Primus, Monica J, SFC

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.

My father, Furlan Udine Primus, when he enlisted in the Army in 1943

I had been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant while attending college to become an R.N. and wanted to do something more with my life than just get a paycheck, so I decided to join the military. I knew it would give me health and dental benefits, financial stability, training, and an opportunity to travel, so once I made up my mind to join, I did not hesitate.

There was no delayed entry program for me or reserve time. I went full force and enlisted for five years initially, and I looked at all branches. I ultimately chose the Army. It was the branch of service of my father, Furlan Udine Primus, and offered the training I wanted.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I enlisted for 98GL, but that was not to be. During basic training, I received a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Deny Security Clearance, so I was forced to change my military occupational specialty (MOS). It took some wheeling and dealing, but I finally got my choice, Pharmacy Specialist.

After

Basic Training photo taken at Fort Jackson, SC.

completing basic training at Fort Jackson, SC, I moved onto Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam Houston, TX, and then to my first duty station at Fort Sill, OK. While stationed there, I did receive my security clearance. I was that 1 in a 100 that receives an LOI to Deny but actually is not denied. If I had only held out longer, I would have been a Linguist. It turned out well, though, because I have come to love the Pharmacy and did well for myself in that career field. During my first tour at Fort Sill, I rotated through all areas of the pharmacy MOS. After my rotation through all areas, I was assigned to work in the Outpatient Pharmacy. I worked with many wonderful civilians and soldiers there.

I next moved on to Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu, Korea, where I learned to love Kimchi. I then went back to Fort Sill. It was as if I had never left. I was now in charge of the Inpatient Pharmacy. Next up was instructor duty at Fort Sam Houston. I had begged for this and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

While I was there, I taught pharmacy specialists and taught cardiovascular techs, ENT techs, and eye techs and helped with the PA program and Medic training. I guess my crowning glory there was incorporating the Sterile Products training program into the Pharmacy Specialist course, so all techs were trained in this specialty area.

I was then off to Fort Meade, MD, followed by Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While there, I ran the Inpatient Pharmacy, worked as the Training NCO (about 500 soldiers), and was the only enlisted person assigned to Clinical Pharmacy. I was also a member of a SMART that deployed to Hurricane Katrina Relief.

My last assignment was Senior Enlisted Advisor for Pharmacy, Bavaria Medical Department Activity (BMEDDAC), Germany. While there, I was the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Department of Pharmacy for Bavaria and got to travel to all the clinics weekly. It was not an undemanding final assignment. I had to work many long hours and travel a lot, but it was worth it. I retired from the Army in 2010 because I felt it was time to start a new chapter in my life.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?

Depth of the water in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina

I was part of a Special Medical Augmentation Response Team (SMART) that deployed to Hurricane Katrina Relief in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was quite an experience to see all the devastation that was left behind due to the hurricane, and I cannot imagine living through it.

Other than that, I did not deploy anywhere else. At the end of my career, I found out that someone had coded me as non-deployable. I guess whoever that was thought they were doing me a favor.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I guess I am quite lucky because I have very fond memories of almost all of my duty stations. My first duty station was at Reynolds Army Community Hospital's (RACH) Outpatient Pharmacy, and my first line supervisor was then SFC Juli Zugner (now MSG (r) Juli Tanzi). She was a

My last duty assignment - BMEDDAC, Germany

dynamic NCO that set an excellent example of what a Soldier should be, know, and do. I also worked with Mrs. Cyndi Bell, who treated all of us as equals and ensured we were "family". While stationed there, I helped create the pharmacy for the soon-to-be-built new TMC #2, which was dedicated to SGT David B Bleak, Medal of Honor recipient, whom I was honored to meet.

My second duty assignment was Camp Red Cloud, South Korea. Although this was a difficult assignment because I had no overlap time with the specialist I replaced, it allowed me to enhance my pharmacy specialist and NCO skills. Because Pharmacy, Radiology, and Laboratory were all only one man deep, we were always on call, and this did not allow for much downtime, but we managed to have fun. I remember one time we were called in because there had been a single-vehicle accident involving a Soldier. Under the guidance of CPT Uretzky, we were able to save the patient's life. She, unfortunately, did lose one of her legs below the knee, but had we not been there working together as a team, she would not have made it.

During my third duty assignment, I was stationed again at RACH at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. It was wonderful going back there because they had just completed work on the new hospital. During this assignment, I was made the NCOIC of the Inpatient Pharmacy, something I had not done since my initial appointment at RACH when I did a two-week rotation in the Inpatient Pharmacy.

