chronicle issue vol.44 #5 november 7, 2013

ChronicleThe

at WVU Parkersburg

November 7, 2013 Volume #44 No. 5

Inside this Issue

by Tessa McAtee New construction is under way to develop the mandated Veter-ans’ Resource Center, located in the old children’s room on the ground floor of the main campus building. “The college totally supports veterans, so why not have a space for them,” said Director of Facilities and Grounds Dave White. Construction started on the new Veterans’ Resource Center on Oct. 21 by the college’s facili-ties and grounds crew. The crew will have to complete many dif-ferent phases in order to wrap up construction. Construction has included: relocating all the cur-rent furniture in the vacant room, dismantling the bathroom, and tearing out the existing flooring. The new center will be complete

with new furniture, flooring, computers and paint. “A mandate was put in place by the state of West Virginia requiring all colleges and uni-versities to have a Veterans’ Resource Center,” said Shawn Healy, WVU Parkersburg Vet-eran Advocate. WVU Parkersburg has been utilizing only the one room for Veterans’ Affairs. After the man-date, this room was not sufficient for their needs. The purpose of this mandate is to better serve veterans with admission, financial aid and counseling services. The center is also to aid students in identify-ing external organizations and agencies in the civilian world to benefit veterans. The center will house two computers, wireless access,

conference room, study center and veterans’ representative of-fice. Veterans will have access to education and career services, as well as financial aid assistance in the new center. “…This will be a place for the vets to get together, talk and build friendships, and bring back some camaraderie,” Healy said about the center. The Resource Center will also serve the purpose of assisting veterans who may be struggling with the transition from military to the civilian world. “For vets who are coming back with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) issues, they can have an area where they can talk to guys who have the similar problems,” Healy said. The center will be done by spring semester, White said.

“THE COLLEGE TOTALLY SUPPORTS VETERANS, SO WHY NOT HAVE A SPACE FOR THEM.”

- Dave White

W V U P a r k e r s b u r g Gives Back to Veterans

Page 2: Troop Week Klettner ColumnPage 3: Tom Brown Doug "Brian" TaylorPage 4: Channing SmallPage 5: Ashley GarlowPage 6: Shawn HealyPage 7: Paul Garrett

Justin WilliamsonPage 8-9: Dave White0: Irvin TalkingtonPage 11: Charlie BuckalewPage 12: Khalid HaiderPage 13: Elizabeth StovallPage 14: Kevin WhitmorePage 15: Shelly GainerPage 16: Jared Towner

Facilities and Maintenance employees pose with Veterans’ Advocate Shawn Healy outside the center currently under renovation.

The Chronicle at WVU Parkersburg November 7, 2013

West Virginia University at Parkersburg's Veteran Corps is raising funds for its “My Freedom Wish” project from now until Wednesday, November 13th. The group will be collecting donations and selling t-shirts and raffle tick-ets. The Veterans Corps will host a luncheon fundraiser on Tuesday, November 12th, beginning at 11 a.m. in the College Activities Center and is open to the public. Tick-ets for the luncheon are $3 for WVU Parkersburg student veterans, $5 for veterans, and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased by calling 304-424-8337 or by

visiting the Veterans Service office in room 1214.The college is also planning activities for Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th, including a flag raising cer-

emony in front of the campus at 8:15 a.m.

Veterans’ Day creates an opportunity to remember. This day is cel-ebrated nationwide as a time to collectively remember and honor men and women who have served and are currently serving our country as a member of the United States military. On this day many individuals will reflect back on the past. You may finding yourself thinking of family, friends and loved ones whose history includes a time of military duty; in some cases having given their life in service to country. In this case the memories often bring forth the emotion of pride coupled with the sorrow that comes with death. Military service brings with it many challenges that continue long after the end of an assignment, de-ployment or discharge. Whether you still hold a military rank, or your time in service was a few years ago or decades ago (for me it is now over thirty-three years since I was last referred to as Staff Sergeant Klettner) the sites that you have seen, the places that you have been assigned, the actions that your par-ticular MOS and time of duty has required of you can have a life long impact. If you are a “Vet”, your reflection on this day may bring forth many memories and feelings that include not just honor and pride that comes with serving in the Armed Forces, but also days and nights of pain and suffering. It is important that each Vet who has experienced suffering as a result of military service, regardless of the form (emotional, psychological, physical, stressed/broken relationships, etc.), remembers that as it took courage to enter into the military and face the personal assignments that have ultimately created one’s military experience, it also takes courage to face the battle for healing and peace of mind.

PEACE!Kurt

The Challenge of Being a VetChronicleThe

at WVU Parkersburg

News Editor: Jeremy HarrisonAsst. News Editor: Justina MorrisNews Reporting/Photography Staff: Kyle NicholsCora TiddShelby ThomasKathy McPeekElizabeth StovallDaniel JacksonJason RossCorrissa WilliamsThaddeus Randolph

Layout Editor: Corrissa WilliamsLayout Staff: Shelby ThomasJeremy Harrison Jessica ThompsonTessa McAteeMacie LynchHannah DuffieldCandice HoalcraftCarle StewartMegan Valentine

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@wvupchronicle

Advisor: Torie Jackson

Megan NewlandAllison HilberKristiana HuntAustin WeifordJason RossKyle NicholsJustina MorrisCora TiddJason Walker

Carle StewartCandice HoalcraftHannah DuffieldTia GoodrichMegan ValentineAllison HilberMegan Newland

Volume 44Produced by students of WVU Parkersburg

The Chronicle at WVU ParkersburgNovember 7, 2013

by Kathy McPeek When Tom Brown received luggage as a high school gradu-ation gift from his parents, he knew what it meant. Brown joined the Army after graduating in 1985. He took the subtle hint from his parents that it was time to move on — but not with that luggage. Instead, he chose green duffel bags. The first stop was basic train-ing at Fort Dix, N.J., and was attached to the 7th Aviation Bat-talion 101st Air Assault Division. During his time in the Army, Brown deployed on several peacekeeping tours with the Mul-tinational Force and Observers in Panama, Korea, Honduras, and Egypt. He married during those early service years. During the peace keeping tours, he had to leave his wife and young children state-side. One of hardest times for him was before a leave for Hondu-ras. His daughter was only three months old and he wouldn’t get

to see her again until she was nine months old. Already hav-ing a two-year-old son, he knew how much a baby would change in six months, and how much he would miss. He would have his daughter sleep in his arms every night in a rocking chair because he knew that he would miss that time. In totality, Brown said he spent approximately seven years of his 20-year military service away from his family. Still, Brown feels lucky to have been stationed overseas and have the opportunity to serve his country. During peace time he was able to do some sightseeing. One of his fondest memories was while stationed in Egypt; touring both Egypt and Israel. Brown was able to visit the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Sphinx of Giza, take a three-day cruise down the Nile River, visit the Church of the Nativity, and climb Moses Mountain. Brown said, “This is stuff you might read about in the Bible and I got

to see them.” Brown recalls one of the fun-niest sights he had ever seen in his life was while he was in the desert on a water supply mis-sion. A desert wanderer had a full-size camel strapped down in the back of a small pick up truck for travel rather than riding the camel across the desert — like one would expect to see. Brown retired from the United States Army in 2005 after 20 years of service. He worked for the Boilermakers Union for a few years. Yet, he still had interests that went beyond those job duties. Brown said that at the last base where he was stationed, he worked in the base tax center, which gave him an interest in accounting. He chose WVU Parkersburg because it offers an accounting program and is conveniently located only three minutes from his home. One of the hardest adjust-ments to civilian life for Brown has been changing his com-

munication style. In the Army, motivation and orders were presented in “We don’t want excuses – we want answers!” However, in civilian life, he has to take a less direct approach. Military life taught him struc-ture; he still wakes up early every morning and has his first cup of coffee to get his day start-ed. Brown takes the initiative to get a job done and accepts chal-lenges head on. Brown believes this mind set has helped him become a good college student. Brown has set up study groups for his classes, one of the groups went from six students to nearly the entire class. In his spare time, Brown likes to fish, camp and sit around a bonfire. Brown is also active in local Veterans’ group activities. Life has changed greatly since the day Brown’s parents gave him luggage as a gift. He married and divorced. He toured and came home, and toured and came home, etc. He

watched his children grow and move away from the area. His son, 21, is now living in Arizona, and his daughter, age 19, lives in Colorado. Today, aside from college, he also helps care for an aging fam-ily member. But mostly, he is thankful — grateful for the time he spent serving his country and appre-ciative of the time he has now to pursue other interests. Who knows ... maybe he’ll finally use that luggage.

