courageous decisions he made as a leader ultimately saved lives and inspired fellow Soldiers to fight on against overwhelming odds.

On May 26, 2008, the squad leader with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was conducting a mission in rural eastern Afghanistan with his unit to capture a high-value insurgent target. Early in the mission, the squad came under heavy enemy fire and Petry was shot in both legs. Despite his wounds, the Ranger gallantly continued fighting alongside his brothers in arms. When an enemy hand grenade landed just inches away, Petry grabbed it to protect fellow Rangers. As he released the grenade to throw it, the explosive detonated and he lost his right hand.

“I saw the enemy grenade land near me and I knew what I had to do,” he said. “I wanted to eliminate the threat because I knew it could not only kill me, but the other Rangers as well.”

Following initial treatment overseas, Petry was evacuated to the United States to receive extensive medical care. He spent nearly a year at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, recovering, rehabilitating and adjusting to life with a prosthetic hand.

Army-developed medical innovations are revolutionizing trauma care on and off the battlefield and have increased the survival rate of our Soldiers.

“The medical care in theater has improved so much. Ten or 15 years ago, I would have died in combat, and even five years ago, they would have given me a hook. But now, they gave me a prosthetic that lets me be almost back to normal,” he said.

His prosthetic hand relies on muscle contractions above his elbow to control the hand’s movement.

“Since it uses the same muscle groups as before, it functions pretty close to the real thing,” he said. “I am almost back to normal. I can shake hands again, and it feels great to use my right hand for that.”

Petry does, however, continue to have lingering pain from shrapnel wounds and the traumatic amputation.

“That will be a part of my life forever, but I try not to let it distract me too much from daily life,” he said.

Originally from Santa Fe, N.M., and a graduate of Saint Catherine’s Indian High School, Petry has served with the 75th Ranger Regiment for the duration of his career. For 11 years, he has been part of the Army’s direct action raid force – a team that is lethal, highly-trained and experienced. As an Army Ranger, he was individually selected and expertly trained to succeed in the most difficult conditions against the most dangerous enemies. Petry has completed an estimated 230 combat missions and deployed eight times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom – including six times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq.

“No two missions are ever alike, and you have to be prepared for all situations,” Petry said. “Even after one hard mission, you have to drive on for the next mission. It all goes back to the Ranger Creed – we follow it and live by it every day.”

For Petry, being a Soldier is more than a job; it is a profession. Not even the severity of his wounds could deter him from answering the call to duty. Currently, he is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he serves as a liaison officer for the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition – Northwest Region, providing oversight to wounded warriors, ill and injured service members and their families.

“I try to encourage other Soldiers based on what motivated me. My first visitor in the hospital was a double above-sthe-elbow amputee, but she had a great attitude and showed me that I had nothing to complain about,” he said. “So I try to tell the other wounded Soldiers that if you’re still breathing, it isn’t going to be that bad. You can recover.”

Petry lives with his wife and four children near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He is also pursuing a business management degree from Pierce College.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Petry has previously received the Bronze Star Medal twice and a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat.

For more information about Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and the Medal of Honor, please visit www.army.mil/medalofhonor/petry.

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Soldier of the Week – CPT Ranjini Danaraj

Posted on July 6, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

When Capt. Ranjini Danaraj first joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) more than a decade ago, she was simply looking for a way to pay for her college degree. Yet, by the time she graduated from the University of Southern California in 2002, she had begun to envision a lifelong career in the military. Eight years later, she has not regretted her decision to serve. With four overseas deployments and nearly two graduate degrees under her belt, Danaraj has been able to fulfill both her career and education goals.

“The Army helped me find my identity after college. My service has been very rewarding. It has made me more confident, allowed me to be financially stable and enabled me to travel all over the world,” she said.

Through her travels, Danaraj found her niche as a young leader on the battlefield. During her most recent deployment to Iraq last year, she served as a company commander for the 66th Military Police Company.