I was a bit nervous about having so much responsibility placed upon me. While there, I was able to computerize our crash cart inventory and inspection process. I created a medication location guide for the nurses so they would not have to call a technician in during the middle of the night for a medication that could be found readily available in another ward. I had three excellent military technicians, one of whom I am in touch with to this day.

Two of my least favorite moments occurred while stationed there. The first one is that my top-notch civilian technician quit without notice. Unfortunately, it had a lot to do with her spouse, but she never opened up to anyone other than to say he did not like the hours that she worked.

The second incident put a damper on my spirit and made me question whether I would re-enlist. I was called on the carpet by the acting Sergeant Major because I had found a Soldier sleeping in the lobby near the command suite. So, I told him in an authoritative voice to wake up! The acting Sergeant Major informed me that it was not my place to tell that Soldier to wake up. I was incredulous. If it were not my duty to do this, then whose was it?

Next, I went to the Academy of Health Sciences, where I was an instructor for almost four years. I had begged and pleaded to be assigned there, and when I got my orders, I was ecstatic. I loved teaching, and I loved pharmacy, so this was a dream job. I helped integrate the stand-alone Sterile Products course into the Pharmacy Technician course, thereby allowing all those enrolled to receive the training.

I was also the primary instructor for that portion of training, which is considered the most challenging part. I have many cherished memories of students finally "getting it," genuinely comprehending what the practice orders were, being able to do the complex calculations, and then being able to compound the required product. It did seem as though a light would turn on over their heads. I loved that assignment. I also had a great relationship with my fellow NCOs and still am in touch with one of them.

My fifth assignment was at Fort Meade, and this was a dark time in my life. I suffered the loss of my husband, followed by the loss of my dearest aunt, followed by the loss of thousands of dollars worth of vaccinations due to a refrigerator malfunction and a civilian interim supervisor that blamed me for it and with whom I bumped heads with every step of the way.

Fortunately, I was reassigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and had an excellent First Sergeant (now CSM Gregory Lott), who was also a Pharmacy Technician. I worked with a wonderful team of pharmacists in the Clinical Pharmacy section of the pharmacy. These were some brilliant people, and I had the privilege to be on their team. What an honor.

My last assignment took me to Bavaria, Germany, where I was in charge of seven pharmacies. I spent many hours on the road going to-and-fro, but it was worth it because I was able to ensure that the pharmacies were in peak operating order and that the pharmacists and specialists were all well-trained. I was able to pass on my knowledge, which helped ensure that my Soldiers performed well and that my Pharmacists stayed informed. This assignment took its toll on my TMP vehicle, but I would have driven around the world to ensure my pharmacies were at their optimum.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.

Victory Tower at Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Many memories stand out for me.

First is repelling down Victory Tower during Basic Training, which allowed me to overcome my fear of heights and accomplish a task that I initially thought I would not be able to.

My first duty assignment where I worked with some of the best-trained and most knowledgeable people I know. Teaching at Fort Sam Houston because I was able to pass on skills and knowledge to new Soldiers.

Deploying to Hurricane Katrina Relief. Being the Training NCO for about 500 Soldiers. Working in Clinical Pharmacy and doing drug studies. My service in Germany. I know those are just brief statements, but I could write volumes on those subjects.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
There are two awards that I am most proud of; the first one is a Commendation I received while stationed at Camp Red Cloud. We had a trauma victim come in, and I was part of the team that worked on her. Unfortunately, she did not make it, but I am proud of the fact that I know the team of health care providers, and I did everything humanly possible to try to save her. There was nothing in my pharmacy technician training that even came close to preparing me for that situation, but I and the others handled it with great professionalism. It was in January 2004.

The next award that I am proud of is an Army Commendation Medal I received for rendering emergency medical treatment to a civilian who was having a grand mal epileptic seizure. This incident occurred while I was attending a pharmacy conference in Biloxi, Mississippi. The conference had ended for the day, and I was on my way back to my room to change into civilian clothes.

I just passed a pillar and caught a glimpse of someone. It looked as though they were hitting their head on the slot machine they were playing. I took another step forward toward my room, but something just didn't seem right. I turned around and noticed this person was not just hitting their head on the slot machine but was actually having a grand mal seizure. I rushed over to him, pulled him back from the machine so he would not injure himself further. I got the attention of a security guard who helped to lower the man to the floor. I directed him to call 911 and get the man's player's card from the machine so he could be identified and have his family or companions paged, ensured the man did not injure himself, and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.