College Becomes the Next Chapter for Army Veteran

Tom Brown

by Daniel Jackson Doug “Brian” Taylor is a vet-eran who has a strong interest in history. He grew up in Tuppers Plains, Ohio, just 30 miles from the main campus of WVU Parkers-burg. Taylor, a current student, is a veteran with three deployments under his belt, including both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Taylor enlisted in the Army in 1975 and completed basic train-ing at Fort Polk, La., the same

year. Following his basic training, he was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., but temporarily transferred to Fort Benning, Ga., for Air-borne and Ranger training. One of his most notable ac-complishments is the Special Forces weapons training he underwent at the JFK Special Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, N.C., where he became a Green Beret. He worked directly with the Iraqi Army as an advisor during his 2004-2005 deployment.

In June 2011, Taylor retired from the Army as a Sergeant 1st class. After retiring from the Army, Doug applied for enroll-ment into WVU Parkersburg. Since leaving the military, Taylor described the contrast be-tween his role in the military and his role as a student has proved to be a very difficult transition. He was used to waiting on orders in the military. He no longer has to do that. Taylor believes his military ex-perience gave him the discipline he needs to excel as a college

student. He explained that many of the new technologies being implemented on campus make it difficult to adjust sometimes. He hopes to eventually trans-fer to Ohio State University, a school he previously attended for a short time. He likes to joke that most people say that he is just going for the football tickets. He often goes to every OSU home football game. Expressing a strong interest in history, Taylor enjoys discussing military history, analyzing and discussing different events.

Taylor specifically wants to obtain his history degree and apply for a job at Gettysburg Na-tional Park in Pennsylvania.He has a special interest in the Battle at Gettysburg. He talks at length about the scope of the battle and the men who fought there. He talks about the motivations of both sides, the economy of the south during the war, the failings of the Confederacy, and other as-pects of the Civil War. Taylor has a definite love of history, and his time in the mili-tary helped him create his own.

Love of History Inspires Veteran to Obtain Degree


by Tessa McAtee On a search for a sense of im-portance Channing Small found a brotherhood, passion and a purpose for life in a way he will never forget. Small is a West Virginia na-tive who volunteered his way to an 82nd Airborne patch, boots full of sand and experiences that have changed his life forever. Now he is hurdling the ob-stacles of transition from military and war to civilian life. Small was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, but he grew up on the country roads of Wirt County, W.Va. He has two older sisters, Carrie and Ashlee, a brother, Justen, and a younger sister, Kei-ra, who is a senior at Parkersburg South High School. All through school, he played football, baseball and wrestled, but his true love was racing dirt bikes. In 2006, Small graduated from Wirt County High School with the expected plan of going to West Virginia University to study business. He always knew some-day he would join the military, he just didn’t know it was only a semester away. “I was in seventh-grade math class when our teacher ran out of the room crying and came back with a TV. As we sat there and watched 9/11 unfold, I knew I was going to join the military

I went over to start talking to him, and then he punched me in the nose. Next thing I know he is one of my good friends and now he is my brother-in-law.” While stationed at Fort Polk his learning objectives were to be able to think, act and move like the enemy. “One of the company com-manders came and asked me if I would like to deploy with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg N.C. I jumped at the opportunity to serve my country and do what I signed up to do, finally,” said Small. Off to Bragg he went. Small was at Fort Bragg for three short months before he deployed. He was part of the 2nd-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In those three months he refined his medic and infantry skills through more elite training. When those three months were up, it was time to board the plane for Afghanistan. Small said, “I didn’t feel any emotions. There was nothing; ex-citement that I was finally getting to use the knowledge and skills that I had been training for two

when I was old enough,” he ex-plained. His grandfather and father both retired from the Air Force. His brother was an A-10 jet me-chanic in the Air Force as well, but that was not the path Small wanted to take.In October 2007, he enlisted in the Army for four years. Small spent 14 weeks at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., for basic training. While at basic he also completed Infantry school. “My very first memory of Benning was getting yelled at for our bus driver dropping us off late.,” he said while chuckling. After completing basic train-ing, he was station at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Small was sent to Fort Sam Houston to complete combat medic training. “Medic school was a blast! San Antonio is such a beauti-ful city; we could also use our military IDs to cross the border into Mexico. We had a lot of fun in Mexico, couple of close calls, but a lot of good memories,” said Small. He spent 18 weeks at Fort Sam Houston to complete his medic training. After completing medic school, Small found himself back at Fort Benning for another four weeks where he earned his para-chutist badge. Then it was on to Fort Polk in Leesville, La., for one year where he was 1st-509th Para-chute Infantry Battalion. During his first night at Fort Polk he met someone he will never forget. “My first night I was coming in from a night of fun and I saw a senior medic sitting on the fence.

years.” After two plane changes and 20 hours of flight time, he landed in Afghanistan. Small was fighting for OEFX, Operation Enduring Freedom 10. As soon as his boots hit the sand he, “…smelt sewer. I felt the Afghan heat; I thought it was the exhaust from the aircraft but that’s just how hot it was. All I saw was desert.” Small was still excited to start implementation of his training. He was finally going to get the mental and physical challenge that he had set out to find. The first three months in Af-ghanistan he spent in Helmand Providence stationed with the Brit ish Royal Army. Mov-ing from Helmand, Small’s Battalion went to secure the Arghandab River Valley, known as the graveyard of empires by Afghan locals and previous bat-talions. This is where the Russian Army lost a decisive battle to the Mujahedeen in the ’80s. 2nd-508th Charlie Company was assigned the area of the Arghandab, Jelawar, which was the birthplace of the Taliban originator Mullah Omar. Charlie Company had to fight for ev-erything when arriving to their sector, including a place to sleep. They seized an old school build-ing from the Taliban fighters and established it “Combat Out Post

Nolan,” named after Sergeant Nolan who they lost early in the deployment. “Being stationed in the Ar-ghandab was like going back 100 years. No technology, no power. These people literally had noth-ing. No rights no nothing. I felt bad for them,” he said. After securing their Area of Operations, they had to transi-tion the area they had fought so hard to control to another unit to maintian. The unit that replaced Charlie Company was a Bat-talion from the 101st Airborne. Within two months of taking control, the 101st had lost all of the ground for which Charlie Company had fought. “I felt the same when leaving as I did when I arrived, except I was already missing COP Nolan after only a week. When arriving back in the states, Small was stationed back at Fort Bragg for his last year of service. During this time, he was in charge of training new privates to be expert line medics. After his year, Small packed his bags and moved back to West Vir-ginia. “The hardest part of getting out of the military was not hav-ing anyone around me that knew what I had been through and un-derstood me,” said Small. Nowadays one will find Small running, hiking, camping, hunt-ing and riding his four-wheeler on his family farm. He is now studying nursing at WVU Park-ersburg, and working as a Union painter . “The one thing I miss the most about the military is the cama-raderie and the brotherhood,” Small described.

