Tag Archives: Hometown Story

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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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 – CPT Juan Guerrero

Posted on May 17, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment


After competing at the inaugural Warrior Games last year, Capt. Juan Guerrero took home the gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle shooting event. This week, the Soldier will return to the competition with even higher goals – he hopes to be named the Ultimate Warrior by accruing the most points in a pentathlon-style event.

Eight months ago Guerrero’s right leg was amputated, but recently he was fitted with a prosthetic leg that allows him to walk and even run. Determined to be in prime condition for the event, Guerrero has dedicated himself to a rigorous training program over the last several months.

“Since I still have some residual pain from my amputation surgery, I think that the 100-meter run will probably be the toughest event for me,” he said. “But the Warrior Games have been a great motivator for me to keep training no matter what.”

That same sense of determination sustained Guerrero through three deployments to Iraq. During his most recent deployment, he served with the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (Airborne), and was in charge of leading a team of nearly two dozen Soldiers.

In June 2007, Guerrero was out on a mission with his team when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under their Humvee. True to his role as a leader, Guerrero thought of the safety of the other Soldiers in his vehicle, despite his own injuries.

“My main concern was for my driver and my gunner. There was a lot of smoke in the vehicle, but once I determined that they were okay, I realized that I was wounded,” he said. “My legs felt like they were on fire and once my Soldiers were able to get me out of the vehicle, I saw my right leg and realized it was bad.”

Shrapnel from the IED blast shattered the bones in Guerrero’s right tibia, and much of his right calf and left heel were damaged in the explosion. He was immediately evacuated to Baghdad, Iraq, for emergency surgery on his leg, and later moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., where he spent more than four months recovering and undergoing multiple skin grafts to help repair his right leg.

Yet, the pain in his leg was so persistent and severe that Guerrero made the decision to have his right leg amputated below the knee last September. As he enters a new phase in his recovery process, Guerrero is grateful to have the added goal of competing in the second annual Warrior Games – and winning the Ultimate Champion title.

“From seeing the competition that was there last year, I know it’s going to be a tough crowd, but I’m focused on my own goals,” he said. “I want to defend my shooting title, but I intend to do well in the other events, too.”

Currently, the Soldier lives with his wife and three children in the San Antonio, Texas area, and he is continuing to recover at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

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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Soldier of the Week – CPL David Bixler

Posted on April 29, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

The motto of the 101st Airborne Division “Everyone fights, nobody quits,” represented more than a catch phrase to Cpl. David Bixler. The words embodied the spirit of bravery and perseverance he displayed last fall when he and his comrades came under enemy fire in Afghanistan. Currently recovering from combat injuries at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the motto continues to inspire Bixler throughout his rehabilitation.

While deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Bixler was on a routine mission that was suddenly derailed by an enemy attack.

“The entire horizon in front of us seemed to explode into a frenzy of machine gun fire,” he said. “We were pinned down into a ditch just on the other side of the dirt mound we had climbed up after crossing that canal. We could only manage to get a handful of Soldiers in decent fighting positions.”

As a team leader, Bixler was responsible for five of his comrades, including three Afghan National Army (ANA) Soldiers. When he realized that one of the ANA Soldiers had separated from the team, he tried to warn him of the danger. Bixler feared that a hidden improvised explosive device (IED) would detonate, injuring the group. When the Soldier did not respond, Bixler took swift action.

“I hauled up the dirt mound to pull him back to safety,” he said. “At that moment, I stepped backwards and wide in order to regain my balance, and that’s when I stepped on the pressure plate.”

The ANA Soldier sustained only minor wounds, but the explosion left Bixler with severe injuries, resulting in the loss of both legs.

Despite the extent of his injuries, Bixler is thankful to be alive crediting his fellow Soldiers with saving his life.

“The training that we had gone through really paid off that day,” he said. “My guys’ responses saved my life. We practiced how to get out of a combat zone after an attack. They knew that you need to finish the firefight first and then you could provide aid to wounded Soldiers.”

In addition to the actions of his team, Bixler also knows that his personal protective equipment shielded him from further injury.

“My personal protective equipment saved my life,” he said. “The IED shredded the gloves off my hands, but had I not worn them, I would have lost my fingers. My glasses and helmet blocked shrapnel from going into my eyes. And I wore ear protection, which saved most of my hearing.”

Bixler uses his story to encourage other Soldiers to take their safety seriously – even if the gear seems cumbersome.

“You need to keep wearing the gear, even if it is annoying,” he said. “It can save your livelihood and, in some cases, your life.”

Bixler’s valorous actions on the battlefield drew the attention senior leadership. Maj. Gen. John Campbell, the commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, Ky., personally presented Bixler with the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart in a bedside ceremony at Walter Reed.

Having recently been fitted for prosthetic legs, Bixler is learning to walk again. But for now, the Soldier has a more immediate goal – being there when the rest of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team returns home.

“The rest of my unit will return from Afghanistan in a few weeks, and I want to walk to meet them when they get off the plane,” he said. “I want to be able to greet them on my feet, to show them that I am alive. And most importantly, tell them that I have no regrets.”

Living without regrets is something that has characterized Bixler’s military service from the start. As a high-school student, he watched the events of Sept. 11, 2001 unfold, and was moved to join the Army and defend his country.

“I didn’t want to be a citizen in a country I wasn’t willing to fight for,” he said. “Had I not enlisted, I would have regretted it.”

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Soldier of the Week – MSG Chris Catalano

Posted on May 16, 2009 by CJ| 1 Comment

chris catalano
Growing up, Master Sgt. Chris Catalano always knew he wanted to be a Soldier. His parents, who served a combined thirty years, and his grandfather, a World War II veteran, were all NCOs in the Army. His family’s legacy of service has not only inspired Catalano’s decision to serve in the Army Reserve, but also defined the type of Soldier he has become over the last 25 years. His grandfather, who was a very influential figure in his life, passed away a few weeks after Catalano arrived in Iraq in 2004. Faced with the tough decision of remaining with his men or returning home for the funeral service, he ultimately decided to remain in theater. He knew his grandfather would not want him to leave his mission, and staying would be the best way to honor his legacy.

Catalano’s focus on mission first has driven many important and selfless decisions in his Army career. On February 22, 2005, Catalano was on a dismounted foot patrol in a dangerous area of Mosul. The group had planned to stay and speak with the local residents for only a few minutes. They came under direct enemy fire and Catalano was shot in the neck, only inches away from his spinal cord. Even though he was severely injured from the shot, he returned to duty the next day. For his injury and meritorious service while under fire, Catalano received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.

His time in Iraq greatly influenced Catalano, and the relationships he developed have lasted well beyond the battlefield. Responsible for working with and training local Iraqi forces, Catalano befriended several of the interpreters, including one in particular whose nickname was “The Professor” because of his multiple degrees and ability to speak several languages. Over the years, Catalano has kept in touch with his friend who now lives in West Virginia, talking to him regularly on the phone and helping him get acclimated to the United States.

As a civilian, Catalano currently works as a military technician and is responsible for repairing military equipment. He lives in Edison, N.J., with his wife, Cheryl, and children, Chris (17) and Alysa (13). Only time will tell if either of his children will follow in his footsteps, but regardless his family’s legacy of service is one they will all continue to honor.

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