Again, my pharmacy technician training did not prepare me for this. I did have some basic emergency medical skills from my earlier training as an EMT-B and Certified Nursing Assistant training before joining the Army, from my OJT medic training while working at TMC #2, from my Combat Lifesaver's Course, and EFMB training. That was in April 2000.

Additionally, I am quite proud of my national Certified Pharmacy Technician certification, which I have maintained since 1997. This certification became available in 1995, and in 1997 I went to my NCOIC and asked if I could be sent to take the exam. She agreed, and the Army paid for it. For about 3 months, I held weekly study sessions at my house for myself, another soldier, 2 civilian techs, and one volunteer so we would be well prepared for this new exam. The exam was held early on a Saturday morning, 100 miles away from where we were stationed. We met up the night before and caravanned to the hotel we booked near the test site. After we checked in and got to our rooms, my soldier asked me if I had my admittance certificate - I did not! I tried calling my husband, but he did not answer the phone as he was out in the garage working on his Studebaker. Then my soldier called her husband, and he went over to our house, but by that time, my husband was upstairs and didn't hear him knocking on the garage door. So, I had to drive all the way back and get my entrance ticket. I got about an hour's sleep and headed back. I made it in time to meet up with my colleagues, have breakfast, and then take the exam. We ALL passed.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
This is a very hard choice because they all have great meaning to me, from unofficial certificates of recognition to MSMs.

Perhaps my second Army Achievement Medal, given in 1993, because it validated my knowledge and skills as both a Solider and Pharmacy Specialist. It was given to me because I went TDY to Fort Chaffee to replace the Pharmacist who had to be out for over a month, and there was a Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation being held, so the pharmacy needed to be manned.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My very first NCOIC, MSG(r) Juli Tanzi, had the most significant impact on me. She set the standard of how an NCO should behave. Never once did I hear her complain about the long hours we worked or the changes that seemed to be implemented continuously. She made it happen.

Juli Tanzi at the Elgin Library in Elgin, Oklahoma (Feb 2014)

I remember when I first arrived and met with her, she cared about my whole person, not just the soldier side. She helped me enroll in correspondence courses and directed me to the Ed Center so I could enroll in college classes because that, too, was important. If there were training to be had, she would ensure we got to it.

I never saw her back down from any challenge, and that set the trend for me. She also never hesitated to lend a helping hand, and she was always present. During our busiest times of day, she would be out on the front line entering or filling prescriptions with the rest of us. She exuded competence and confidence and had an outstanding work ethic. I am so glad that she was my first NCOIC.

The other person that had a very positive impact on me is CSM Gregory Lott. After I had suffered the loss of my husband, my aunt, and had fallen into a deep depression. He supported me by ensuring there were no ramifications to me seeking mental health help, having confidence in my abilities as a pharmacy technician and NCO, and supporting me to continue as the NCOIC of Inpatient Pharmacy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and then as his training NCO. It changed my life for the better, and without his support, I don't know if I would have been able to continue my career in the Army.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
There are so many that I remember from my time in the Army, and the majority I have lost touch with, and I am certain I am going to miss some, but it is not on purpose.

Starting in Basic Training, there was my bunkmate Vera Taylor and Jewel (?). Most everyone in our row of bunks was a little older and had already been out on our own, so we got along better and cooperated more and would laugh at the younger soldiers.

In AIT, my three roommates, Sherry, Diane, and Amy Coombs. We all got along because we all were quite independent and actually didn't spend tons of time together, which was helpful because there were 4 of us in a tiny room. They were good roommates to have. Also from AIT, Flowers and Motley; they were tall, slender guys and we called them the twin towers.

From both times at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill:
MSG John Crain. If I recall correctly, he had reclassified from a combat arms MOS and was a bit hard of hearing. He was the NCOIC of the Pharmacy Department. He spoke quite softly. He was from Kentucky and always took his leave to coincide with the Kentucky Derby. After he retired, he was hired as a civilian tech and took care of all of the controlled substances at Reynolds Army Community Hospital at Fort Sill.

SFC Juli Zugner. She was the NCOIC of the Outpatient Pharmacy and my direct supervisor. At the time, she was married to CW2 or CW3 Donald Zugner; I don't know her maiden name. She had a significant influence on my attitude of what an NCO should be. She was quite knowledgeable about the Army and the Pharmacy. Wonderful role model. She eventually married CPT John Tanzi, and I lost touch with her.

