Assist, Protect, Defend; through generations

Photo By Lt. Col. Cory Angell | From left to right; Sgt. Maj. Scott Haymaker, Paula Haymaker, Cpl. Tiffany McMullen and Spc. Josh Haymaker. The three members of the family all served in the 28th Military Police Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Josh is currently serving with the unit in Afghanistan.  

JOHNSTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES

04.09.2019

Story by Cory Angell 

28th Infantry Division

For the Haymaker family the 28th Military Police Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is much more than a unit, it’s a family outside the family.
“Honestly since I was a kid I wanted to join up with the 28th,” said Spc. Josh Haymaker, 23, now serving with the company in Afghanistan. “I got to watch my dad excel at leading these great soldiers and I really wanted to be a part of that legacy. However, my skill set is more geared towards medicine rather than police work so I became the medic for the 28th.”
Sgt. Major Scott Haymaker served as a Johnstown police officer and drilled with the 28th MP Co. after his active duty tour as an MP in Germany from 1988-93.
“I wanted to be in law enforcement so I planned to go in the Army as an MP and then come out to work in law enforcement after,” said Haymaker, who continues to serve with the Pennsylvania National Guard. “Being an officer in Johnstown, and the unit being part of the community, it was the perfect place to serve. My son and daughter grew up around the 28th MP Co. and ended up joining as well.”
“It was almost a given that if I was going to be an MP, I was going to be in my father’s old unit, following tradition,” said Cpl. Tiffany McMullen, the daughter of Haymaker. “Being around the company and the military when I was young did give me more respect and understanding of what soldiers do for us than I believe other children.”
McMullen did not deploy with the unit to Afghanistan but is still in Johnstown raising her eight-year-old and 15 month old children.
“I want my children to see that no matter how difficult something is, like basic training or deployment, they can achieve it if they put their minds to it,” said McMullen. “I also want my children to grow up with the same respect and admiration that I grew up with for the military.”
Scott Haymaker retired from the Johnstown police and now works for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, providing state and local officers training. He now resides in Charleston, South Carolina. He continues to serve at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania for range control as the Operations Sargent Major.
“Although I’m not with the 28th MP Co. anymore I’m proud that my son and daughter are. They take so much pride in what they do,” said Scott Haymaker. “My wife Paula and I attend the military ball they hold every year to keep in touch with our MP family.”

• Date Taken: 04.09.2019
• Date Posted: 04.09.2019 14:39
• Story ID: 317434
• Location: JOHNSTOWN, PA, US