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    Soldier’s love of volunteering flows into current service

    Soldier’s love of volunteering flows into current service

    Photo By Sgt. Bailey Kramer | Kansas City, Mo., native, Pfc. Phillip Plack, a scout assigned to Troop B, 1st...... read more read more

    FORT HOOD, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

    04.15.2011

    Story by Pfc. Bailey Kramer 

    1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

    FORT HOOD, Texas – Before joining the Army, Pfc. Phillip Plack spent four years volunteering at his local hospital by dressing as an elf during Christmas for the kids.

    The door to volunteering opened at a young age for Plack. His mother worked at the North Kansas City Hospital, in Missouri, when he was a child.

    After graduating from Park Hill High School in 2010, Plack continued his history of volunteering by enlisting into the United States Army, as a cavalry scout.

    Now assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, the volunteer road for this 20-year-old is not completed.

    “My party style is volunteering, or finding some way to help other people,” said Plack. “I don’t drink or smoke, volunteering is my way of relaxing.”

    When Plack arrived to his unit, he began searching for what he could do around the Fort Hood area. During his search, he found the United Service Organization, where he began assisting Sept. 9.

    “He is an outstanding soldier with a great work ethic,” complimented Sgt. Daniel Duncan, Plack’s section sergeant. “Any task he is given he can accomplish with minimum [non-commissioned officer] supervision.”

    At the USO, Plack helped by cleaning on a regular basis.

    “When someone comes in we make sure they get a snack, get situated, see if they have any questions, and if they are new to Fort Hood find out if they need help getting anywhere,” Plack explained. “Just talk to everyone that comes in.”

    Within three months at the USO, Plack completed 200 hours of volunteer work, the equivalent to roughly a month and a half of work.

    “I wish more of our guys would step up and do what he is doing,” said Duncan, an Owensboro, Ky., native.

    Upon learning about the numerous hours this Soldier spent volunteering; Plack’s leadership asked him for his recorded hours, in order to recommend him for the Army Outstanding Volunteer Award.

    “To some people, the praise and recognition is important, but I do it for fun,” Plack said about his upcoming award.

    “I think it’s great the amount of volunteer work he has done,” praised Duncan. “It really says a lot about a person to give up their free time to volunteer for other people.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.15.2011
    Date Posted: 04.20.2011 11:56
    Story ID: 69032
    Location: FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US

    Web Views: 57
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN