For video — "Why I Serve" stories — go to the Pentagon Channel |
October 2004 |
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"Back when I was 10 years old, I joined the Young Marines," said Reiffer. "I did really well and quickly learned that I was good at basic military stuff – marching, rappelling, rafting, camping, patrolling, (and) following and giving orders." |
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"As long as you have heart, there's nothing to stop you," said Army Sgt. Joshua Forbess, one of just five soldiers who survived a fiery Black Hawk helicopter collision over Mosul, Iraq, last November. |
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"I feel I've come full circle. I've gotten to finish what I started," Indiana Army National Guardsman Spc. Teresa L. Morris, said of her service that started 31 years ago. |
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"I wanted to be a part of that honor (and) tradition and a part of young people who wanted to serve their country, work together and cared for each other so much," |
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"I was always interested in the Army, especially, the training and discipline," |
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September 2004 |
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"Ever since I was probably a sophomore in high school, I'd always wanted to join the military." |
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"I love the United States of America and I love the Army. Serving is the least I can do." |
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"I figure the unique experiences here would make me a better doctor." |
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"By being in the military, we're doing our part to help keep peace in the world." |
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"I believe you come into the military for a purpose: to defend your country." |
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"I look back on that period as the Army's darkest days – the public wasn't behind the army like it is today." |
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"The Army has been very good to me. There's a real sense of family and you know that there will always be somebody there for you." |
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"This is what I wanted to do when I came into the service. I like being a mechanic and I like being around the water." |
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"I got in and decided I really liked it - it was the career for me" is how Bob Anderson describes his first impressions of serving in the U.S. Navy. |
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"I guess this was a calling," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Stephanie Henry, of the 1st Communications Squadron based at Langley Air Force Base, Va. |
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August
2004 |
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"I want everyone I meet to know how proud I am to be part of the best Air Force in the world," — U.S. Air Force Scott V. Stout, F-15 Eagle maintenance trainer. |
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"There is no better place to be part of a team, no better place to grow morally and ethically," — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jamie A. Delmolino |
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Army Spc. Frank "Skip" Spoerke of the 94th Army Band is trading his trumpet for a truck as he prepares to deploy to the Middle East. |
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"There are values and a sense of duty and responsibility to this country that I was raised with," — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman |
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Hall and Prater said they recognized the importance of their jobs more fully after deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
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Army Reserve Spc. Everad Lewis dreamed about being a firefighter. He said serving in Iraq has allowed him to serve his country, and be the man he needed to be. |
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