Channing Small:

Small with brother-in-law Alex Voyce and sister Ashlee Voyce.

Small sorting medical sup-plies in Afghanistan.

Some of Charlie Company outside of COP Nolan.

Combat medic trades boots for books


United States Naval Officer Reminisces About Time Spent in the U.S. Military

by Cora Tidd Honor, courage and com-mitment are all words that can define the values of the United States Navy. Ashley Garlow was born and raised in Burbank, Calif. She dedicated several years of her life to the United States Navy, but eventually found comfort and stability in the smaller commu-nity of Parkersburg, W.Va. Garlow is a woman that has been able to achieve much in her life since her days back in Burbank. She graduated from Granada Hills Charter High School in 2004. Initially, Garlow wanted to go straight into col-lege after finishing high school. Instead, she focused on a career in the military. Garlow is now a four-year veteran of the Navy. During Garlow’s senior year of high school, a military recruiter came to discuss all the opportu-nities the military could provide. Garlow was intrigued by all the military had to offer. The college benefits that could be obtained through military enlistment is what inspired Garlow to join. Knowing she would soon be

Garlow and her mother onboard the USS BARRY.

Garlow with fellow crew members in Canada in 2008.

on her own, Garlow wanted to be sure she could afford the good college education that she had always hoped for in her future. She looked over all the different branches of the military before finding the right fit. “The Navy stuck out right away,” said Garlow, “I felt like I would be able to become suc-cessful within that particular branch of the military.” Garlow attended basic training at the Naval Station Great Lakes in Chicago, Ill. After graduating from basic training, Garlow went on to serve in the Navy as an operation specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class. She spent her time stationed at the Norfolk, Va., na-val base. Garlow went on active duty from 2006 to 2010. During this time Garlow was able to be part of Operation Iraqi Freedom post 911. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was initiated on March 20, 2003. The alleged primary goal was to remove and destroy weapons of mass destruction. The long-term objective was to help the Iraqi people establish a prosperous and free country. Throughout her time in the Navy, Garlow was deployed on several occasions. Italy, Greece and Rome are just a few ex-amples of the places Garlow has been stationed at through her Navy career. “Rome was one of the best places I got to see,” said Garlow, “I spent the whole day just visit-ing all the different attractions it had to offer.” According to Garlow, some of the most memorable aspects of military life came from deploy-ment. Being off the ship during

deployment and seeing all the different countries and cities is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Being able to do all of that with one's coworkers, who essentially end up being like family, makes it more memorable. After the Navy, Garlow had to make the transition back to civilian life. Already living inde-pendently off the ship and paying her own personal bills is what allowed Garlow to have an easier shift back to normality. Though that’s not to say it was always a clean break. The big difference now was she had to find a new source of income for her way of living. “It was kind of difficult to make the change because in military life Uncle Sam holds your hand. Going back to being completely on your own can be a hard thing to do. Yet, I think I was able to transition pretty well by holding down a stable job and going back to school right after-wards,” stated Garlow. Garlow later went on to avia-tion school in Denver, Colo., for a year. Aviation school did not

turn out to be the right career path for her. Garlow was faced with the tough call to either go back home to California where tuition was too expensive, or find another alternative. Soon after talking her problem over with a close friend, Garlow decided to make the move across the country to the smaller com-munity of Parkersburg, W.Va. This choice would allow Garlow to attend WVU Parkersburg and major in her true passion, crimi-nal justice. “I have always been interested in criminal justice ever since I was a small child,” said Garlow, “When aviation school didn’t work out, I went back to what I originally loved.” Garlow is currently employed at the Pressley Ridge Facility for troubled youth. She is part of the direct care staff that look after 10 adolescent females. Garlow counsels the girls though their personal issues and helps to make sure they can meet expec-tations. She is also responsible for handling any physical alterca-tions that may occur.

When asked how she stays physically active Garlow stated: “I work with kids, so I’m up and at it 16 hours a day. But, when I want to get in top shape, I make sure to eat right and go to the gym three times a week.” Whenever Garlow has free time to herself, she fills it with activities that she can enjoy. Some of Garlow’s hobbies in-clude working on crafts and spending time outdoors. Over the years, Garlow has traveled with the Navy to coun-tries such as Italy and Greece. She wanted to afford a good education, and longed for the advantages a smaller commu-nity could provide. She is now a proud four-year veteran of the United States Navy. “Being part of the Navy is one of those life experiences not a lot of people can say they have had. It has changed my life for the better in so many different per-spectives,” shared Garlow.

Ashley Garlow


by Megan Valentine It was a blistering hot day in June. Shawn Healy was a staff sergeant and squad leader in the 1/150th Armored Recon Squad-ron of the Army National Guard. The mission was to meet and greet the local village people and inquire about soccer fields. Chaplain Allen wanted to pro-vide equipment, gear and soccer balls, and make improvements to the fields for the local youth. It seemed as though it would be a simple mission. But the Iraq army was controlling that area. Healy and fellow soldiers set up a 360 security upon arriving. Healy was gunning that day and the dismounts conducted the mis-sion in the nearby market area. As the dismount team arrived back to the trucks and all the soc-cer balls were passed out, they began chatting about the soccer field located on the west side of the village. They mounted up on the vehicles and, after the door shut, Healy heard an explosion at his six o’clock. “A Vehicle Borne improvised device had went off and I turned

around and saw the mushroom cloud go up and the flames com-ing from the vehicle,” Healy described. He saw a man running while holding his child in his arms — an image permanently burnt into his memory. The radio’s communication was going crazy, all the reports were being sent to each vehicle and to their tactical operations center. Everyone in the vehicles was accounted for and they be-gan to set up a perimeter around the parking lot. Healy’s team established their security and had the Iraq Army stand down and clear the area. Then, they waited for an explo-sive ordinance disposal specialist to arrive and clear the area. Healy still thought about the man running with the child. He later learned the child did not survive. This mission changed Healy’s life. He will not soon forget the tragic events of that day. He knew he had to make something good come out this situation. The events of that day — seeing

innocent children harmed as a result of conflict — encouraged Healy to organize My Freedom Wish at WVU Parkersburg. Healy, also a M2A3 Bradley Commander, currently works as the Veterans’ Advocate at the col-lege. With the campaign My Free-dom Wish, he hopes to raise funds for veterans’ children with a disability or special need, and take them on a trip of their wish. Healy was deployed to Iraq in 2009 as a gunner working out of Joint Security Station Yusufiyah. After completing basic train-ing as a 19Kilo M1A1 tank crewman, he transitioned to a 19 Delta Cav Scout at Camp Daw-son, W.Va., and Fort Indian Town Gap, Pa. In 2008 his unit started train-ing at Ft. Pickett, Va., Camp Shelby, Mich., Fort Irwin, Calif., and Fort Bragg, N.C. Once they had deployed to Iraq their station was at the joint se-

curity station in an area known as the Triangle of Death. About 110 soldiers lived on site, completing missions in four-day shifts. “Seeing a Third World country firsthand compared to the United States helped to build integrity,” Healy described. Now working back in the Unit-ed States after serving 10 years with the Army National Guard, Healy spends more time helping others and working on becoming more self-sufficient off the beau-tiful and majestic land of West Virginia. The military gave him some new perceptions and values on life and how he chooses to live his. “You create bonds with the men you served with knowing they will always have your six o’clock,” Healy said. Being the point man and lead gunner for his platoon helped to build his self-respect. He is determined to utilize this value in the civilian world to conquer

challenges. He is an avid outdoorsman, and loves traveling all over the state to kayak, camp, and backpack, and enjoys taking pho-tographs of his adventures as he travels along. His focus today is on gaining his bachelor’s degree in applied technology, utilizing his GI benefits to accomplish this goal. “Having the determination and skills to complete a task to earn degrees,” is something he gained in the military that helped pre-pare him for college. Although his focus is now his education, Healy will always carry with him the bond that he shares with his brothers in arms. He will never forget images like those of a father carrying his dead son away from an explo-sion. But, mostly, he will carry with him an inordinate sense of honor and respect to live in the land of the free and home of the brave.

