As stated on my main page, I am a US Army veteran who served nearly 17 years.  I enlisted as an Infantryman and served in that capacity for 7 1/2 years before being accepted to Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS).  My last enlisted assignment was a very rewarding time.  During this time, the Army was in a digital transition, and the 4th Infantry Division was the testbed for all of the technologies being fielded today.  I requested to be assigned to this division and was accepted, being the only 11H (T.O.W. Gunner) assigned to Fort Hood at the time.  Upon arrival, I met with CSM Sills, who decided to assign me to Commanding General's Staff.  While assigned here, I worked closely with the Command Group and maintained computers and VIP briefing packets on what was then called Force XXI.  Submitting my application for Warrant Officer training became a priority for me, and was endorsed by MG William Wallace. I was then assigned to Fort Rucker after being accepted.  After graduation from WOCC, I attended Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training, which is commonly referred to as flight school.  After graduating flight school I selected the UH-60 Blackhawk as my advanced aircraft and then attended the Advanced Qualification Course (AQC).  I served in three duty assignments before being selected to attend the UH-60 Blackhawk Maintenance Test Pilot course.  I served in that capacity until leaving the Army in 2006. My units of assignment include: Enlisted Assignments 2nd Bn / 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY 2nd Bn / 293rd Infantry Regiment, Frankfort, IN, Indiana Army National Guard Secretary of the General Staff, Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX Warrant Officer Assignments 1st Bn / 145th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, AL R Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, LA C Co. / 2nd Bn / 2nd Infantry Division, Ouijonbu, South Korea 50th Medical Company, Air Ambulance, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY During my service, I was called to combat on three occasions.  The first time was in 1990 to participate in what was dubbed Operation Desert Shield.  That operation was later named Operation Desert Storm when Iraqi president Saddam Hussein refused to pull his army out of Kuwait.  I participated in what was, at that time, the largest Air Assault in history, establishing a Forward Area Refueling Point for offensive operations. On September 11th 2001 I had just finished up a very long day of flying the Commanding General, MG Russel Honore', with CW3 Roger Hopkins.  This of course led to the "War on Terror" and the invasion of Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom.  I returned to the United States in July of 2002 and was called again to Iraq for what was to be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom.  I again was with the 101st Airborne Division for this operation, but this time as a UH-60 Blackhawk MEDEVAC pilot.   I was assigned to support the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) led by COL Lennington of the 187th Infantry; commonly known as the Rakkasans.  This BCT is known far an wide by all Infantryman to be the elite, and one of the most battle hardened Infantry units in the US arsenal.  Although I personally was an Infantryman in the 327th Infantry during Desert Storm, my ties with the 187th Infantry (Rakkasans) run deep, as I supported them throughout my first combat engagement as a US Army MEDEVAC pilot.  I returned home late in 2003 and made my final trip to Iraq in 2004, again with the 50th Medical Company, Air Ambulance.  That was the busiest year for any medical evacuation company (MEDEVAC)ever.  My company endured IED attacks specifically designed to target MEDEVAC aircraft, and the heaviest patient load ever known to exist.  SGT George Hildebrandt, who was a medic in our company, received a Purple Heart for having been in the blast radius, and received injury from one of those IEDs in southern Baghdad.  The aircraft piloted by CW2 Gerry McGowan, sustained damage as well, but was able to be safely landed in the International Zone (Green Zone).  In November of 2005 I would returned home for the final time, and left the Army.  I then packed up and returned to Northwest Indiana. My military awards and decorations include: From Top Left: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (for Valor), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, SW Asia Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Arabian Liberation of Kuwait Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal. From Top: Army Aviation Center's "Broken Wing Award", US Army Aviator Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medic Badge. While stationed in Korea with C Co. / 2nd BN / 2nd Infantry Division, I served with two great men, who would later be Killed In Action during combat operations in Iraq.  I would like to take this space to acknowledge the lives and sacrifices that these two great warriors and personal friends have given.  Both CW2 Scott Saboe and CW3 Eric Smith were killed aviation accidents.  Eric was among seven people to die on a recovery mission.  The exact details of his flight will never be known, but it is the accepted story the an aircraft that he was riding in (he was not a pilot at the controls at the time of the accident) became spatially disoriented and crashed into the ground on what was a very dark, nearly no moon night near the city of Karbala, Iraq.  Eric was not only an outstanding aviator and friend, but he signed me off on my first Pilot-In-Command check ride.  He is missed dearly.  CW2 Scott Saboe was on a routine mission flying soldiers from Tal Afar, Iraq to Mosul, Iraq.  The soldiers were heading home on Rest and Relaxation leave (R&R).  Scott's aircraft collided mid-air with another Blackhawk helicopter that was inserting a Quick Reaction Force.  17 people including Scott lost their lives that night.  Scott was one of the good ones, and he he left behind a six year old son, and his father.   I now work as a Patrolman and Evidence Technician for a local police department, and have served in this capacity since 2006.  I attended the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (NILEA) after being hired by my police department.  I was elected Class President of that academy and did my best to represent them on graduation day.  I continue to serve my community, and my country, and am as proud as I could possibly be for the opportunity.