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

way back 1972 there was a dearh in my family, I didn't have the means to get home and my ship's yoman did all the work to get me home as soon as i could. he even made sure that my boat sent flowers. never forgot how helpful he was.

After a decade as a reservist, I enlisted on active duty. I'd spent much of that decade working as an EMT, and even completed most of a paramedic course. By most standards, I was above-average as a Healthcare practitioner. But my soldier skills were that of a pre-9/11 reservist, if necessary I could muster the minimum standards of "good order & discipline." I joined the regiment in Ramadi in June 2003, they having been down range since March. I struggled. A whole lot.
I ran afoul of the HHT 1SG... in a rather spectacular way, during my first 10 days in country. After spending a lot of time as an interior perimeter checkpoint sentry, and human waste incineration technician, I was given the opportunity to prove my chops as a medic by the Squadron Surgeon, and he liked what he saw.
After about 90 days, I was reassigned to the organic engineer company, and never looked back. I spent 17 months deployed plus the intermediary 50 weeks in garrison with them. Because we had a 1 medic/platoon ratio at the company, we spent garrison time operating the Aid Station, which fit my skill set much better than the HQ medics that spent their days in the motor pool.

Three people come to my mind:
Airman Sam Briley, from Belleville IL. He was my room mate, I was his best man. We both kinda "grew up" in the Air Force. It seemed like the harder we worked together, the better the life was.

SSGT Dan Millington, Reno NV. He was a good supervisor, and took all his crew on as counterparts and friends. We rocked the flight line with his lead, no one was better. He's still a friend of mine.

CMSGT Jim Barros, Hawaii. Met the Chief as he came home from his last short to Vietnam. I was an Airman First Class, so Chiefs were like gods, you didn't want to cross them. Without great detail, just know, the Chief Barros (with his wife and children), adopted a bunch of us young airmen, advising and mentoring us. He had a great affect on my life, and became a light for me as I made the Air Force a career.

When I was an E-4 & E-5 at Ft. Campbell, KY, with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division, my company lieutenant (Lt. Newman, if memory serves me correctly), helped me train for the EIB (Expert Infantryman's Badge). Also, when I was applying for Special Forces training, he helped me complete the paperwork and all of the other requirements (e.g., P.T. test, swimming test, etc.). He was a very good, caring, & helpful commissioned officer (probably in large part because he had started out as an enlisted soldier, and then he went through OCS)!

When I was a company commander in the Army Reserves, one of my drill sergeants, Joann, who was also a full time technician with the unit, always went above and beyond the call of duty to take care of things that came up between drill weekends that otherwise I would have to go in to handle.

I have to say the soldier that was suppose to be my Battle buddy, but ended up the commanders driver, seems he never forgot me, even though he was not always there. Sounds funny I know but he still even today stays in contact and wants to be sure I am doing ok. He knows I have issues. Thanks Mac for you

I am not certain as to whom I should thank. My understanding is that few enlisted E4's received Bronze starts for working hard and doing good work. But I did receive one while serving in Vietnam. For many years I gave it little thought but now after many years I can appreciate it. If it was E5 Ed Connors I say thank you.

I gotta say, I don't remember a time like that. I was not the kind of person who needed help...but I did help others out quite a bit. And I do remember one guy who lightened the load, emotionally, for everyone. Milton Ragsdale treated his military experience like an SCA, or re-enactor's experience. He had fun with it and was very resourceful and creative. A truly great guy!

I had a supervisor in Thailand whi had been there three years when I showed up. For whatever reason, he took me under his tuteledge and tried to make me a better B-52 mechanic than I was already.. We are good friends to this day after losing touch for many years.

I honestly can't think of anyone going above and beyond, had some really great ti men but still not above and beyond