There she worked closely with the Iraqi Police in order to both strengthen their investigative abilities and raise their situational awareness of enemy activities. Her unit was able to develop a strong rapport with their Iraqi counterparts, who were eager to develop more advanced operational capabilities.

“In the vast majority of the relationships we had, the Iraqi Police were very accepting and interested in what we offered,” she said. “We got along very well with them.”

The unit’s mission was to advise and train members of the Iraqi police to help them become an independent force, but signs of progress were not always immediate and measurable. As a result, Danaraj was faced with the additional challenge of keeping the junior enlisted Soldiers in the company motivated and inspired.

“The challenge was helping the junior Soldiers to understand the value of what they were doing even though they weren’t necessarily seeing the results of their efforts,” she said.

But before Danaraj and her Soldiers returned home, they were able to see firsthand the fruit of their labors.

“When we had a graduation ceremony for Iraqi Police students, the graduates suddenly broke into song about how proud they were to serve their country and how they were going to take the fight to the enemy,” she said. “It was one of those moments when you can’t help but feel proud about what you do.”

The successes under Danaraj’s leadership overseas have not gone unrecognized. For meritorious service throughout her deployments, she received two Bronze Star Medals.

Since returning home, she accepted a new assignment with the Army. Beginning this summer, she will spend a year at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., earning a master’s degree in policy management. Afterwards, she will serve two one-year rotations interning first with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later with the Chief of Staff of the Army.

“I initially enlisted as a way to fund my college education, but a love of the values embraced by the organization, the people I met and the experiences I’ve had, have kept me serving in uniform,” she said.

“I am motivated by what I do and I’m fulfilled by what I do – not everyone can say that about their job.”

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Soldier of the Week – CPT Roderick Vinson

Posted on June 30, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment


Capt. Roderick Vinson wears many hats as a Soldier in the Army Reserve, a devoted husband and father of young twins, and a dedicated community member. Yet regardless of his role, Vinson brings the same core values of leadership and excellence to his work – both on and off the battlefield.

During his deployment to Afghanistan last year, Vinson served with the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade and worked with the Joint Network Operations Control Center, the central hub of all communications in Afghanistan. Especially overseas, it is crucial that Soldiers have the right information at the right time in order to complete missions and outmaneuver the enemy. This critical task falls to Soldiers such as Vinson, who ensure that data, equipment and personnel are constantly delivered to the right locations.

As project manager, Vinson was responsible for the supply, maintenance and transportation of personnel and equipment, a role which required ongoing communication with other military personnel. When it came to this task, time was of the essence and Vinson and his comrades took it upon themselves to make operations as efficient as possible. Over the course of his deployment, he was able to help streamline efforts and reduce the transfer of equipment from three weeks to three days—further enabling the Army’s success in Afghanistan.

This achievement was incredibly rewarding for Vinson, yet being apart from his family was a challenge. His wife gave birth to premature twin boys in 2006 while he was deployed to Iraq, and although, his sons are now four years old and show no signs of earlier complications, their health and wellbeing is always on his mind.

“My boys benefited from the advances in technology in treating premature babies, largely thanks to the efforts of the March of Dimes,” he said.

The stress of his absence and the inability to monitor his sons as they grew and developed motivated Vinson to act on behalf of the organization that saved their lives. While overseas last year, he organized a five-kilometer race, and along with other Soldiers and together, they raised nearly $1,000 for the organization. Vinson plans to continue to support the March of Dimes in the future by organizing similar events, whether stateside or deployed.

The Soldier is also passionate about helping to support other families while their loved ones are deployed.

“We couldn’t do our jobs without the support of our family, our loved ones and our friends,” Vinson said. “If we are going to fight for our country, we should take advantage of the help that is offered.”

Having returned stateside in early April, Vinson is now home in Charlotte, N.C., where he is dedicated to making up for lost time with his family. He currently works as an operations supervisor for a transportation and logistics company and hopes to eventually return to the classroom to earn a master’s degree in project management.

