Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Howell | Twelve Soldiers from the 8th Theater Sustainment Command Sgt. Audie Murphy Club...... read more read more
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FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — “You lead from the front.” – Sgt. Audie Murphy.
As the most decorated Soldier of World War II, Murphy lead from the front by displaying acts of heroism, going above and beyond the call of duty, and exercising selfless service. He set the standard for leadership, dedication and concern for Soldiers and their families.
Today, his legacy lives on through the prestigious Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, established in 1986, for those soldiers who, “exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare of Soldiers and concern for families of Soldiers.”
“Sgt. Audie Murphy was the definition of selfless service by the way he carried himself as a Soldier,” said 1st Sgt. Derick Graham, the 545th Harbormaster Operations Detachment first sergeant and three-year member of the club. “He was always doing something for someone else, always putting himself at risk and never selfish. So we [the SAMC] base our foundation on helping others.”
Through volunteer efforts, the 8th Theater Sustainment Command chapter, consisting of approximately 60 members, exhibits their commitment to Murphy’s legacy by making a direct impact to local businesses and people within the community.
“I do it for the satisfaction of giving back,” said Graham. “There is a difference when you can see the results of what you have done. When you can see a young teenager on a Saturday morning going to a drill meet, marching and doing ROTC with weapons. It is rewarding. I didn’t have the opportunity when I was a teenager and who knows where I would be if I did.”
Sgt. 1st Class Dawn Ramos, the 8th TSC SAMC president and Equal Opportunity advisor, uses the club as a way to continuously demonstrate the Army’s commitment to the very soil they defend.
“In today’s military, we are starting to see more and more programs that are bridging the gap between military, community and the civilian sector,” said Ramos. “It is important to show the community that the military does more than fight wars and that we are also important here on the home front. It also shows our Soldiers too, not just the community, that we need to give back.”
For people like Graham and Ramos, the attraction to the club began when they saw the way the members carried themselves and how they devoted their time to setting a higher standard.
“The Army was founded on selfless service and as a 1st Sgt., people look at you as a standard bearer,” said Graham. “They also look at the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club members as the cream-of-the-crop. I can’t get others in my company to go Sgt. Audie Murphy if I’m not leading by example. You still have to inspire young Soldiers and NCOs [noncommissioned officers].”
In order to be part of this chapter, a candidate has to participate in extensive study groups, complete twenty volunteer hours, attend three bi-monthly meetings, and pass a situational board that has a solid reputation for being extremely difficult.
“This is probably one of the hardest things you will do in the military but absolutely hands down the most rewarding,” said Ramos. “Becoming a member is hard but in the end, when you are standing up there during the induction ceremony, it is very rewarding. It is worth the work but it doesn’t end at the induction ceremony. That is where the work begins.”
Some of the more recent volunteer opportunities this chapter has participated in is feeding the military families at the Tripler Army Medical Center Fisher House, packaging non-perishable items at the Hawaii Food Bank, supporting the Junior ROTC, and sponsoring the Pacific Room Track Club.
Although the club spends a majority of their off time giving back to the community, they do not forget one of the most important resources the Army treasures.
“The club is family oriented,” said Ramos. “We spend so much time volunteering that we bring families to the events. If you are giving up time with your family to serve the community, you can kind of close the gap by brining your family along with you while teaching them the importance of giving back. One of the members received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and his wife also received an award for all the work she has done for her volunteering.”
As Ramos prepares to pass the 8th TSC SAMC torch to the next president, she looks forward to continuing SAMC experience when she arrives at her new duty station and wants to encourage other potential candidates to join.
“Even though it is hard, it is achievable goal,” said Ramos. “We are here to help. We want members because the bigger we are, the bigger the impact we can have.”
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2015 22:45 |
| Story ID: | 173546 |
| Location: | FORT SHAFTER, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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