Healy Inspired to Create Foundation After Tour in Iraq

Healy at the Joint Security station in Iraq


by Mattia Goodrich Just a good ole’ boy… Every-one knows the Dukes of Hazzard theme song. That is how one could describe Air Force Veteran, Paul Garrett. With his West Vir-ginia University Mountaineers hoodie, camo hat, and countrified Ford truck one could not mistake his West Virginia roots. Garrett, also an Iraqi War Veteran, is currently attending WVU Parkersburg to pursue a degree in Chemical Operations.

After finishing his requirements on campus, Garrett would like to transfer to West Virginia Univer-sity or Marshall to continue his education. “I ultimately would like to have a career that would let me travel again, with a nice pay-check, and for it to challenge me,” said Garrett. Garrett decided to choose WVU Parkersburg because of the GI Benefits he receives through the college. “This school has the lowest tuition, so I can go to school longer,” explained Gar-rett. “I only have so much money because I live in West Virginia. If I were in Texas, I would have more money for the GI Bill because the cost of living and education are more. So I’m go-ing the cheaper route until WVU Parkersburg doesn’t offer me anything more.” Garrett joined the military fresh out of high school and went straight to Texas for boot camp. Although only 25 years old, Gar-rett feels he has experienced a lot in his life. “I grew up in a fast

and harsh environment. At eigh-teen and nineteen years old you don’t really want to be told what to do.” After boot camp he was trans-ferred to North Dakota, before ultimately being deployed to Iraq for six months in 2009. Not only did he serve in Iraq, but he was also deployed to South Korea for a year, stating, “It would be a lot better going to South Korea as a tourist.” Garrett felt his best work was seen during his time in Iraq. A typical day in Iraq for Paul began by waking up at 4:30 a.m., grab-bing his entire uniform, getting armed up at the armory, and get-ting his duty for the day by the Sergeant in charge. By 5:30 a.m. he was on his way to get some breakfast and head of to my post. After a 12- or 16-hour day, he would go back to the armory to de-arm, get some dinner, and then workout for an hour or so. Next, he would read a book and then get some sleep, the whole time staying alert for incoming motors and small firearms.

by Carlē Stewart Being active in the military can change a person. United States Marine Corps Veteran and president of the Veteran Corps, Justin Williamson expresses his life in the military and how it has changed him and his life. Between Aug. 2004 and May 2013, Williamson was stationed at Iwakuni in Japan, Iraq, and Camp Pendleton in California. Williamson graduated from basic training in South Carolina at Par-is Island and served in operation Iraqui freedom. Williamson says that being deployed changed his life by making him want to appreciate the smaller things in life. “I have learned to appreciate hot showers and warm meals because of the

standing of how the world works. I have a good work ethic and I am goal oriented because of the military.” While Williamson explains that he now has more time to himself, he still has to balance responsibilities as a full-time student and dad. “It's time for me and whatever I want to do, but I still have no time off really,” he said. “I have ‘free time’ but I still have stuff to do. I have to make my own schedule.” Williamson was born in West Virginia and grew up in Walker, W.Va. so he came to WVU Parkersburg to stay close to his family. Williamson continues to stay physically active after the mili-tary by working out five days a

week. He said he works out by weight training and running. Along with staying active, Williamson says he makes music as a hobby. “I make mash-ups” Williamson says, “techno and rap, techno and pop, techno and anything really.” Williamson explains that he has a daughter, so he is a full-time dad, but is separated and awaiting a divorce. In addition to taking classes at WVU Parkersburg, Williamson holds the position of president of the college’s Veteran Corps club. “The Veteran Corps” William-son says, “is a brand new club at WVU Parkersburg. We assist veterans and the dependents of veterans in and out of school to be better in college and the com-

military.” Williamson explains that after military life, civilian life has been easy for him to adapt to but the hardest adjustment has been having more time to himself and having a slower paced life. “I threw myself into another proj-ect” explained Williamson, “I went from being a marine to a student.” Currently he attends WVU P a r k e r s b u r g m a j o r i n g i n Computer and Information Tech-nology. “I decided to attend college after serving to better understand myself and make myself more competitive in the job market. Being in the military gave me a sense of myself. It also gave me confidence and a better under-

Garrett described the Iraqi heat, “One of the hottest days I was in Iraq it was 153 degrees, and I was in full uniform. The helmets weigh eight pounds by themselves.” Overall, his experience as a serviceman created some good memories. “It gave me the chance to travel to different countries and to different states within the United States. I also got to play with some weapons and drive some cool vehicles,” he said. Many can see the way the military has changed Garrett. The quiet demeanor and politeness he possess should not be mistaken for weakness. “…The way I look at situations, everything is tweaked a little,” he explained. “Just being in the cafeteria hear-ing people complain about their day, or too much homework, their boyfriend/girlfriend dump-ing them...I’m sitting there going, yeah, I was in the military for six years imagine twenty times worse. I’ve been in a lot worse.”

In addition to the military teaching him to never take life for granted, it also changed his attitude. “Being able to tolerate people. It taught me to bite my tongue.” Garrett is now an inactive member of the Air Force, but can still be called into duty. He does not plan on re-enlisting with the Air Force and looks forward to becoming a civilian again. He claimed “It hasn't been hard adjusting to civilian life.” In his down time, Garrett, an outspoken, but reserved “man’s man,” enjoys all out-door activities imaginable. He particularly enjoys hunting, paintballing, and four-wheeler riding. Today, the military is no longer the biggest focus in Gar-rett’s life. Being a War Veteran is just a small glimpse into his life. Right now, he just wants to focus on school and get a better job. “I’m trying to go to school and get my feet back under-neath me.”

munity.” Overall, Williamson says the people he has met and the places he has gone are the most memo-rable aspects of the military. “Being in the military changed who I was and how I am. I was remolded within the military.”

Air Force Veteran Paul Garrett

Williamson and his daughter.

Air Force Veteran Pursues Chemical Operations Degree

Active Duty in Military Changes Student's Life


by Hannah Duffield After traveling the world he always comes home to West Vir-ginia. 1969: the draft lottery was drawn. His number was 364. “Hey this is great, I like this lottery system,” Dave White chuckled. 1970: the draft lottery was rolled again. His number was 8. He received the draft notice, yet he was not very shocked. He had kind of expect-ed it this time round. The young Jackson County farm boy married in November and received the draft letter

in December. The news came and he was leaving… He must tell grandfather, was his initial thought. His number had been pulled and he was heading to Fort Jackson, S.C. for basic train-ing. Excitement swelled in the cold December air as a 19-year-old White told his grandfather the news. Looking on in admiration he listened intently as his friend and mentor replied, “Let me give you some advice, Dave,” the World War I veteran said. “Don’t become a blacksmith.” White chuckled in remem-

brance, “My grandfather and I were really close… When he was in World War I, there were more horses than there were vehicles, and I guess he didn’t realize those times were passed… I’ve thought about that day many times.” A sense of pride filled White as he headed off to boot camp. He was carrying on a family tradi-tion, his great-grandfather served in the civil war, his grandfather served in World War I and his father served in World War II. Though hard to leave his young wife, White was proud to be an