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Soldier of the Week – SFC Ray Castillo

Posted on June 22, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment


Epitomizing the warrior ethos of “I will never quit” and “I will never accept defeat,” Sgt. 1st Class Ray Castillo still serves his country, even after being critically wounded in Iraq. Throughout an extensive recovery process, he remained focused on eventually returning to his fellow Rangers-and two years later, he did just that.

“Just because I lost my limbs doesn’t mean I can’t give my experience and my knowledge to other guys, (but) I understood eventually I was going to be behind a desk,” he said. “There’s nothing I could’ve done about that. I still wanted to be in the military, I still wanted to contribute.”

In early 2009, Castillo was serving as a platoon sergeant in Iraq with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He and his platoon were pursuing a high-value enemy target, when the dismounted platoon was ambushed by insurgents. During the skirmish, a command-detonated improvised explosive device (IED) hit Castillo.

“It was real quick. [The enemy] hid it really well in the ground. I got to that location, and it just went off. … I blacked out for a short period of time, but I remember the explosion going off and flying through the air,” he said, recalling the incident.”

Castillo was immediately evacuated to the hospital, where he was treated for multiple injuries, including a punctured lung and lacerations to his liver, spleen, intestines and right kidney. In addition to the internal damage, he lost his right foot during the blast.

When Castillo awoke from a medically-induced coma several weeks later, he learned that he had been transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and that both of his legs had been amputated above the knee.

“I wasn’t expecting to see 70 percent of my legs gone,” he said.

Although he faced an uphill recovery battle, his dedication to the Army never wavered. While recuperating at Walter Reed, he took the oath of enlistment from his hospital bed, surrounded by his family.

Castillo was later transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was fitted for prosthetics and began intense rehabilitation.

“My focus was just to get back to my unit,” he said. “I worked really hard every day as much as I could because that was my main focus – recovery and getting better so I could get back to my unit and continue working.”

In early 2010, he returned to his unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash., but he still had to pass a medical evaluation board to stay in the Army. He successfully cleared that hurdle, and he plans to continue to serve in the Army for many years to come.

As he continues the healing process, he has learned to appreciate everyday victories.

“Even when it snowed in Washington, just going through the snow and it being slippery, I don’t feel where I step until I put my weight on it,” he said. “I drive, too, and that’s a learning curve. … My endurance and balance are getting much better. Being able to do random chores around the house or just doing stuff at work is getting better. It’s gotten easier, with time.”

Castillo is currently an operations sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. In the future, he hopes to serve as an Army instructor.

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Soldier of the Week – SGT Chad Hendricks

Posted on June 14, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment


Sgt. Chad Hendricks is no stranger to hard work. At age 16 he dropped out of high school to work alongside his father as a heavy equipment operator. Today he serves with his comrades in the 82nd Airborne Division, demonstrating the fortitude, commitment and perseverance that will aid him as he competes for the title of XVIII Airborne Corps’ Trooper of the Year (TOY).

Having been named TOY at the company, battalion, brigade and division levels, Hendricks is now focused on the next round of competition, which will be held June 13-16 at Fort Bragg, N.C. The TOY competition is an annual event hosted by the XVIII Airborne Corps that tests the military knowledge, skills and tactical abilities of enlisted paratroopers. Beginning at the unit level and spanning several months, the XVIII Airborne Corps’ event is the final stage of the competition.

To prepare for earlier rounds of the competition, Hendricks created hundreds of flashcard study aids, followed an intense physical training regiment and participated in mock board interviews. His efforts paid off as he emerged victorious at each new level. The humble Soldier was surprised by his success.

“I expected to do well and represent well, but I never expected to go this far,” he said. “It is like winning the lottery, especially given the caliber of the Soldiers I went against.”

As he battles for the honor of being named one of the Army’s best, Hendricks will draw upon lessons learned in Iraq to give him an advantage.

