Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Neil W. McCabe | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gideon “Giddy” M. Ticha, a strength manager...... read more read more
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FOREST PARK, Ga. - Black History Month is a great time for soldiers to refresh their understanding of the different cultures and backgrounds of the African-Americans serving their country in the Army.
Sgt. 1st Class Gideon “Giddy” M. Ticha, a strength manager noncommissioned officer in the Incentives Branch for the Army Medical Department Army Professional Management Command, said he was born and raised in the African country of Cameroon, but now considers Minnesota his home.
“The name of my tribe in Cameroon is called the Meta Tribe, which is spelled M-E-T-A,” he said. “It’s associated with the English.”
Ticha’s father was a trusted adviser to the tribe’s king, or chief, he said.
“First and foremost, my father was one of his subjects,” he said. “My father lived with him and he was his immediate, personal adviser. They often tell me that he, my father, used to give him a haircut, so that’s how close he was. Of course, he is my father’s in-law. The sister of my father is married to the king.”
Ticha’s family was honored to have his Royal Majesty Fon Jacob Agwo Tabi Teghencha, clan head of Meta, attend a Welcome Home Warrior Citizen ceremony in September 2011 honoring Ticha and 10 other soldiers before the King’s death later that year, he said.
Ticha said he would favorably compare the values of his tribe with Army values.
“The difference between the Meta core values and the United States Army core values is that the Meta core values, which the King and my family adhere to, are not written, unlike the Army,” he said.
After his 87-year-old father retired from royal service upon the king’s passing, he devoted his time to assist with a private charity for his tribesmen, Ticha said.
“For an average person in the Meta land lives under, less than a dollar, 25 cents a day,” said Ticha. “It’s called the John Retreat Center Cameroon Association, JRCCA … a Cameroon-based nonprofit organization.”
The foundation does many projects, but mainly focus on agriculture and water projects as well basic health,” he said.
The charity gets support from members of the Ticha family, as well as friends, and other people from Cameroon, who want to share their blessings, he said.
“We are grateful for the opportunities that we have here in the United States,” he said, teaching his child the importance of food and to not take it for granted. “We have taught him the importance of food and it does not get thrown away.”
“I taught him that the little food that we have we are to share with others less fortunate,” said Ticha, teaching him to be unselfish and serving toward others. “Although we are only able to share a little, we support a good cause and do not expect any reward in return.”
The Meta core values similar to the Army values, like selfless service, loyalty, integrity and respect come to mind in this situation.
“Much like the Army values,” said Ticha. “Those are the values that I’ve learned from the Army and the Meta clan.”
I joined the Army because I decided to help my adopted nation give all I could give to them for the love that I have for my adopted country and just to show my nature of citizenship as well as being patriotic, he said.
When the time came to select his job specialty, Ticha said he picked the personnel field because he could see an opportunity to make an impact.
“I decided to become a human resource specialist,” said Ticha. “I can service soldiers because that’s the area that I feel competent in, and I can excel to better serve my adopted country.”
In 1998, Ticha moved to Minnesota when he was 27, but his mother, father and siblings stayed behind in Cameroon. Now, they all live in the United States. He lives near the Atlanta area, but the native Cameroon sergeant first class considers his home to be Minnesota.
Ticha said he made friends with people from Minnesota, who told him it was a great place to live.
“They did not tell me that it was cold,” he said. “It was a big shock; my first cultural shock was to see snow.”
It was a surprise, something that really became a terrifying life experience, he said.
“My first snow happened while I was in downtown Minneapolis and I was working at a McDonald’s,” said Ticha. “Here’s somebody coming from Cameroon, six months of heavy rain and the other six in 100-degree temperatures now look at me here.”
“No, I didn’t know it was coming. I mean, I’ve been hearing about it. I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “All of a sudden everything poured down as complete white.”
“It’s heavy snow,” said Ticha, explaining when it comes down it comes down like rain, a downpour. “I never knew how heavy or terrifying snow can be.”
“It’s cold and windy in the wintertime, especially in December,” he said. “Winter in Minnesota is no joke.”
Over the years, Ticha said he has cultured himself to the Minnesota weather, learned to love the snow, have snowball fights and go snow skiing.
“My two kids were born in Minnesota, and they love snow.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2014 21:49 |
| Story ID: | 121294 |
| Location: | FOREST PARK, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 572 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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