Talents and passion: How eight amazing military teens helped better the lives of those around...

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Talents and passion: How eight amazing military teens helped better the lives of those around them in a pandemic
By Karen Jowers
Jun 12, 07:43 PM
Operation Homefront's 2022 winners of the Military Child of the Year award: From left, Andrew "AJ" Stone, Sophia Jordan, David Lee, Anna Cummins, Elena Ashburn, Mitchell Matella, Kathryn Alonso and Grant Benson. (Courtesy of Operation Homefront)

Eight inspiring teenagers — representing each branch of the armed forces — looked beyond their own difficulties during the pandemic and found ways to offer their unique skills, talents and passion to help others get through hard times.

Whether it was sending boxes of gifts to critically ill children who couldn’t travel to fulfill their Make-A-Wish dreams; flying on volunteer missions to deliver medical supplies to rural areas; bringing healing music to those in need, or helping out home-bound neighborhood parents with child care, they have made a difference.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD SGT Mark Anderson