During his deployment in 2009-2010, Hendricks spent his time alternating between several roles. Primarily serving as a convoy gunner and truck commander, he was responsible for the security of Soldiers in the vehicle, as well as the maintenance, movement and tactical employment of his vehicle. He also had an opportunity to provide training to Iraqi artillery Soldiers, helping them to become tactically proficient and technically competent in the principles of mortar fire.

In addition to fulfilling multiple roles within his unit, Hendricks also had to adjust to various mission demands – over the course of 300 days in theater, the unit completed more than 200 combat missions.

“We were always on the go with very minimal downtime,” Hendricks said, reflecting on his time overseas.

Hendricks hopes the accelerated tempo of life during his deployment will help give him an edge in the contest.

But regardless of the outcome this week, Hendricks is proud continue in his family’s military tradition, following in the bootsteps of his grandfather, great uncle and several other family members who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

“It means a lot to me to serve in the Army, and it makes everyone in my family proud,” he said. “It is an honor for me to be able to carry on the proud military tradition in my family.”

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Army Staff Sergeant Foils Bank Robbery

Posted on June 8, 2011 by CJ| 5 Comments


Photo by E. SKYLAR LITHERLAND

Transportation Management Coordinator Staff Sergeant Eddie Peoples was just doing what most Soldiers do on leave back in the states from an overseas assignment in Italy and I had the honor of sitting down and talking with him one on one today about how an average trip to his local Bank of America to get some money prior to a fishing trip with his two sons age 4 and 6 became so much more than average. Instead, Peoples found himself building a makeshift baracade for his boys while a robber, identified as Matthew Rogers by police, robbed a bank with what looked like a 9mm pistol.

In this video, you can see SSG Peoples calmly standing with his hands on his hips seemingly unfazed by the violent criminal, thinking at first that it was just a joke. However, when Rogers began yelling at everyone to stay down and walked around pointing his gun in everyone’s face, SSG People’s instantly recognized that, coupled with the robber’s body language, this was a serious situation. Rogers had even singled Peoples out, telling “the big black guy” not to do anything stupid or try anything.

“That hit it home for me that this guy means business,” remarked SSG Peoples. “He was telling everyone that he didn’t give a darn about life…if anyone got in his way, they would die.”

But, that wasn’t what instantly sparked a desire to do something in Peoples’ mind.

“He pointed the gun at my 6-year old son when neither of us was offering any resistance,” he said. “So I stood there and he pointed the gun at me the whole time because I would rather have him kill me than point the gun at one of my children. Cause if that happened, then he’s gonna have to kill me!”

He then moved away from his children so they wouldn’t be a target of the robber who was walking around while tellers filled his bag with an undisclosed amount of money. Peoples recognized that he had to do something at that point, not only as a citizen but as an NCO in the “greatest Army in the world!” Though unarmed, he made a point to not allow this guy to get away and cause any further damage or loss of life to anyone else.

SSG Peoples recognized that he was placing himself in danger but says he did what he had to do to stop this guy. And it wasn’t an easy choice – the robber weighed approximately 250 pounds and stood about 6’2″, not a small guy by anyone’s standards. He made a snap judgment and accepted the risks as U.S. Army Soldier to do something. As the robber left the store, Peoples glanced over and in a no-nonsense daddy voice told his kids “daddy will be right back, don’t move!” He made it outside the bank just before the manager locked the doors so the robber couldn’t come back in and moved towards his vehicle.

“At that point, I knew that it was just me and him,” Peoples recalled. “The bank manager had locked the doors making it impossible for him to reenter the bank. The only thing he could do is come at me or flee.”

The robber noticed that Peoples had exited the bank, turned, and just stopped in his tracks, almost as if he couldn’t believe someone would follow him out. Befuddled but recognizing that Peoples isn’t a small guy, the robber cautiously moved to his vehicle in an auxiliary parking lot across the street while Peoples got in his rental van and seemingly drove off.

