I am a retired 19K20 armor crewman, I enlisted active duty on 3JAN2007 and completed OSUT at Ft. Knox on 1JUN2007. From there I was stationed at Ft. Hood Texas where I was assigned to D Co 1-22 IN BN Light Mechanized, 1st BDE, 4th Infantry Division.
I deployed to West Rashid, Iraq in support of OIF during the height of the surge, conducting enemy denial operations the majority of my 15 month deployment from 07-09 as well as security for the elections. The majority of my combat deployment was conducted on an M1A2SEPV2.
During my deployment I engaged and was engaged by the enemy, Jai Shai Mahdi (JAM) on multiple occasions, multiple IEDs, experienced blue on green situations and almost drowned alive in my tank after a rollover into a sewage canal.
After a successful deployment, I returned to Ft. Hood where we received orders for a whole unit PCS to Ft. Carson, Colorado as well as orders to Afghanistan. Upon arrival to Ft. Carson, the DoD deemed me undeployable due to circumstances from my prior deployment to Iraq and thus consequently was medically retired.
Returning home and adapting to civilian life was difficult. I decided to use my post 9/11 GI bill. I attended and successfully graduated Youngstown State University with a 3.9 GPA, earning a bachelors in criminal justice and applied science with a major in pre law.
I have five children, and my whole life mission is committed to raising and supporting them full time. My 19 year old son is currently at Ft. Benning in 1-81 AR completing 19K OSUT. I am extremely proud of him and look forward in supporting him in his career as an armor crewman during a six year active enlistment.