American and loved the United States. Basic training - Fort Jackson South Carolina: White stood tall and straight, his dress blues crisp and hands held stiffly by his sides “What an honor,” he thought. He was chosen along with four other soldiers, out of the 1000 people at boot camp, to welcome a group of Middle Eastern diplomats to the United States of America. Soon after, White left for Hunter Airfield in Georgia where the military was training South Vietnamese helicopter pilots. He

remained there for nine months before being sent to Germany for a year. While there, White “Got to see some of the world.” He spent time in France and Switzer-land. January 1973: White was dis-charged to come home to West Virginia, and the war ended two months later. “It was definitely a change,” White remembers, “because everything there [in the military] is structured, and you are pretty much told what to do every day, every hour and you come back to civilian life, and you are responsible for your own

White poses with family pictures. Pictured consecutively are his grandfather who served in WW I, father who served in WW II and himself who served in Vietnam.


actions.” White went to work as a welder until he decided to go to Parkersburg Community College in the fall of 1974 on his GI bill. He received an associate’s degree in welding, then continued and received an associate’s degree in industrial maintenance. White still had GI benefits so he decid-ed to get an associate’s degree in business. He later attended Wash-ington State Community College and became certified in heating and air conditioning. In 1982, after White had finished up the welding and in-dustrial maintenance degrees, the welding director at Parkersburg Community College approached him about teaching a welding class. “I’ve never taught any classes before,” replied White. The director responded, “Try for a semester. If you don’t like it, that’s fine, and I won’t bug you anymore.” White “tried it out” for a semester, “I did like it,” said White. He continued teaching welding as an adjunct instructor for 26 years. Since that time White has worked at Kaiser Aluminum in Ravenswood, W.Va., for three years, and Camden Clark Hospital at Parkersburg in the maintenance department for 23 years. Then, nine years ago, White came to WVU Parkersburg as the director of facilities and grounds. White misses the bond he felt between his fellow soldiers while

he was in the Army. “When you are in the military with a bunch of guys, you form a bond that is almost like a brotherhood,” White said, “and when you get back to civilian life you have friends, but it’s not like that tight bond like you had with the people in the military.” Although he does not have that tight bond with his friends now, he does share something special with his family. “I’m married. My wife and I have both been married before, she had three sons, I had two daughters.” A smile swept his face and joy radi-ated through his coming words, “We’d been married a couple of years when we adopted a three month old, who is now here at the college in the nursing pro-gram. So total we have three girls and three boys.” With his background in main-tenance and construction, White enjoys doing projects around the house, and helping others in his spare time. “There is always someone who needs some help,” White said. He also enjoys watching foot-ball, and hunting and fishing in the great outdoors. Being drafted at 19 years old, opened a whole new world to White. Since that time, he has made close to 35 hunting and fishing trips to Canada, and traveled to 38 of the fifty states, including Hawaii. But, each time, he always returns home…home to West Virginia.


by Corrissa Williams He knew the chance was there when deciding to willingly enlist in the Army. He might end up in Vietnam. Irvin Talkington went from studying in Germany to studying law at WVU Parkersburg. How-ever, time spent in between these moments is filled, among other things, with military memories. Talkington was dedicated to the Army from 1969-1977 and two years in the National Guard from 1982-1984, serving over nine years all together in the military. Enlisting in the Army at the ripe age of 19, Talkington suf-fered from a big culture shock “The second you step off the bus, you’ve got someone yelling, screaming and barking orders at you,” he recalled. “They basi-cally try to tear you down and rebuild you the way they want.” Hoping his skills and intel-ligence would keep him out of

the war, Talkington took a shot at military schooling, considering himself a lucky one when three sets of orders to Vietnam were cancelled. Instead, Talkington was select-ed for a special duty assignment to Brunssum, located in the Netherlands. “As a young West Virginian, I had know idea where the Netherlands was, but I knew it wasn’t Vietnam.” During his time in Brunssum, Talkington served in secure voice communications, where he re-paired and maintained electronic equipment. He would call his assignment successful, having achieved the ranking of Staff Sergeant very early on and even-tually becoming an instructor. Many schooling opportuni-ties also presented themselves for Talkington, including armor training in Germany and the study of the German language. The military did a lot for Talk-ington, teaching him patience, tolerance and that, just because he views something a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s right. Explaining how different it is in other countries, Talkington shares that when you are on for-eign land, you’re the foreigner, and you are looked at differently. “It’s something I don’t wish on anybody, but it’s a good experi-ence for any young man.” Additionally, the Army taught Talkington that you have to be dedicated to whatever you do and to not take anything half-heartedly. It is important to be self-reliant and not to depend on other people to get the job done. “The only way you will succeed is if you dedicate yourself to ful-

fill your mission,” he said. Talkington has gained many experiences in the Army and with it many memories. He went on several scuba diving trips in places like France, Italy, Luxem-bourg, and Holland. He also did a recovery dive on a German boat where he discov-ered old World War II weapons that were abandoned by Hitler’s army during their retreat. Other discoveries on the dive included weapons like explosives, rifles and ammunition. The military also gave Talk-ington the opportunity to visit all the battlefields in Europe, where he saw United States military graveyards. It really made Talk-ington appreciate how much the United States has done for the world. “That’s one thing about America- I think that we’ve al-ways put certain things above ourselves.” Overall, Talkington described his time in the military as being a positive experience. “At the time, you’re nervous, you don’t know what to expect, you’re lonely sometimes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.” The military taught him many things and gave him many mem-ories, difficulties and hardships were still very much part of the experience. The hardest part was being away from his family and friends. Although his wife was with him, and his daughter was born in Holland, he did not see his parents, siblings or friends for three and a half years. Ta lk ing ton earned many awards in the military, including an Army commendation medal

for his performance of duties in electronics, a good conduct medal twice, and a National Guard service ribbon. However, the most memorable part of his military was all the friends he made through the years. Other than serving in the mili-tary, Talkington spent time as a state trooper for seven and a half years after serving in the Army. Currently, Talkington serves

as a municipal court judge. His passion for law has inspired him to pursue a bachelors degree in legal studies. He hopes to work in a legal office after potentially graduating in the spring of 2015. Since giving up scuba diving, Talkington really enjoys wood-working and studying the law in his free time. He also enjoys the company of his wife, seven chil-dren, and fifteen grandchildren.

Irvin Talkington Dives Into His Military Past


Veteran Finally Settled at WVU Parkersburg

Buckalew helping at a fundraising car wash for his sons' pee wee football

by Kyle Nichols BANG! CRACKLE! What reality is this? Missiles, bullets, and risk swarm through the air like toxin as the soldiers peer through the fog towards their inevitable goal. Still, something else rings through the thin eve-ning air. PING! SIZZLE! The ringing of the hitter’s metallic bat splitting a corkscrewing ball through the air; seeming to almost float as it soars through the air, the small boy running to the sudden surge in the crowd’s cheering. FLASH! The war rumbles as it snatches him from his comfortable quiet life among the hills. With eyes narrowed, his mind wanders to-wards his new life that could not seem farther away. Transit ioning from civil-ian life to military deployment twice is the story of veteran Charlie Buckalew. Each time he deployed, he returned to his West Virginia home a changed man. Buckalew’s journey into his lengthy military career began when he was young, right after graduating from Parkersburg South. He enlisted into the Army and completed his basic training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. On this deployment, he spent three years at Fort Benning which is designed to be ready to deploy troops by several means when needed. Still, this was not Buckalew’s only stop. Buckalew was also sent much

farther away than his own coun-try, serving at Camp Casey in Korea for an additional year. Be-fore leaving after his year served, he enlisted in the National Guard and returned home to West Vir-ginia for the first time in four years. By the time he was back in Parkersburg, it was 2000. “When I came home from Korea at the end of my first enlistment I was focused on helping my dad with his farm and also finding a job,” Buckalew said. He found employment by renovating the garage apartment that his parents owned. His aid to his father was not a momentary choice. To this day, him and his family live near his parent’s farm, and he helps them raise their cattle. That break between his first and second deployment also involved more than just career opportunities. Buckalew met his wife shortly after returning home from Korea. Currently, he also has two sons, ages 10 and 12, which he enjoys spending time with doing various activities. In the summer, they spend time camping at their river lot as well as enjoying their boat. From this happiness, his future deployment suddenly reared its head in his life. Iraq was a com-mon terrorist ground as well as rumored to be developing Weapons of Mass Destruction. War broiled then spilled over in vicious waves across the Middle