In fact, Peoples moved his vehicle directly behind the Rogers’ vehicle as he was getting in and pinned it to the fence. Rogers unsuccessfully tried to ram the vehicle behind him out of the way. This tug of war lasts about 30 seconds until Rogers recognized the futility of trying to move a Chrysler Town & Country van out of the way and began fumbling with something in his vehicle. At that point, Peoples’ realized he was probably trying to gather up his money that had spilled in the vehicle before making a getaway.

Rogers jumped out of the vehicle and Peoples briefly had him pinned between the bumpers of the two vehicles. Rogers shouted something at Peoples and pointed the gun directly at him. Peoples fully expected to start taking shots, but Rogers came around with his gun pointed at Peoples to keep him from moving and attempted to carjack him by moving to the passenger side rear door. However, when the automatic doors of the van don’t open fast enough, Rogers tries to force the doors open only to have them close again.

At that point, SSG Peoples realizes he needs to do something and confronts Rogers head on. Rogers puts the gun to Peoples’ forehead and threatens to shoot him. Peoples believes he is now fully committed. It’s do or die, fight or flight.

Instead of cowering, Peoples’ Army combatives training kicks in.

“I went ahead and grabbed his wrist and did a wrist lock on him, which turns the weapon to the side so that if he actually discharges it the bullet will fly harmlessly by me and hit the van behind us,” Peoples noted. “I came up with his weapon in my hand.”

Peoples had planned to use that weapon against him once he had made it his. When he gained possession of the weapon, he instantly realized that the pistol was entirely too light for the large caliber is appeared to be. In fact, Rogers had just robbed a Bank of American and threatened Peoples’ kids with a realistic looking BB gun!

Peoples credits his Army combatives training for helping him to wrestle the gun out of the robbers hand and get him on the ground quickly.

“Every Soldier learns these moves and I put it to good use,” he remarked. “You don’t even have to think about it. If someone puts a weapon to your face, this is probably what you’re going to do.”

The mission of U.S. Army Combatives is to train leaders and Soldiers in close quarters combatives in order to instill the Warrior Ethos and prepare Soldiers to close with and defeat the enemy in hand to hand combat. Based out of Ft. Benning, GA, combatives have come a long way since its inception in 1995. Nearly all deploying Soldiers now go through Level 1 at a minimum and Battalions and Brigades are required to have level 2-4 trained instructors to assist with the training.
Peoples grabbed Rogers in a Muay Thai Clinch (basically grabbing him by the neck) and forced his face into the ground. He then identified himself as a combat hardened Staff Sergeant in the United States Army.

Rogers didn’t want any more after that. Peoples held him on the ground until the police arrived seconds later ordering Peoples – clutching a pistol and a bag of money – to the ground. He announced to the deputy that he was SSG Eddie Peoples, U.S. Army. The officer responded that he didn’t know who he was and that he needed to get on the ground. Bystanders instantly pointed out to police that Peoples was the good guy. Peoples reaches into his back pocket, pulls out his ID Card and sets it on the ground in front of him.

Once police are confident Peoples is innocent, he gets up on his feet. The deputy gives him a hug and tells him, “thank you, brother. I was stuck in traffic!” It was instant camaraderie.

Every time Peoples came down on deployment orders, he would tell his kids that “daddy has to go fight the bad guys.” Peoples walked back into the bank to get his sons and his oldest asked him, “Did you get the bad guy, daddy?”

Peoples responded, “Yeah, daddy got him.”

Instantly, the patrons in the bank opened up in loud cheers and applause for the hero of the day!

SSG Peoples is currently home on leave from Italy, where he is stationed, to visit his sick father in Sarasota, FL. He doesn’t recommend that anyone do what he does and instead hopes that his actions give criminals pause.

“I hope that when they think about committing a similar act, they look to their left and look to their right and think that the person next to them might be a former or current military person and rethink their actions,” he said. “A former police officer, something!”

