By Staff Sgt. Jason Kendrick
56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Today's Soldier in focus is Master Sgt. Ralph Amaya III. He is an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Amaya, who is from Killeen, Texas, joined the Texas Army National Guard after serving more than ten years on active duty. While on active duty, he was stationed in Germany, Korea and Fort Hood, Texas. He was serving with 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, when he deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Amaya deployed to the Sinai with the Texas Army National Guard's 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, in 2005 where he served as a troop first sergeant. His current deployment is his first in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He said his greatest takeaway from his career of more than 19 total years of service is his personal experiences.
"My lasting memory will be my personal experience with the diversity of where people come from – and their values and culture – and being able to learn from others that only comes from wearing the uniform," Amaya said.