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A Soldier’s Story First Sgt. Robert Jennings |
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Mother happily feels
weight of medal
on son’s living chest"Information angel" update >> This week we learned that Spc. Charles Woolwine was presented his Purple Heart at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I don't think I can describe it like his mother did in an e-mail to me:
Charles and sixteen of his family members gathered at 10 a.m., July 2, where he was awarded a Purple Heart for the injuries he sustained in Iraq on May 2. Charles had requested that his uncle, retired U.S. Army Col. W.B. "Bud" Droke be the officer to present him with this medal. Charles had said that since he couldn't have one of his own commanders to make the medal presentation, he would like for his "Uncle Bud" to do so.
To paraphrase Charles' somewhat more colorful language, he said to me, "I don't want my Purple Heart handed to me by some politician who doesn't have a clue."
Spc. Charles Woolwine: Receives his Purple Heart from uncle, who earned one in Vietnam
Bud Droke, a veteran of the Vietnam War who was severely injured himself in that conflict, "would understand."
Bud and Charles stood in front of the flags in the commander's office while Bud began his remarks with a brief history of the Purple Heart. This was obviously a moment that affected Bud deeply, as his voice caught with emotion. Bud described the Purple Heart as "the most expensive medal" awarded to a service man or woman.
Not only is it the most costly of all U.S. military medals to strike when it is manufactured, but it can only be awarded for a "sacrifice of one's own body for country." Bud remarked that we all could see that Charles had clearly made such a sacrifice.
After pinning the Purple Heart on Charles' chest, Bud stated that he also had another military decoration to present to him. Bud described that to earn a Combat Infantryman's Badge (CIB) a soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during a time when his unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in ground combat and been under hostile fire.
Bud stated that although the official orders had not yet been completely processed, he had contacted and been authorized by the 25th Infantry Division to present to Charles on this day a CIB. Bud then unpinned from his own chest his CIB, earned while he served in Vietnam, and pinned it onto Charles' chest, where it rested alongside the Purple Heart.
Charles was obviously surprised and moved as he stood at attention on his crutches and received this from his uncle.
After the ceremony as I touched the Purple Heart on my son's chest, I thought how beautiful the design and workmanship of the medal are and how surprisingly heavy it is. I also felt such great thankfulness that this medal, which I had hoped my son would never qualify to receive, was pinned to his living chest and not lying in a box in my hands while he lay in a coffin.
It truly is "the most expensive medal."
For Charles, and for all the others, it is either a lifelong expense of bodily injury, loss, and pain; or a total sacrifice of life to death.
There are few things that strike emotion in my body; this is one.
I have watched this particular soldier develop over the last few years. He has worked harder than any soldier I've seen in my 20-year career battle back from numerous lesser injuries.
And to hear about the manner in which he was presented this decoration, it couldn't have turned out any better. I have heard numerous squad leaders and platoon sergeants say, "If I had a squad/platoon of Woolwines, my day would be easy and there would not be an enemy in the world that we couldn't beat."
Keep working that physical therapy, the guidon position (company flag bearer) is still open.
Alpha Company is set to have our CIB ceremony today. I will have pictures next week.
This week, like the last few, has been pretty quiet. We are still running operations and arresting personnel planning attacks on coalition forces and the Iraqi people pushing for change.
We have been very fortunate to obtain the information prior to the attacks enabling us to thwart them prior to their execution. I can only pray that our luck continues and we can help move this country closer to democracy.
1st Lt. Micah Blais, of Wenham, Mass., administers the oath to Sgt. Brandon Bounds, of Valparaiso, Fla., Spc. Thomas Arpasi, of Cotville, Mo., and Spc. Ronald Becker, of Bath, N.Y., during their re-enlistment. Actor Vince Vaughn assists Sgt. 1st Class Richard Woodruff, of Scottsville, Ky., holding the flag.
9 July 1715 hours >> We received a radio call to open the front gate for a VIP. The commander and I walked to the parking area and were amazed when the actor Vince Vaughn, ("Old School," "Dodgeball"), exited the Humvee.He walked straight to the commander and myself and said, "it's my pleasure to be here." We were told he could only stay a short while because he was trying to get out and see as many soldiers as possible.
A quick call over the radio and people came out to meet and take pictures. I told him that we had four soldiers scheduled to re-enlist for four more years and they wondered if he would help hold the flag during their re-enlistment.
He said, "I would be honored. Let's do it."
We hear how influential Hollywood is and how they are against our soldiers being here. You wouldn't be able to tell by his demeanor. When somebody takes the time out of their busy life to visit soldiers in a very dangerous environment, it makes a lasting impression on every soldier they talk to.
God Bless and Aloha.
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Soldier enjoys smiles
on Iraqi kids' faces
This week meet Sgt. Michael Cantrell, a squad leader for 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon. He is from Tunnel Hill, Ga., and has been in the Army for 4 1/2 years.
Sgt. Michael Cantrell
Cantrell said everything was really hard to imagine when they first got here. He added, "Since I have experienced the car bombs and attending one of my fellow squad leader's memorial, it really brings things to light."
He went on to say, "It's a huge change when you see the kids smiling. It seems to make it all worth being here. The expressions on their faces show how much you're able to help them out. They will run 100 yards to the edge of the road just to wave at a passing convoy. It is really sad if you think about it. One piece of candy seems to make their day."
I asked Cantrell what the most enjoyable part of the deployment has been. He said, "The friendships I've built with my fellow soldiers. It seems like we've built some unbreakable bonds, kind of like family."
He finished his interview by saying hi to all his family back in Georgia, especially his wife, Helen, and his two boys, Kobe and Seth, visiting for the month. "I love you, miss you and don't worry boys, Daddy will be home soon."
1st Sgt. Robert Jennings
1st Sgt. Robert Jennings is deployed in Iraq with 4,000 25 Infantry Division (Light) soldiers from Schofield Barracks. He writes a Sunday column for the Star-Bulletin that began Feb. 1, 2004. Jennings, a 20-year Army veteran, has been assigned to Fort Riley, Kan., Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Lewis, Wash., and Camp Casey in South Korea. He is now on his second tour at Schofield Barracks. He has been deployed to Panama, Japan, Germany, Egypt and Thailand. As the first sergeant of Alpha Company, Jennings is in charge of 135 soldiers.
See the Columnists section for Jennings' earlier dispatches.
