While Serving, What’s a Time You Remember Someone Who Went Above and Beyond to Help You Out? Login & Share to Win!

My company landed in the Song Re valley in Vietnam and all hell broke loose. B company tried landing and 2 of their helicopters were shot down. The VC had 51 caliber machine guns on three hills and were tearing us apart. Also they had spider holes on the landing zone inside our perimeter. Jets were called in but the VC were dug in. Our company commander finally issues an order to charge one of the hills. Finally the enemy broke contact. We lost a lot of good men that day but if the order to charge up the hill hadn't been given the loses would have been much worse.

When I just became a SGT. It was 2 weeks after I got pinned and the platoon wanted to see what I could do and they handed me all kinds of tasks and paper work. It was very over wellming as a new E-5 and I was just messing up all over the place. My section SGT helped me out during the night after a very late night I fell asleep in my rack and all the stuff that I needed to get done was before I woke up. My section SGT said you were busting you butt and making everything was correct and there was no way of getting everything done. We all know how hard you worked to become and a SGT and your still working hard after you asked for help. We want you to succeed and we did this for you. So to return the favor at the end of our debriefing I gave thanks and props for everyone who helped me. I did not take all credit. All of the people in the debriefing room stood up and applaud for me. I asked why did you guys do that. They said this was a test to see how you can handle being a NCO . Welcome to the Brother/Sister hood.

After punching out a PFC for going to chow instead of cleaning the head first my Commanding Officer “Captain Richard F Vercauteren” U.S.M.C. a silver star recipient for valor during “Operation Dewey Canyon in November 1967 where he personally rescued several wounded Marines under heavy enemy fire sent me to NCO leadership class at Quantico Virginia instead of giving me an article 15 where I probably would have been busted to private and sent to the brig. That was in November of 1975. Today 46 years later both of us have reconnected thanks to the internet and communicate often. He’s now a retired Brigadier General. He definitely was a class act and I couldn’t have ever found an officer like him in a million years. Many officers I had after him were arrogant, detached , and if I had stayed in at Camp LeJeune I would have eventually probably would have punched out my Company Commander. Thank god I was discharged honorably as a Sergeant E-5 before anything happened. Even to this day I really still don’t like officers. Ain’t that something!

More old sergeants than I can list or remember.

When I was a young soldier, there was a Specialist (P) who our senior enlisted felt was not ready for promotion and held him back. What they didn’t see or didn’t want to is how much he supported those around him, especially younger soldiers to help them navigate the new military experience. He was a huge help to me and actually helped me rise through the ranks faster than others. He was a strong but silent type and just took things as they rolled. As I got promoted, I ensured I returned the favor!

One of my first supervisors, Sgt Bernard Ashlock, went above and beyond when his supervisor accused me of doing something I did not do. Although I could tell he was uncomfortable confronting his supervisor, he stood in his truth, and I was vindicated! I learned a very important lesson that day, and ever since, every troop I have ever had, I have stood by them when they were in the right.

On my first joint assignment with my B-52 pilot, husband in Laughlin AFB, I had a family emergency that required my extended presence at home! The group Deputy CC, found me a humanitarian assignment were assignments for me were very rare. I wish I could remember his name! I would search my files to remember him! My brother ended dying shortly after I arrived. I am for ever grateful for the DCC who allowed me to be there for my brother who was single!

As most of us(all vets, all branches) had rough spots in our careers, I also hit a rough area of my service. While an E5 communications watch supervisor, during slow periods of messages being received and transmitted, i allowed my watchstanders to engage in activities that did not effect the job, such as reading (nope, did not allow sleeping), BS'ing. I did not subscribe to the policy of "inventing" jobs to do. A senior E5 objected to my way of doing things and I ended up getting special evals for a year. I was removed from the supervisor position and placed in another job working for a very competent RM1, Jerry Wheeler. Jerry understood my method(s) of supervision, he allowed me to do the new job assignment(traffic checker), handle the brush fires that came up. A few years later Jerry and I ended up being stationed together again at another duty station. There was a young sailor that was going through a rough period, not able to please the upper managers. Jerry took me aside and told me it was time to take that young sailor under my wing, as Jerry had done for me and get him through that rough period of time. I did, and that young sailor went on to become an officer(a good one). Thanks to RM1 Jerry Wheeler for letting me "blossom" and giving me the ability to do the same for another sailor. One of the very good memories of my 22yrs service. Thanks Jerry, where ever you are.

Post Sgt Major John Kerner, was one helluva guy. He was always friendly to me and treated me a a sort of respect. I worked in the HQ Commandant Office while waiting for my OCS date after AIT. While there I wasn't what you would call the most collected straight line soldier. He said that I was the sloppiest soldier he ever aw during his long time in the Army, but all while smiling. Usually once a month I got invited to a Sunday dinner with him and his wife. He just made this Canuck feel more at home. Thanks John. RIP.

I joined the Navy at 15 years old during the Korean war falseifying my birth certificate, I reenlisted under the same birth certificate. I was assigned to Patrol Squadron Four and decided to marry a Japanese Girl (thiis was in 1955) when I applied to the navy I had to state my real age. even though the UCMJ was very specific about this my Commander went to bat for me and wrote the dept of the navy and told them how good I was They wrote back and said that it was a court martial offense, but that I had better never do that again! and corrected my records.