davidegrogan
About davidegrogan
Posts by David Grogan:
Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army – From Training Troops at Fort Irwin to Collecting Intelligence in the Iraq War
America’s fighting forces are the best in the world. They earned that distinction by training day in and day out, preparing them for victory on the battlefield. Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army, knows the importance of training better than most because he trained thousands of soldiers destined for combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. When his own turn came to deploy in 2003, he saw firsthand the benefits of realistic training and incorporated his experience into the lessons he passed on to others. As a result, his service had a positive impact on countless U.S. Army units and soldiers deployed around the world.
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen
I learned about Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen watching the Today Show, where Vicky is the Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent. When Vicky mentioned she and her parents escaped Vietnam in 1975 on a small boat sailing into the South China Sea, I ordered the audio book right away and am glad I did. I found […]
Specialist Dale Abbott, U.S. Army – Serving in the National Guard: From Illinois to Desert Storm
Because National Guard units serve both the state and federal governments, members are often the face of the military most familiar to many Americans. When disaster strikes in a state, the governor calls upon the National Guard to respond. If our nation goes to war, the Guard’s citizen soldiers are expected to answer the call. Specialist Dale Abbott understands these state and federal roles all too well. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard and soon found himself driving a truck in Operation Desert Storm. After he returned, he helped people in flood-ravaged areas of southern Illinois. Both efforts were a far cry from his humble beginnings.
Chief Michelle Ramlow, U.S. Navy (Retired) – Service When It Counts: Desert Storm, the Pentagon on 9/11, and Kuwait
The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, mark a defining moment in U.S. history. Many Americans remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the attacks. Yeoman Chief Petty Officer Michelle Ramlow, U.S. Navy (Retired), has had many such defining moments. Not only did she survive the September 11 attack on the Pentagon, but she also deployed on a ship as part of Operation Desert Storm and served in Kuwait during the Iraq War. Throughout these events, and at all times in between, Michelle served with distinction and proudly carried on her family’s tradition of military service.
Technical Sergeant Kenneth Ash, U.S. Air Force (Retired) – Twenty Years of Keeping B-52s Flying
Some people come to critical decision points in their lives and wait for the Fates to make the decisions for them. Others, like Technical Sergeant Kenneth Ash, U.S. Air Force (Retired), make the hard choices themselves and chart their own paths, unwilling to leave their futures to chance. Ken joined the Air Force in 1967 rather than waiting to be drafted, beginning a journey of service that lasted twenty years. Although he had no way of knowing where his journey would ultimately take him, he knew with certainty his choice was the right one for him at the time.
Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman
I listened to Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman while on a long drive. It’s perfect for the car because it’s only three hours and twenty-seven minutes long. More important, it’s absolutely riveting. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately followed it up with a second Elliot Ackerman book. I’ll talk about that book […]
Master Sergeant Shawn Miller, U.S. Air Force (Retired) – Serving in the Iraq War and Across the Globe
When we make choices in life, we have no way of knowing how they will play out. A door that opens to paths in one direction may foreclose others and lead us to places we could not possibly have foreseen. When Master Sergeant Shawn Miller joined the Air Force, he had never even flown in an airplane before. Twenty-three years later, he’d served in far-off places around the world doing everything from refueling aircraft in the Honduran jungle to collecting intelligence in war-torn Iraq. Few can match the breadth and variety of his experience, which included investigating murder cases and augmenting presidential security teams. All this stemmed from his single decision to join the Air Force in 1991.