He has been deployed three times in addition to a tour in Korea. He has been stationed at Ft. Carson, Italy, and was even stationed at Ft. Hood when Nidal Hasan killed and injured more than 30 troops, though he was deployed. Had he been here, he could have stopped that tragedy from happening too! ;)

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Soldier of the Week – SGT Sherri Jo Gallagher

Posted on June 7, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

While deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year, Sgt. Sherri Jo Gallagher had the opportunity to train female Soldiers in the Afghan National Army (ANA) in basic marksmanship skills. Working alongside many of the women who had never previously operated a firearm, Gallagher was able to use her decades of precision shooting experience to increase the Army’s overall combat readiness and provide further training to American Soldiers and their allies.

During her deployment, Gallagher and other members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) taught female officer candidates how to operate weapons, particularly the M15 rifle and M9 pistol. In addition to marksmanship fundamentals, the ANA Soldiers were instructed in weapon safety, range commands and gun maintenance.

“It was very rewarding to work with the female ANA Soldiers and watch them succeed on the range, knowing this success will further their confidence, ability and credibility as female officers in a male-dominated country,” Gallagher said.

The impact of her sharpshooting program went far beyond the classroom – this was one of the first times that Afghan females were eligible to participate in officer candidate school.

“They are all very proud to be serving their ‘Mother Afghanistan’ to better their country and their lives,” said Gallagher. “These are such great opportunities for them, as just a few years previously they weren’t even allowed out of their house. I am extremely proud of all of them.”

Now stateside, she continues to serve with the USAMU, which is known for providing the most comprehensive small-arms marksmanship training within the military.

“I have an amazing job for the simple reason that I know that what I do directly affects those around me and it makes a difference,” she said. “It is very rewarding to instruct others knowing that what you teach them could possibly save their lives or the lives of those around them.”

Competing in marksmanship events since she was young girl, Gallagher’s reputation as an outstanding precision shooter has helped her excel within the Army. Last fall, Gallagher was the first female to be named Soldier of the Year. Competing at the Best Warrior event at Fort Lee, Va., she went head-to-head against some of the Army’s most experienced enlisted Soldiers in physical, mental and leadership challenges.

“It was a great honor to be selected as the Soldier of the Year,” she said. “The efforts I put into it were not my own, but an accumulation of knowledge passed to me through the training of the USAMU and other mentors throughout my career. There is no better feeling than to realize that your goals have been accomplished due to the hard work of yourself and your team around you.”

Originally from Prescott, Ariz., Gallagher is currently stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., where she serves with the USAMU on the service rifle platoon. And for the young Soldier, everything has come full circle.

“I had been competing against the Service Rifle Platoon at the national marksmanship championships since I was 10 years old,” she said. “But after I was recruited to join the Army in 2008, I now compete with them.”

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Soldier of the Week – 1SG Mark Heyliger

Posted on June 3, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

With nearly two decades of military service and five deployments under his belt, 1st Sgt. Mark D. Heyliger is an experienced Soldier. Through it all, the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) remains committed to the Army and his comrades in arms. In his current role at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., Heyliger draws on lessons learned during his time downrange to help prepare other NCOs for what lie ahead.

“I am responsible for training and mentoring Reinforcement Training Unit first sergeants in preparation for their upcoming deployments,” he said. “I hope that my experience and expertise makes their deployments smoother.”

Working his way up through the infantry ranks, Heyliger served with the 25th Infantry Division, the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division and was exposed to a wide variety of mission demands and leadership styles. For meritorious service throughout his military career, Heyliger has received the Bronze Star Medal three times.

In 2009-2010, he served in Iraq as the first sergeant for Company B, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division. There, he was responsible for the health, welfare, morale and training of the more than 130 Soldiers in the company.

“I had a different level of responsibility during each deployment. My experiences were varied and my days depended on what was going on at that particular time,” Heyliger said. “But my responsibility to accomplish the mission and take care of my fellow Soldiers never changed.”

Commitment to the mission and one’s brothers in arms is an Army value that has withstood the test of time. Heyliger’s grandfather answered that same Call to Duty when he served during World War II.

His grandfather was Frederick Heyliger, better known as “Moose” – a Soldier with the 101st Airborne Division’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment portrayed in the book and HBO mini-series, “Band of Brothers.” Before he enlisted in 1992, the younger Heyliger did not know much about his grandfather’s story of service.

