Photo By Staff Sgt. Lyndsey Prax | Dressed in a World War II uniform, Spc. Derrick Carr, a forward observer with Company...... read more read more
By Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – During a World War II battle in Holtzwihr, France, a wounded U.S. Soldier climbed on top of a burning tank, placed himself behind a .50-caliber machine gun and fired, killing the advancing enemy soldiers.
The Soldier, Sgt. Audie Murphy, was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 19 for his courageous actions. To this day, he was the most decorated American Soldier in the Army's history and is an example to live by for all who wear the uniform.
One of the highest honors that any non-commissioned officer could hope to achieve is to be inducted into the club that bears Murphy's name: the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
During a ceremony at Freedom Rest in Baghdad's "International Zone" 40 Multi-National Division – Baghdad non-commissioned officers – and one surprised leader – were recognized for their excellence and welcomed into the highly esteemed club Dec. 18.
"These 40 non-commissioned officers represent the top 10 percent of the non-commissioned officers in the Army," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior enlisted leader of MND-B and the 4th Infantry Division. Gioia, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., was inducted into the club in 1986.
"These Soldiers have been in combat for 13 months, and they took their own personal time to take it to the next level," said Gioia. "That tells me they have an incredible amount of devotion to duty and selfless service.
"They have gone through some hardships and sacrifices, and are still leading their Soldiers – even while preparing for this ceremony. These individuals embody what being a non-commissioned officer is all about, and they are living the NCO Creed."
The ceremony itself being conducted in Iraq was somewhat appropriate considering that the 4th Inf. Div. is a III Corps unit out of Fort Hood, Texas, where the club originated in 1986.
Earning induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is a rigorous process that requires discipline, selfless service and commitment. The Soldiers must first be recommended at company level and then attend numerous boards, working their way through their respective brigade and division commands, explained Gioia.
"I think the best preparation for the boards is actual experience: the experience that comes from the mentoring you receive from your leaders and peers," said Staff Sgt. Glenn Butler, a fire support specialist with Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div.
"Most of the questions are situational based. They ask about financial situations, combat situations – really, anything goes. They try to put you under stress and make you doubt your judgment while looking for accuracy and professionalism in your answers. This experience has been an incredible honor and extremely humbling."
The guest speaker for the event was Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, the commanding general of MND-B and 4th Inf. Div., who is a native of Hattiesburg, Miss.
Hammond congratulated the NCO's and commended them for setting an example to all Soldiers.
"There are two things that you may have more of than anyone in this division right now and that's character and moral courage," Hammond said. "Those aren't just words: It is everything you must be, you will be, and it's what the nation needs from you.
"It's your character that causes you to lead by example and your moral courage to do the right thing always, even when you think no one is watching. This is the guiding light that keeps the NCO Corps moving forward every day."
Following Hammond's speech, each new Sgt. Audie Murphy Club inductee was called forward and presented the Sergeant Audie Murphy Medallion.
"I'm honored to be recognized," said Sgt. 1st Class Grisel Rios, with Company A, STB, 4th Inf. Div., a native of San Turce, Puerto Rico. "This is a major accomplishment in my career, but mostly, I see it as a way for my Soldiers to look up and see that they can do it too. What Audie Murphy stood for is to lead from the front, and as NCOs, we try to lead from the front and mentor Soldiers to lead from the front as well."
The final induction came as quite a surprise when the man who attended to pay his respects to his NCOs who had distinguished themselves from their peers was himself an unsuspecting inductee into the club as an honorary member when Gioia called Hammond back to center stage.
The honorary induction of Hammond into this prestigious club is more than appropriate, said Gioia, because Hammond consistently and adamantly empowers the NCOs of the division.
Hammond's belief in the NCO Corps is readily evident for those who have met him. He has a powerful message he shares with his troops as he travels throughout the battlefield: "Sergeant run this division."
"Most of the Army is made up of enlisted Soldiers. They are the heart and soul and the strength of the Army," said Hammond, in expressing his gratitude to the gathered NCOs after being presented his honorary membership. "At the end of the day, it's you they [the Soldiers] trust, not me."
Inducted in the club during ceremony were:
4th Inf. Div: 1st Sgt. Timothy Bolyard, Sgt. 1st Class Mathew Dilcher, Staff Sgt. Tawana Batten, Staff Sgt. Genaro Cayetano, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Godfrey, Staff Sgt. Jason Patrick, Sgt. 1st Class Grisel Rios, Staff Sgt. Michael Blake, Staff Sgt. Glenn Butler, Staff Sgt. Christopher Flagg, Staff Sgt. Richard Valencia, Sgt. Shane Pennington and Sgt. Danielle Robinson.
2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div.: Sgt. John Castro, Staff Sgt. Brandon Gulley, Staff Sgt. Cy'Tique Johnson, Staff Sgt. Matthew Zepeda, Sgt. Donald Casey and Staff Sgt. Ming Chiu.
4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.: Sgt. Ryan Escalona, Sgt. Airealle Glynn, Sgt. Josh Macer, Sgt. Kristin Taylor, Sgt. Chad Workman, Sgt. 1st Class Chadwick Doyle, Sgt. 1st Class Travis Elliston, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Mendez, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Milstead, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Sandoval, Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Smith, Staff Sgt. Calvin Cameron, Staff Sgt. Adelbert Capen, Staff Sgt. Christopher Roach, Sgt. Patrick Axon, Sgt. Steven Burke, Staff Sgt. Brian Adams, Staff Sgt. Scott Bessette, Staff Sgt. John Johnson, Staff Sgt. Tommy Peek and Staff Sgt. Robert Dachenhausen.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2008 04:23 |
| Story ID: | 27929 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 829 |
| Downloads: | 416 |
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