East. President Bush launched Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and Buckalew was deployed with the National Guard. He was stationed at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Iraq named “Roughrider.” This stay was of course not like it was back home. “It made me ap-preciate all the things I took for granted back at home like run-ning water, electricity, and air conditioning,” Buckalew said. “I also missed home cooked meals.” Buckalew was also stationed at another FOB named, “Camp Caldwell” also in Iraq. His stay in this active war time ran over the time when Bush announced that the war was supposedly over in 2003. He was deployed until 2005. Upon his leaving, he said that his thoughts were much different than they were from the previous deployment. “The second time I was coming home from Iraq, I was so glad to be back with my family. I had been home about six months earlier for two weeks leave, and my youngest son didn’t know who I was when my family met me at the airport,” he said. Getting closer to his young-

est son, as well as the rest of his family, was the reason he decid-ed to leave the National Guard. “I came home on his second birthday, and I wanted to make sure he didn’t forget me again,” Buckalew said. Being home once again in Parkersburg, Buckalew never deployed again. He is not on active duty presently. Instead, Buckalew decided to focus more on his family. He also continued working on renovat-ing the farmhouse that they had moved into two weeks before he was deployed. He decided to live in his home state because that was where he had lived in the U.S. all his life. A considerable amount of time having passed from his time on deployment, Buckalew said that his experiences truly helped him in his civilian life. “I don’t think I would have been ready for fa-therhood when I was 23 if I had not been in the military first,” he said. He also said that it taught him maturity and discipline which he uses to continue work-ing towards his degree. Buckalew had an advantage when coming back to civilian life that some veterans do not. “Be-ing active duty, a civilian, active duty, and back to being a civilian

made the transition easier,” he said. Currently, Buckalew has found employment at an oil and gas company in Ohio. His work life is what he said is most different from his strict military career. “The hardest adjustment for me has been the lack of camaraderie at work. It’s a different atmo-sphere than what I had in the military,” he said. “Some of the values I wish I could instill in the people I work with are loyalty, teamwork, and responsibility.” WVU Parkersburg was Buck-alew’s school of choice because “...it is close to home and of-fered the convenience of online classes,” he said. Buckalew keeps with the strictness of military exercise with his physically demanding job. He enjoys activities that involve his family such as coach-ing his sons’ pee wee football and wrestling teams. The most recent goal for Buck-alew is furthering his education towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administra-tion. He can now spend the time with his family that he wanted back when he was deployed tak-ing online classes and being so close to home.


by Candice Hoalcraft In America, as the national anthem boldly states, we are the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. As a nation, we have all been blessed with men and women who are willing and able to fight for our country, knowing full well the risks but still deciding to sacrifice many things. Among the WVU Parkersburg student body, a man is living his dream just by having the opportunity to be a United States citizen. Khalid Haider, an Iraqi student, served in the military with an experience like no other. While still living in Iraq, Haider joined the military as a linguist or a translator. By agreeing to join, Haider not only faced risks and losses, but he obtained rewards for his service and his ultimate goal, moving to the United States. It all started with an American captain who sought out Haider and asked him to work for the U.S. military. After seeking the opinions of his parents and siblings, Haider started working for them not even two weeks later. With a military experience spanning over the next six years, Haider gained an experience and memories that he will never forget. An interest ing par t of a veteran’s experience is the reason behind their selfless decision to fight for their country.

Local hero fulfills his dream by coming to AmericaFor Haider, it was a matter of wanting to assist the American soldiers because they were there to help the people of his country. “I dealt with them as they were my best friends because they were there to liberate us,” he explained. “They were there to establish freedom and democracy.” Joining the military would initially provide the opportunity to fulfill Haider’s dream of living in the United States and to have the freedom that is available in our land. A goal of his was to come to the States to “meet wonderful people and to tell about my culture and my beliefs and this is what I love to do.” That dream is what fueled the passion, which became his driving force that ultimately help him make his dream a reality. Being a translator not only helped him develop his English skills, it also became a tool for making the transition into the American culture and the American ways. Haider uses an analogy which explains “If you don’t live the life of a sailor, you don’t know what the sea looks like.” Coming to America, especially from a country like Iraq, is a complicated and long process t h a t s o m e t i m e s c o m e s t o no avail. He applied for his Visa three different times and persisted through the doubt. Whi le go ing to in t roduce himself to the commander and the drill sergeant, he found his application in the trash can. Due to the lack of success at that point, Haider considered resigning. “I told my boss ‘tomorrow you will find my resignation on your desk.’” Despite the fact that his Visa application was denied three times, it was done so with good reason. His boss informed him that his application didn't go through because they needed him. He said “We are not going to give up on you. I promise you, you will go to the states.” It was

one year later that Haider was finally able to come to the states. As a translator, Haider ’s job was not only to break the language barrier but to guide the American soldiers through the rough areas of the country. “I wanted them to be safe and make it home safe and sound because they were on mission,” he said. Although there are risks in the military no matter the case, in Haider’s case, they were more intense than the usual. One of the reasons is because he was directly working with the same group of people who invaded their country. “I was their enemy.” Another big risk was the fact that he descended from the Iziti which is non-Muslim and the Iraqi people consider them to be a minority group and they have strong feelings of hatred towards them. The very definition of bravery is a man who endures through having their name put on a “Wanted: Dead or Alive” list.

Among the list of 14 other men, Haider’s name was on the doors of Masques all over the country, offering a reward for his death. Being targeted by terrorists and snipers, Haider suffered head concussions after being hit with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) twice. With all that being said, Haider will still honorably state “I enjoyed working for them.” Despite all the risks and injuries, the rewards made the experience a memorable one. Joining the military created strong bonds and friendships that will last for life. “I keep in touch with my superior officers. We call each other and see how we are doing,” Haider explained. “They motivate me to move on and get my education. They’re great.” Within the units, Haider gained respect, along with several battle coins and certificates. Most of all, the greatest reward was the ability to come live in the United States. “I

helped them, and they helped me back. My reward was to come to the states. Now I’m free to go wherever. That’s my dream.” One major difference between previous wars and the conflict with Iraq and Afghanistan is the media. News coverage is now available to communicate what happened overseas. However, America did not see every aspect of the war. It was rare to hear about anything positive that happened. Haider explained the high morale of the American so ld ie r s . “ I ’ve seen them donating their food to the needy people in the country more than I’ve seen the [Iraqi] government donating food.” After going through six years of the military and enduring dangerous quarters, Haider wants to get across a hope for college students. “I would love for them to care deeply about this country and I want them to learn their history and respect it and analyze it. Basically it doesn’t matter your culture or your belief. What really matters is that you are something completing this picture. The United States is a frame and everyone is a picture inside of it, so complete in a good way.”

