Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Luis Saavedra | Pfc. Anthony Lodiong, an automated logistical specialist assigned to the 10th...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Every person who chooses to serve in the military has a story and reason for joining. Some may join for the benefits, some for the chance to see the world while others enlist for the college money. For Pfc. Anthony Lodiong, a U.S. Army logistician with the 10th Sustainment Brigade, these ideas never crossed his mind.
Lodiong’s story is unique. He has gone from a child soldier in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, to a knowledge-hungry refugee in Uganda, to a journalist for the Juba Post in South Sudan and then working with humanitarian organizations before making his way to the U.S. and becoming a Soldier in the Army.
Lodiong said it was just a matter of time before he would leave South Sudan.
“I was born during the wartime,” said Lodiong. “I had in my mind that this country is not the best place for me to live.”
That time came in 2011, when he decided to resign from his position as a communications officer with the humanitarian organization, Save the Children, and leave South Sudan.
It was time for Lodiong to go and experience life somewhere else.
Lodiong had to decide where he was going to start his new life. Australia and the U.S. were two places Lodiong considered at the time.
Lodiong had an uncle who lived in Australia that wanted him to move there but, on the other hand, his girlfriend, whom he met while she was working in South Sudan, resided in the U.S.
He eventually decided to move to the U.S.
“I decided to go to the U.S. because it has helped South Sudan become independent and Australia hasn’t done anything to bring peace to South Sudan,” said Lodiong.
He went to the U.S. embassy in Cairo to begin the process of moving.
“When I got to the U.S. I decided since I am now in this country, I am a part of this country,” said Lodiong. “I love this country and I need to do something great for this country.”
New Beginning
He said life in the U.S. is far better than it was where he came from.
The weather wasn’t the only lifestyle improvement from South Sudan, security and safety were among some of the first things Lodiong noticed.
“Life in South Sudan, there is no night where you can sleep peacefully not thinking about what might happen that night,” said Lodiong.
The industrialization of the U.S. is incomparable to that in South Sudan.
He said there are no good schools or health care services, even the roads are bad.
“You drive through the mud,” said Lodiong. “There are only a few good roads.”
Among the poor road conditions the economy is in poor shape.
“Food production is a big problem, since the country just got out of war so everything is imported from other countries to sustain life in South Sudan,” said Lodiong. “It is harder living in South Sudan than in other countries.”
South Sudan is among the poorest third world countries.
“It’s very difficult to compare it to the U.S. because it is a developed country and life is generally good,” said Lodiong. “You have good health care system and a good education system.”
He said Americans are lucky to have student loans and financial assistance.
“Where I come from you have to struggle on your own or receive a scholarship from some humanitarian organization,” said Lodiong.
Louisiana seemed like a good fit for Lodiong to start his new life.
“When I moved to the states, I went to New Orleans because the weather there is comparable to the weather in East Africa,” said Lodiong.
“I settled there and married my girlfriend,” said Lodiong. “She was from the U.S. and was already here.”
After they got married, he started doing volunteer work with a hospice company while he was trying to figure out what he was going to do.
“I sat down and thought what I could do to show how grateful I am to the U.S. government for everything they have done for the country where I was before,” said Lodiong.
U.S. Army
He came to the conclusion that he should serve his new country by enlisting in the Army.
“That is the only way I can serve the whole country,” said Lodiong.
He chose the Army because where he came from there was no other military branch.
“I was forced to join the Army [in the past], but that was against my will,” said Lodiong. “I wanted to join the Army out of my own free will and see what that felt like.”
Lodiong left his home in New Orleans for basic combat training Jan. 1, 2013.
His first duty station was Fort Drum, New York, and is currently deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“This is my 17th month in the Army and I am very grateful that I was able to find the Army,” said Lodiong.
Earlier this year Lodiong competed and won the 10th Special Troop Battalion Soldier of the month board.
“Due to his outstanding performance and potential, I have recommended him for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command Soldier of the Quarter board,” said Staff Sgt. Lobsang Salaka, the Humanitarian Relief yard noncommissioned officer in charge assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th STB.
He said he loves how the Army helps him stay in a good physical condition. His most recent goal was to max his Army Physical Fitness Test.
“If other people can do it, then I can do it,” said Lodiong. “And I did it.”
Lodiong participated in an APFT and earned a score of more than 300. The following day he participated in a Boston Marathon satellite run at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan and was the first person from the Muleskinner brigade to cross the finish line with a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes.
He said he enjoys running and has participated in many 5 and 10 kilometer runs.
“I’m always happy to see people progress and am willing to help them out whenever I can,” said Lodiong.
He said everything is laid out systematically and there are regulations to follow and, as long as they are followed, problems can be avoided.
Lodiong is aware of his responsibilities and always places duty first.
“I work at the humanitarian relief yard,” said Lodiong. “My mission is humanitarian relief.”
The HR mission responds to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, as well as displaced indigenous populace due to insurgent or drug warlord activities, which may assist ground commanders with their counter-insurgency operations.
He said he is very grateful for all of the leaders in his chain of command for supporting him and helping him become the Soldier that he is today.
“I am very proud to help the people out who need humanitarian relief,” said Lodiong. “It’s the right place for me to be.”
| Date Taken: | 05.22.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2014 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 130778 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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