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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class George Robinson – on active duty with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) – was one of five panel members engaged in a question-and-answer session as military, federal employees and defense contractors tuned in across the country via Adobe Connect during a the DCSA Cultural Conversations for Veterans Fireside Chat on Nov. 9.
Robinson, DCSA’s Organizational Climate Assessment Program manager, told the virtual audience that he enlisted in the military for family reasons, to try something different, and to build an extended family.
“I have had a lot of great experiences but the one that sticks out the most is my deployment to Afghanistan in 2013,” said Robinson who encountered a soldier who seemed alone and in need of a friend to talk to. “We had a long conversation and I carried on about my day. I saw them later and they pulled me aside and said that the conversation actually saved their life. They were thinking about attempting suicide. So, I kept a close watch and let the leadership know while staying close to them the whole time we were deployed.”
At a welcome home ceremony, the battalion invited Robinson’s mother – Dr. YaQar, chief executive officer and founder of Alpha and Omega HIV/AIDS Foundation and Health Initiatives International – to sing the national anthem. While she was visiting the battalion, Robinson briefed her about the situation and his concerns regarding the soldier.
“She pulled that individual aside and sung one of my favorite songs, which is ‘Brown Eyed Baby’ and in that moment, that individual broke down and cried because they no longer had a mother,” said Robinson. “Their mother had passed away. It happened to be one of their favorite songs, which I thought no one had ever known. It was very random that my mom decided to sing that song. To this day, I still check in on that soldier. We have a very strong connection. They have a very strong connection to my mother. I remember that moment like it was yesterday – not only did I help save their life, but my mom was able to be a mother for them as well and really connect with them.”
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2023 15:49 |
| Photo ID: | 8142719 |
| VIRIN: | 231128-D-D0467-1002 |
| Resolution: | 267x275 |
| Size: | 32.76 KB |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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