"My r eward was to come to the s tate s . Now I 'm

f r e e to go whereve r . That ' s my dream. "

Haider speaking at Parkersburg South High School.


by Nedra Riggins Elizabeth Stovall, currently a student at WVU Parkersburg, is worthy of honor. She served four years in the United States Navy from 2006-2010. She was ranked as E5 – Petty Officer 2nd class. Her job title was Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT). Stovall attend-ed basic training in Great Lakes, Ill., near Chicago, receiving her Navy schooling in cryptology in Pensacola, Fla. During this time the United States was involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, but she was never deployed to the area. However, she was deployed on regular Navy ships into the Med-iterranean Sea and the Black Sea, as well as other places. She estimated that at least two of her four years in the Navy were spent at sea, the longest

time being a seven-month de-ployment on the USS Barry out of Norfolk,Va. Following her ser-vice in the Navy, Stovall was not interested in becoming a reservist or reenlisting. Stovall says that being at sea helped her to see things differ-ently, and to think about things in a new light. She claimed her service helped her to better ad-just to changes and notice details about everything; contributing to her becoming a more disciplined person. Most of all, her experience taught her to be accountable, to follow orders and directions, and to follow through with tasks until they are completed. Stovall says that adapting to civilian life after leaving the Navy was much easier than adapting to Navy life when she enlisted. After her time served,

the biggest adjustment for Stovall was getting her feet back on the ground, reestablishing life at home, and finding a job. Born and raised in West Virginia, Stovall maintains resi-dency in the state, only having left for area during her time with the Navy. Her most memorable times in the Navy include traveling and meeting new people. She stays in contact with many of the friends she made while serving in the Navy. In fact, one of them is her current roommate. Additionally, Stovall claimed that she most likely would never have had the opportunity to trav-el and see all the things that she did, nor pursue an education, had she not been in the Navy. Upon leaving the Navy, she was en-titled to a paid education, which she has taken advantage of at WVU Parkersburg. She admitted that she most likely would not have pursued a college degree had she person-ally been responsible for the cost. Stovall chose WVU Parkers-burg as her college of choice because it is close to home and very affordable. It was easier for her to work and go to school with the flexibility of classes that they offer. She likes the teachers and has made several new friends while attending there. Stovall especially likes the small class size at West Virginia University-Parkersburg and the

Student Chooses Home After Voyages Across the Seas...

close relationship she has with her teachers. She appreciates the opportunity for assistance with classes through tutoring when one needs help. Additionally, she was given military credits at WVU Park-ersburg for her experiences in the United States Navy, and she is thankful for that credit. She was especially excited to learn of the Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) the college offers, be-cause she was not interested in a specific field of study. The degree program, an innovative program designed for adult students, is allowing her to gain a bachelor’s degree with no concentration on any particular subject. Happy with her experience at WVU Parkersburg, Stovall would highly recommend the college to anyone coming out of Stovall (center) alongside her fellow servicemen and women.

Stovall spent two of her four years in the Navy on board.

the armed forces and pursuing a college education. As well, she would recommend the college to anyone in pursuit of higher edu-cation. Stovall is single, with no children. Her favorite hobby is reading Nicholas Sparks books and other publications of the same genre. In addition to being a full-time student, she works full-time as a bartender for The Hill House, a local sports bar. Stovall has already earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science and will graduate in May 2014 with her bachelors degree. After graduation, Stovall plans to move away from the area and pursue “a quality job.” She realizes that having a bachelor’s degree and being a veteran will both contribute to her finding a good-paying and rewarding job.


by Elizabeth Stovall With a baby on the way and struggling to make ends meet, Kevin Whitmore has the desire to make a better life for his growing family. The dead end jobs in his home-town of Nelsonville, Ohio just weren't sufficient enough. In hopes of finding better financial security, Whitmore en-listed in the United States Navy and shipped out to boot camp. Upon arriving at the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Center, in Orlando, FL , 21 year old, long haired, blue jean wearing a The halls were filled with Navy sailors in their uniforms and oth-er new recruits such as himself, with looks of fear on their faces. Being a kid from a small town, Whitmore claimed that out of place was the only way to feel. However, he wasn’t scared about what was to come, he was excited at the new chapter in his life. Whitmore was ready to hit the deck running. After completing boot camp,

Seaman (E-1)Whitmore went on to his tech school to receive training for his postition. At AQ (Aviation Fire Control Techni-cian) school, Whitmore learned and mastered the skills of his job, which included being respon-sible for the electronics within the weapon systems onboard the navy’s finest aircrafts. With his training complete, Whitmore was assigned to his duty station of fixed, Squadron VA34, a fixed wing attack air-craft that is part of the Naval Air Station Oceana. Naval Air Station Oceana wouldn’t be Whitmore's last duty assignment. Soon he was as-signed to the aircraft carrier USS America (CV66). This would be Kevin’s first deployment but cer-tainly not his last. Making personal sacrifices for the service of our country is something Whitmore knows well. He was deployed just 5 days before the birth of his child. After completing his deploy-ment Whitmore was finally able

to see his now 7 month old child for the first time. Whitmore recalled good times while serving in the Navy as well. Visiting countries such as Venezuela and Spain, as well as the Virgin Islands and Bahamas are trips that Whitmore will al-ways remember.

Additionally, Whitmore's dedi-cated work ethic is shown in his military career. While enlisting as an E-1, Whitmore was able to make rank as a Third Class Petty Officer ( E-4) on his first time eligible for advancement. Only approximately 150 people within his job in the navy were able to advance. While Whitmore was still at-tached to the USS America, a bombing took place at US bar-

racks in Lebanon. His squadron received orders that they would be relocated to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in support of the multinational peace-keeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon. Whitmore recalls that “the planes left with bombs, but didn’t come back with any.” 241 American servicemen were lost in the bombing of the barracks and Whitmore’s squad-ron was crucial in bring justice to those involved. 1985 brought the end to Whitmore's enlistment. His experience in the Navy is one that he was glad to have made. Supporting his family was one of Whitmore’s main reasons for joining the military as well as his reason for deciding to get out. When his obligation was over Whitmore decided not to reenlist because he missed his family. The navy kept him away quite a bit, and Whitmore felt it was time to focus on his family. Looking back on his experi-

ences in the Navy Whitmore feels as though “its a quick way to turn a high school kid into an adult.” The military helped him to better provide for his family and gain education that would help him throughout the rest of his life. Today Whitmore is a 54 year old father of 3 as well as a grand-father of 3. Currently enrolled at WVU Parkersburg, Whitmore is working on his Associates in Applied Science and expects to graduate in December. After completing his associ-ates, he intends to continue on with his educate in the Regents Bachelor of Arts program. Whitmore is thankful for the experience and education that he received during his time in the military. The training he received in the Navy afforded him the op-portunity to acquire jobs that he previously would not have been able to. The military has also sup-plied the opportunity to continue Kevin’s education at WVU Park-ersburg.

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Reflectson Time Served to Support Family

“The planes left with bombs, but didn’t come back

with any.”~Whitmore

was given medical leave. “Like I said, I did struggle at times but I did not let them know,” said Gainer. Gainer hurt her back while performing a training exercise during the winter months; she had slipped on some frozen mud. “My body twisted up like a pretzel. I went snap, crackle, pop when I landed on my rucksack that is 80 lbs or so. My sergeants would not let me move because of the noises my body made when I fell,” said Gainer. In the process of falling on the mud, she also hurt her right knee and right ankle. Gainer had no idea how bad her injuries were until a year later. “I had terminal leave at the end of December 2009, and then I moved here to West Virginia,” said Gainer. By March 5, 2010 she was no longer in the Army. When Gainer moved to West Virginia she was a bit in culture shock, being from Arizona and moving to West Virginia was a bit of a change. When she first came to live in West Virginia in late December 2009. She saw snow covered the ground and everything around her. “It takes forever to get anywhere from where I live, I am from Arizona and I had my pick of several wall arts, shopping centers, and malls within blocks of my house there,” she said. Gainer has been a huge fan of WVU football, even when she didn’t live in West Virginia. Her friend and recruiter were from W.Va. and she started watching the games and became a WVU football fan. Gainer started going to college because she knew she could not drive trucks as a civilian, due to her back injuries. She cannot sit, stand or walk for very long without her back giving her