Mrs. Cyndi Bell. She was one of our civilian pharmacy techs who kept us working as one unit regardless if you were a green suiter or a civilian. She also would make everyone their favorite dessert for their birthday. We had a huge party for her at work when she turned 40. We decorated the whole pharmacy and made a banner that read: Lordy, Lordy, CB is Forty. I receive an annual Christmas letter from her to this day.

SPC Lily Webster, SPC Tara Day, and SSG Rita Harris. Lilly worked in Outpatient Pharmacy, and Tara and Rita worked in Supply. Really nice people to work with. I have lost contact with all 3.

Betty Machelle Brashear. "Chelle (pronounce Shelly)" was one of the civilian pharmacy techs in Outpatient Pharmacy. She and I also had a personal relationship. She was great fun. I just learned this year (2020) that Chelle had passed away. She was so young.

SSG Gerald Heath (NCOIC at TMC #2, Medic), PFC Zoraida Turnipseed (Medic), PFC Charles Pickwell (Medic), SGT Rose Washington (PAD), CW2/1LT Rubin (PA), CW2/1LT Donna Milligan (PA), CW2/1LT Mike Swetman (PA), CPT/Dr. Charles/Elizabeth Ryan. This is where I did OJT 91B training, learned to do IVs, sutures, and toenail removals.

My techs in Inpatient Pharmacy: SPC Carrie Ann Kane/Sety/Baldwin, SPC Kevin Riiggs, and SPC Thomas Cannan. I couldn't have asked for three better techs. They all got along well with each other and did fantastic work. I am still in touch on occasion with Carrie; she joined the Reserves and became a Recruiter. I wish I knew if Cannan had finished medical school.

From Camp Red Cloud, Korea
SGT Jean "Ski" Konchalski (Radiology), SGT Charlene Harger (Lab), SGT "Pete" Jimenez (NBC), SGT Dan "Grizzy" Griswold, and SPC Jasper "Jazz" Marshall from Camp Jackson. He was a fantastic artist who created his art using Pointillism. I have lost contact with all of them. I found out last year that SGT Ski passed away in 2015.

From Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston
MSG Quinton Rice, SFC Usama Ahmed, SFC Scott Nikodem, SSG Michelle Luna, SSG Janice Braddy, SSG Audie Clark, Mr. Santiago Soza, Mr. Larry Nesmith, and Ms. Lily Ruiz. When I first got to Fort Sam Houston, I shared an office with SSG Braddy and SSG Clark. SSG Braddy was on her way to a new assignment in a few months so we didn't work together for too long. When I made E7, Ahmed and Nikodem pinned me. Mr. Soza, Mr. Nesmith, and Ms. Ruiz had been at the Academy for a long time. Mr. Soza and Mr. Nesmith were instructors and Ms. Ruiz was the secretary. All three of them had been there when I attended training in 1988-1989.

From Kimbrough Ambulatory Health Clinic
SPC "Sam" Nguyen (Rx Tech), SPC Centhia R Helvie (Rx Tech), SGT Latisha Watson (now Alexander) (EENT Tech). Specialist Nguyen was studying to be a Psychologist. I wish I could remember his first name. On one occasion when he took leave, he went to see his mother back in Vietnam. When he came back, he had two presents for me from his mother. They were beautifully hand-painted traditional Vietnamese outfits. I have no idea how she got them to fit me precisely as I had never given my measurements to Sam, but they fit like a glove then. She made them for me for helping her son by allowing him time during the week to complete clinical hours for his degree. He made up for this time by working every Saturday. I hope he is doing well. I am still in touch with Centhia and Latisha as they are my sorority sisters.

From Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

I am not done (12 Jan 2022)

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Yes, my first desk when I was assigned as the Training NCO for Alpha Company, WRAMC. You see, there were not enough desks to go around, and the building was being renovated, so I had a living room chair to sit in and a desk chair as my desk.

My first desk as Training NCO at Alpha Company, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

This was about 2005.

