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Military Profiles
Below are some brief success stories of various people throughout the military.
They joined the military and made something of themselves. Will you?
SGT
Leroy Durrah
74 Bravo
My name is Sergeant Durrah and my duty is 74 Bravo which is Computer Information
Analyst.
What intrigued me about this MOS was actually working with computers, learning
how to network them, if you will. The software and hardware that the Army uses
is not different from anything that any big business or corporation uses right
now.
So if you're looking at networking as a career, and not thinking that it ties
over to the outside, you're sadly mistaken--it works hand in hand. The training
that I've received in the Army set me up for bigger and better things on the
outside.
I'm looking at becoming a network administrator, and that's something that businesses
use all the time outside. Given my experience in the Army, I should fit right
in.
I was able to achieve the goals that I set for myself. At the end of my enlistment
in the National Guard, I decided to go ahead and go on active duty.
U.S.
Naval Academy Midshipman Courtney Davidson
College Hoops Star, Future Marine
From Marine Corps Recruiting Command
QUANTICO, Va., April 23, 2004 - Courtney Davidson, team captain for the 2003-2004
Navy women's basketball team, put one last touch on a stellar collegiate basketball
career, appearing in the 16th Annual Mountain Dew College Basketball Slam Dunk
and Three-Point Championships in San Antonio, Texas, on April 2. Davidson is
excited about her future in the Marine Corps.
"Through four years of training, I have learned a lot about leadership, self-discipline,
and time management," said Davidson. "I have had the opportunity to interact
with and learn from Marine officers on the Yard. Also, the Naval Academy's summer
training program gave me the opportunity to participate in an introduction to
TBS for four weeks in Quantico and allowed me to spend another four weeks with
active Marine units at Camp Lejeune, NC."
Davidson leaves the Naval Academy holding the Navy and Patriot League record
for most three-point field goals made in a career, with 245. She also holds
Navy records for the most points scored in both a season (530) and in a career
(1,857). Davidson is a two-time Academic All-American selection and became the
first Navy women's basketball player to be named to the First-Team All-Patriot
League three times (2002, 2003, 2004).
"I chose to become a Marine for numerous reasons. The pride of belonging, esprit
de Corps, discipline, and Semper Fi attitude all strongly appealed to me," said
Davidson. "The Marine Corps demands great respect both domestically and internationally,
and I wanted to be part of it. Additionally, I will be given both the privilege
and responsibility of leading some of the finest men and women our country has
to offer."
Undersecretary
David Chu
By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON - There were only a few Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serving
in the armed forces when Chinese American David S.C. Chu, 58, joined the U.S.
Army Reserve in the 1960s. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army through
the Yale ROTC program, Chu served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 with the Office
of the Comptroller, 1st Logistical Command headquarters. He was promoted to
captain before ending his short military career, returning to Yale and earning
his doctorate in economics in 1972.
Sworn in as Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on June 1,
2001, Chu is the defense secretary's senior policy adviser on recruitment, career
development, and pay and benefits for 1.4 million military personnel, 1.3 million
National Guard and Reserve personnel and 680,000 Defense Department civilian
employees.
"I'm delighted by the fact that it is no longer unusual to have Asians and Islanders
in the ranks of the military," said Chu, the Defense Department's highest-ranking
civilian Asian American.
"One of the great things about the American military is the degree to which
people are accepted for themselves and not seen as different," he said. "They're
seen as Americans and expected to contribute on a merit basis to do what we
do. That's the standard everyone should hope is set for him or her."
Air
Force 1st Lts. Marc and Brad Summers
Twin Co-pilots Support Operation Enduring Freedom
By 1st Lt. Christine D. Millette
40th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) - Born in Cincinnati, it would have been hard
to guess that 26 years later the Summers twins would both be flying jets supporting
America's war on terrorism from a forward-deployed location.
First Lt. Marc Summers, a 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron co-pilot
who is forward deployed, and 1st Lt. Brad Summers, a co-pilot from the 32nd
Air Refueling Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., are identical twins.
The twins graduated together from the same squadron at the Air Force Academy
and both went through undergraduate pilot training at Vance AFB, Okla., where
Brad was one class behind Marc. The brothers' father was also active-duty Air
Force.
Air Force 1st Lts. Marc and Brad Summers, identical twins, recently flew missions
together supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Marc is assigned to the 28th
Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a forward-deployed location, and Brad
is assigned to the 32nd Air Refueling Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Courtesy
photo
"Usually we're stuck in completely different desert locations, supporting separate
missions," said Marc. "It was very cool that we happen to be here at the same
time."
While they live on opposite coasts and are constantly working contingency missions,
the Summers brothers try to keep in touch on a regular basis.
"We talk about once a week, or once a month, depending on our deployments and
missions," Brad said.
Airman
1st Class George Okorodudu
By Tech. Sgt. Jason Tudor
457th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England - Airman 1st Class George Okorodudu admits
with a wide smile he has nothing.
For the better part of two years, the Nigerian-born Okorodudu, a deployed supply
troop here, has been building his American Dream with a foundation that's included
an Air Force enlistment. Even as he waits for his U.S. citizenship to be finalized,
Okorodudu is excited about what lies ahead.
"The American Dream is to start with nothing and to work your way up in the
world," he said. "I'm excited to try this."
Staff Sgt. Ryan Brugman has worked with the airman for a little more than a
year. Brugman, also deployed here, said if anyone deserves a below-the-zone
promotion and to fulfill the American Dream, it's Okorodudu.
"George is very sharp and professional," Brugman said. "He has a great attitude
and his initiative is unbeatable."
"It's awesome," Okorodudu said about Air Force enlistment. "I had to leave everything
behind when I left Nigeria, but the Air Force met my needs and it was a good
opportunity. I'm independent."
"It doesn't matter where you come from. It matters what you bring to the table,"
he said. "The cost is worth it. Freedom is worth it."
A
jam for Spencer
Story & photo by PA2 Megan Casey, 1st District
It could be a typical scene anywhere: a small crowd gathered around, some tapping
their feet, others just listening. The dark, shadowy room resonates with the
sound of a popular tune. Several men, the focus of the crowd, pick their guitars
or beat the drums, sweat pouring down bodies, their faces intent as they try
to drown out the outside noise with the music they are playing.
The difference for this band is that the noise competing with their music is
the sound of a Coast Guard cutter underway in the south Caribbean, and the room
where they are playing is actually the helicopter hangar.
The CGC Spencer is the home of a four-person band that plays almost every other
week when the cutter is underway.
The band usually jams in the helicopter hangar or on the fantail of the 270-foot
cutter while underway. When the weather is bad, or the cutter is in port, aft
steering becomes the rehearsal space. The members schedule their performances
around operations and watch schedules, usually playing on Saturday for Morale
Night or on Sunday during holiday routine. However, they have taken their act
out on the road.
While on a port call in Bon Aire in August of 1999, the band played at a local
nightspot.
"The crowd really dug it. A lot of the guys from the boat were there. It was
cool," said McGuigan.
"It was neat to see us. Everyone was dancing and having a good time," said Gagnon.
"We're all very much different in personality and character, but we find common
ground in music and blowing off some steam," said Loverti.
SGT
Leroy Durrah
U.S.
Naval Academy Midshipman Courtney Davidson 
Undersecretary
David Chu 
Air
Force 1st Lts. Marc and Brad Summers 
Airman
1st Class George Okorodudu 
A
jam for Spencer 