by Shelby Thomas Mother. Wife. Veteran. College student. Shelly Gainer, a Veteran from the Army’s 82nd Airborne is from Phoenix, Ariz. Gainer was raised some in Phoenix, but later moved to Moore, S.C. Gainer met her husband in the Army and moved to West Virginia with him. They have two boys together, one is 12 and the other is nine. She and her husband also have six chickens and a mini Chihuahua. Gainer’s interests are kayaking, photography, fishing, and reading. She likes romance and fiction novels. Gainer signed the dotted line in November 2007, but she left for basic training January 2008. “When I signed the papers to join the US Army, I was nervous, scared, and extremely excited because it was something that I have always wanted to do since I was three and I am now 33,” said Gainer. Her family was proud of her for joining the army,but some were skeptical about her decision. However her friends were happy for her because they knew she had wanted to go into the Army for a very long time. She went to basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. She was active duty from 2008-2010. “I had a lot of struggles in the military, most of which were because I was a female and because I chose to be a 88M truck driver. I just let males think what they wanted about females in the military, not all the males I worked with were like that,” said Gainer. She had worked very hard because she was in the 82nd Airborne and according to Gainer they were held to a higher standard according to Gainer. Gainer was in the Army during the war Enduring Freedom. Her unit went to Afghanistan, but she

problems. She wants to get back in the medical field, so she is in the CNA program. Going back to college was not a hard choice for Gainer; she went through basic in the Army and is not scared of a challenge. “Knowing going into college that no matter how hard something is or how hard it seems, I can overcome any obstacle that is put in front of me,” said Gainer. She loves the scenery, and thinks it is beautiful, and it can be very peaceful for her. In military life, Gainer learned discipline, integrity and to take pride in what she does. Gainer claimed she had to adjust to civilian life again, she had to learn how to think for herself because she was used to being told what to do, she added. Gainer would still get up at 4 a.m. and she had to get used to not having a steady pay and great health insurance. Gainer also did not know what to do with all her free time, so she found a job to fill up her time. Gainer now is a full-time mom and a college student. Gainer will have her Certificate with Allied Health in December of this year and her Associate of Art in May 2014. Gainer ’s most memorable aspects of the Army are the training, the friendship with her peers, and the feeling of accomplishment. The military made Gainer feel like a better person. “I wanted to deploy to help people, I had a lot of family members on both sides serve in the military in different branches,” said Gainer. She enjoys the movie “Grease” that is nonmilitary, but her favorite military movie is “Black Hawk Down.” She also enjoys romance, comedies, and military-related movies. Gainer is happy where she is with her two boys and husband; she likes West Virginia even though she is an Arizona gal. She still struggles with her back pain but she is making the best out of what she can do.

“Knowing going into the

college that no matter

how hard something is or

how hard it seems, I can

overcome any obstacle that

is put in front of me.”

~Shelly Gainer

Army Veteran Finds Home in West Virginia


by Candice Hoalcraft A lot of great memories are made in sports bars all over the nation every day. In this par-ticular case, a sports bar houses a memory that changed this man’s life forever. Serving in the military since 1997, WVU Parkersburg student Jared Towner was eager to begin his career in the National Guard, signing up at the age of 17. Through his experiences, Towner recently earned his way to receive the Chairman position of the*West Virginia Veterans Co-alition. Between instances of fate, courage and dedication, Towner gained experiences that changed his life forever. It's because of those experiences that he is an inspiration and example to fellow veterans. Beginning in Salem, W.Va, the National Guardsmen in the 1092nd Combat Engineer Bat-talion were ordered to go to Fort Bragg, NC, for two months of intensive training. At that time, they were no longer West Vir-ginia National Guardsmen, but active duty army personnel. “We didn’t know at that time what was going on. We [the Unit-

ed States] invaded Iraq in March of 2003, so in February of 2003 we thought ‘Man we might end up going to Afghanistan’ because we hadn’t been to Afghanistan since November of 2001 and I’ll never forget this …" The entire battalion was or-dered to go to a giant sports bar for a big announcement and thus a change began. That was the day President Bush went on the air and de-clared that if Saddam Hussein did not leave the country within 48 hours, America was going to invade. “That was our com-mander’s way of telling us that we were going to Iraq,” Towner explained. They landed in Ku-wait a month later. Towner ended up serving three tours overseas. Serving three tours was not exactly common among the previous wars before the Iraqi in-vasion. This was because the lack of technology made it nearly impossible for people in the ser-vice to keep in contact with their families. Combined with the lack of face to face combat, soldiers felt safer. “Our generation of soldier was more willing to take on multiple tours,” Towner said.

According to Towner, the hor-rific and traumatic events of 9/11 were a main motive for men and women deciding to further their service. “9/11 happened and we were angry. It was the most sig-nificant terrorist attack,” Towner said. Coming from a long line of family members who served in the military, it is literally in Towner’s blood to fight for our nation. He has family members who were in each war that goes back to the Spanish-American war. One of Towner’s most memo-rable experiences happened while on a mission to set up security for Kellog Brown and Root Contractors to deal with the explosives on the oil pipeline in Iraq. The explosives were there because Hussein claimed that the Americans were only coming over for oil. While on their mission, they soon found out that it was post-poned because a group of men had failed to return. Towner’s group spent over three days looking for them. They had been taken captive by the Iranians because they believed that they were spying on their country. After three and a half days, they released them. “We ran to them. I’ll never forget that day. We thought they were dead,” Towner said. After serving overseas for that amount of time, one can’t help but wonder how this man ended up at WVU Parkersburg. With what started out as a theatre as-piration turned into a political interest. Towner participated in acting in high school and re-ceived a full theatre scholarship to WVU. A change of heart caused Towner to change his ma-jor to foreign policy. “After I got back from the tour in 2010, I was relatively politically active.”

Towner began doing political work for Congressman Rahall as a field director. With the Tea Party sweep, the Democrats lost 90 seats in the House of Repre-sentatives, resulting in higher competition for jobs. It was then that fate happened and the reason for his return to his hometown of Parkersburg, W.Va. While working on the cam-paign, Towner met his fiancé, an act that “brought him home” so to speak. At that time, she was looking to find another dentist’s office to work. It turns out that she landed in Jason Roush and Associates, which is right down the road from Towner’s high school, Parkersburg South. “It was coincidence, fate, or what have you. I just met this great girl and she, just by fate, got placed there.” “After three tours, I was ex-hausted. I didn’t want to go back overseas,” Towner explained. After hear ing about WVU Parkersburg’s good accounting program, he chose that as his path. Towner will finish his de-gree after another year and a half of classes. Continuing as a civilian after living through harsh conditions and among a different group of people was difficult for him. One of the biggest differences between the military life and civilian life is the “massive command structure.” Orders were laid out and the people serving would follow them. “It became so common that you just didn’t think about it,” Towner said. Once returning to college, Towner realized that “it was up to me to get the information that I needed.” As expected with a Veteran who served overseas, Towner faced issues with frustra-tion. After struggling through this time, he decided to talk to other veterans for guidance.

Those veterans encouraged and helped him reach the position as Chairman for the Veteran's Coali-tion. *On Oct. 21st, Jared Towner was given the position as the youngest chairman in the history of the Veteran's Coalition. His thoughts on receiving this title were “overwhelmed, humbled and surprised.”

Former Soldier Now Serves as Veterans Coalition ChairmanFrom Foreign Military Experience Towner Develops Political Aspirations

chronicle issue vol.44 #5 november 7, 2013

Documents

new center

new veterans resource

veterans page

veterans corps

study center

veterans representative

veterans affairs

college activities center