“He never talked about what he did during the war, but my dad mailed me a book while I was on recruiting duty. He said, ‘If you ever want to know what your grandfather did, you need to read this book,’” he said. “I was amazed at the depth of his experiences, though I understood why he chose not to talk about it much.”

While Heyliger’s grandfather participated in two airborne operations during World War II, he passed away before he could become a paratrooper. Heyliger received his jump wings when he graduated from Airborne School and in 2004, he wore the wings when he jumped into St. Mere Eglise, France, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

“I’m glad to serve and to carry on – to find what my grandfather enjoyed so much about the Army,” Heyliger said. “When I jump, I like to think of him.”

Heyliger will be stationed at Fort Polk for the next three years, but he hopes his Army career will eventually take him back to the 82nd Airborne Division or the 101st Airborne Division. He hopes to have the opportunity to wear his grandfather’s wings to jump into Market Garden, Holland, for the 70th anniversary in 2014.

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Soldier of the Week – PFC Joshua Bullis

Posted on May 23, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment


Eight months ago, while on a routine foot patrol through an Afghan village, Pfc. Joshua Bullis stepped on a buried improvised explosive device (IED) and sustained significant injuries. Though still recovering at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), Bullis set his sights set on victory last week as he competed in the rifle standing and rifle prone shooting events at the second annual Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I chose to compete at the Warrior Games mainly because I thought it would be something fun to do,” he said. “I wanted to show myself and other people that just because you’re injured doesn’t mean you can’t still accomplish great things.”

For Bullis, the competition marked the end of a rigorous training program that he has followed in addition to his ongoing recovery and rehabilitation process.

“Having the opportunity to train for the Warrior Games has helped me mentally, because I know that I will have the chance to do some stuff that I have not done since I was injured,” he said. “I want to do well, but I was also looking forward to just going out there and having a good time. Just being there was a great step for me.”

In April 2010, Bullis deployed to the Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan with the 595th Sapper Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion. As combat engineers, Bullis and the other Soldiers in the unit were responsible for constructing roads and bridges and clearing routes, which made it possible for other troops to travel throughout the region.

Bullis formed a tight bond with his brothers in arms and credits them with saving his life when he stepped on the buried IED during a routine dismounted patrol mission.

“When I was hit, my fellow Soldiers used their trained combat skills to stop the bleeding and get the medevac quickly in order to save my life,” he said.

As a result of the blast, both of his legs were amputated above his knee, as was his left arm above the elbow. Initially following the incident, Bullis spent a week at a hospital in Germany before moving on to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. After more than two months of treatment at Walter Reed, Bullis transferred to NMCSD, in order to be closer to family while he continues to heal.

“My biggest goal is to heal,” he said. “I have been walking a little bit with my prosthetic legs recently and I hope to become fully independent as quickly as possible.”

Though it has been a long road to recovery for Bullis, he is thankful for the medical care that he has received.

“I am so grateful for the Warrior Transition Unit here in San Diego. I couldn’t ask for better help,” said the Purple Heart recipient. “I have to give credit to all the Wounded Warrior companies around the country for doing such a fantastic job with the Soldiers that come home.”

Once his recovery is complete, Bullis will return to his hometown of Phoenix, Ariz., as he has received a scholarship to attend Grand Canyon University. He plans to earn a business degree and eventually own his own business.

But before the young Soldier returns to the classroom, he wanted to be successful at the Warrior Games. And he did just that – he earned a bronze medal in the Air Rifle Standing (SH2) event, and he was the one of only two Army Soldiers to place in the shooting finals last week.

To learn more about the Warrior Games, please visit http://www.usparalympics.org/pages/8330 and http://www.wtc.army.mil/about_us/warriorgames.html. Additionally, to learn more about the Warrior Transition Command and its commitment to adaptive sports, please visit http://wtc.armylive.dodlive.mil/.

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