Another incident was when I got to my assignment at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. The Specialist that I replaced was literally on her way to catch her flight back to the states and handed me the keys and alarm code for the pharmacy. That is not the not funny then, but funny now part of the story. The next day, I went to my new pharmacy to do an inventory, which should have been done prior to her leaving, and to determine what my assets and deficiencies were. Well, while going through the cabinets in the back of the pharmacy, I discovered in the cabinet below the sink a plastic bag of 50 small sealed amber glass bottles in which there were 10 tablets each of 5 mg Valium, a controlled substance, and NO paperwork. I knew I was going to jail. I frantically called everyone I could think of and no one knew where this had come from or what to do with it. I thought I hadn't even been there 24 hours and I was going to go to jail for something I had no idea about. I finally got a hold of the Flight Surgeon's office on the post as spoke with MSG Archie. He came right over and we did a joint inventory, a destruction document, and I was able to turn it in. Obviously, I didn't go to jail.

While I was in PLDC at Fort Sill, I was the "Platoon" leader while we were out in the raised hooches. One of my Soldiers came to me and said they had found a long straight skinny tree branch and I said we should make a guidon, so we did by attaching a cravat. The next morning, I marched my troops (2 "platoons") up to formation in front of the TOC and join the other two "platoons". The cadre were impressed, but the other two platoons were a bunch of whiny babies, so we weren't allowed to carry our guidon anymore. That evening, my "platoon" and I went on a mission. There was a field behind the TOC and in that field was a smelly dead skunk. We put it in a plastic bag and low crawled through the field to the wood line perpendicular to the whiny babies. We waited until it was good and dark and the lights had been turn out in the hooch of the other "platoon", and waited some more until we were sure they were asleep, then one of my guys went to the power pole and switched off their main power. Then, a couple of my other guys took that smelly skunk and chucked it under their hooch. In the morning, when they got up, they didn't understand why they couldn't turn their lights on and then they realized they all stank like the skunk. It was so funny. We either never got caught or the cadre thought it was funny as well.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?

Culinary Arts Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College

After I retired from the Army, I attended Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), where I earned a degree in Culinary Arts and graduated with honors. I currently am a Chef for hire for private occasions, have worked at Taste of West Africa, and on occasion, I cooking classes at the Continuing Education Department and have been a guest speaker for Happiness Yoga at the local recreation center speaking on food topics as they relate to health and well being.

I am involved in several volunteer projects. I do data entry for Ancestry.com, which allows historical documents to be searchable. I also photograph, upload, and transcribe headstones for Find-A-Grave.com. And lastly, I am a volunteer on Army: Together We Served.

I have also been working on a research project on those that are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as well as personal genealogical research.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?

Memorial Day 2006 at Arlington Cemetery with sorority sister Michelle Townsend (on the left)

I am a member of Sigma Phi Psi Sorority, Inc, and they were the first Greek-letter sorority for the Armed Forces women that required no college affiliation. This association provided a great feeling of sisterhood, support, and camaraderie.

I got stationed in Germany for four years, retired from the Army, and then went to school for two and a half years. I found I did not have the time to dedicate to the sorority since I was no longer near a chapter; therefore, I resigned from my position and left the sorority, although I do still keep in contact with a couple of the sorors. Since I initially wrote this, I have become an active member of the sorority again as of 2018.

Among other civic-minded activities, my sorority sisters and I would carry the flags for the DAV during parades on Memorial Day and Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery and Quantico when I was with the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Sigma Phi Psi.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Actually, it hasn't. My philosophy and that of the military were the same when I joined, so I fit in. I had a strong work ethic, a sense of being, and a sense of purpose when I joined, and that fell right in with what I believe the military represents. I was also taught, before joining the Army, that if you are going to do something, then do it right the first time, and that is a philosophy I tried to follow and instill in my soldiers.

As for what I miss most about my time in service, it is the discipline and integrity.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
I would challenge them to better themselves and those around them. It is a team effort, and if you are in it for yourself, then you are in the wrong profession and need to leave.

For those that are in it to better themselves, their soldiers, and to stand up for what is right, then I say to them, continue what you are doing. You are an elite few that have chosen to take on this challenge, and it is worth it.

If more people had this mindset, then we would all be better off. Regardless of your MOS, field time, or deployments, you are essential, and what you do does make a difference. Whether you are a pill pusher as I was, a cook, or a tanker, we all have our role to play, and they all interlock, so do the best you can because someone is counting on you.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It is an excellent forum to stay in touch with others that had served or are still serving. I was able to find a fellow soldier that I had served with while at Camp Red Cloud. Because we had different MOS's we drifted apart, but because of Togetherweserved.com, we were able to reconnect.

KC 12.2.22