BAGHDAD -- Last week, Oct. 23, Staff Sgt. Benjamin Mason stood in a room crowded with colonels. His shoulders back and eyes straight ahead he stood alongside Brig. Gen. Peter C. Bayer, Multi-National Corps-Iraq chief of staff, to be recognized for his tireless efforts to ensure commanders on the battlefield have up to date information on critical targets and organizations.
"Staff Sgt. Mason's actions reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army and Multi-National Corps-Iraq," Lt. Col. Martin H. Partridge declared during the presentation at Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory. "He is an unsung hero."
The Connecticut native received the general's thanks and his coin for excellence along with a certificate of achievement. Each week the chief of staff recognizes an enlisted soldier for an exceptional project or dedication they have shown in supporting U.S. forces.
"Really everyone within the intelligence community is an unsung hero, I just happened to be selected," Mason said.
The signal analyst with Coalition Analytic Control Element, MNC-I, was born and raised in Pawcatuck along his five brothers and sister. It was his oldest brother that inspired him to join the military.
"My brother was in 5th Group, Special Forces with the 82nd Airborne, I always looked up to him," Mason said. "He was the Army kid, running us through the woods, yelling in cadence. We were a patriotic family."
After living in Chile for two years as part of a Church of Latter Day Saints mission trip, he became fluent in Spanish and enlisted into the military as a Spanish linguist under the skills for stripes program.
"I remember I was sitting in MEPS (military entrance processing station) watching the statue of Saddam being pulled down in Iraq the day I signed my enlistment," Mason recalled.
After he completed his training he went to work for the National Security Agency at Lockland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, for four years. He began to enjoy the analytical side of things and changed career fields to become a digital network analyst.
"Computers have always been easy for me to understand, its either yes or no, ones or zeros," Mason explained.
Mason moved to Fort Lewis, Wash., with his wife, Merline, and four daughters, Henrysheya, 9, Victoria, 8, Kaylie, 5, and Savannah, 4.
Mason arrived in Iraq in March. He has been working 12 hour shifts, seven days a week, with only a handful of days off. His analysis is combined with human intelligence and communications intelligence to provide commanders on the battlefield a thorough understanding of their environment so they can make informed decisions.
"Just like any analyst, the commanders never know who provides them with this information," he said. "That's why within the military intelligence community we are referred to as 'silent sentinels.'"
Mason will head home in December, anxious to see his wife and kids in time for the holidays. Even though reenlisting in the military will mean more missed birthdays and anniversaries, he plans on staying in until he qualifies for retirement.
"I don't do my job for money, I do it because of a sense of duty and honor," Mason said.
| Date Taken: |
10.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
10.26.2009 10:39 |
| Story ID: |
40677 |
| Location: |
BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
284 |
| Downloads: |
230 |
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This work, General hails Connecticut native 'Unsung Hero', by SSG Luke Koladish, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
