Photo By Sgt. Paris Maxey | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jo Ann Tsuhako participates in precision air event...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, September 29, 2025 -- Working in the restaurant business was not something Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jo Ann Tsuhako wanted to do for the rest of her life. She was living paycheck to paycheck until she had a conversation with her roommate. It was then at age 24, she decided to enlist in the Army.
“My roommate at the time joined the military – he was airborne,” said Tsuhako. “Because I didn’t know what I wanted to do at that time, I joined the Alaska National Guard.”
Tsuhako eventually joined a unit in California and later met her brother, Staff Sgt. Lester “Monty” Washington at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and told him she wanted to become a Warrant Officer.
“Because there was a Warrant in my unit and he kind of did what he wanted to do, and he had answers and was respected; I thought that was kind of cool, I wanted to be like him,” added Tsuhako.
Her brother convinced her to talk with a branch manager. She had no idea the person she spoke to was the president of the board to make selections to Warrant Officer. “I said sir, would you mind writing a letter for me so that I can become a Warrant Officer? He smiled and said, not a problem. That’s what started my whole career as a Warrant Officer, and I don’t regret a single bit of it.”
Life Changing Illness
While her career and life seemed to be on a smooth glide path, it was abruptly interrupted by a breast cancer diagnosis.
Tsuhako said she did not want to be a burden to anyone during her illness. “I was sick, I wasn’t eating, she (wife) didn’t know how to manage me because I wasn’t sharing. I just shut down. I kind of dealt with it on my own. Treatment was really rough. I’m lucky to have my wife and family behind me.”
Her illness led to what would become an integral part of her healing journey at the Fort Bragg, Soldier Recovery Unit, and an introduction to adaptive sports.
Tsuhako admitted to being very active prior to treatments for breast cancer and didn’t know if she was going to participate in sports at the SRU. “I didn’t know what to expect,” she added.
She got involved in archery, swimming, and cycling. She participated in local and regional events like the Valor Games and the Pacific Trials. “The SRU really helped me regain my confidence and helped me rebuild my health,” said Tsuhako. “I’m in better physical condition today than I was 10 years ago.”
In July, Tsuhako participated in the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. An event she didn’t know existed until she arrived at her SRU.
With the competition behind her, she took time to reflect on the event.
“It didn’t matter what branch (military) anybody was, you felt the camaraderie,” she said. “You could walk up to anybody and say, ‘how’s it going?’ Everybody was giving hugs, handshakes, and high fives!”
“I’ve never seen competition like that,” she added. “You don’t have to explain to anyone what you’re going through. You’re more than willing to tell your story, but if you don’t, you don’t need to. It’s a safe place.”
Tsuhako said Warrior Games brought everyone together like a family. “But don’t get it wrong, the competition was very strong.”
Overcoming Another Obstacle
Four weeks before the Warrior Games, Tsuhako suffered an injury to her dominate right arm. To compete, she had to rely on her left. She approached this obstacle like she did her cancer diagnosis; she took it head-on and pushed through it.
She did not want to let the team down. She wanted to give everything for the games. “That’s what this is about,” she said. “It’s about doing what you can with what you’re given, at any given time.”
Tsuhako said she is ambidextrous for the most part when it comes to sports. “I tried to do air pistol with my right arm but could not hold it up,” she explained. “I just didn’t have the strength, and it kept dropping.”
Through good coaching, training, and support from Master Sgt. Jodi Pyle-Vandersys at the Fort Carson, Colorado SRU, the grips on her air pistol were switched so she could shoot left-handed. “I wasn’t my best but if I had another week, I would have done a lot better, guaranteed,” said Tsuhako.
In addition to precision air sports (air rifle and air pistol), Tsuhako competed in cycling, field, and swimming during the Warrior Games, throwing the shot and discus left-handed. She earned bronze medals in her classification of the shot put and discus events, and two gold and one silver medal in swimming competitions.
Definition of Winning
“I’ve pushed myself and trained harder than I thought I could train,” said Tsuhako. “I’ve met people from different branches and we’re friends now. That to me, is more important than the medals.”
Going through the stress of her illness and knowing she can push herself further than ever before has given Tsuhako new confidence in herself. “To me, that is the winning part of the whole competition and experience,” she explained.
Being a good leader is also important to Tsuhako.
“If they (Soldiers) see you persevere through difficulties, they want to emulate you,” she stated. “Take every opportunity that you are given, good or bad, and make the most out of that situation. You can turn that negative into a positive.”
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 15:17 |
| Story ID: | 549595 |
| Location: | FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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