Forces Southern Command coordinating national security operations in Latin America. During his military career, he served overseas for 13 years and completed four combat tours. He commanded the 24th Infantry Division (Mech) during the Desert Storm 400-kilometer left hook attack into Iraq.

At retirement from active duty, he was the most highly decorated four-star general in the U.S. Army. He twice received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest medal for valor. He was also awarded two Silver Stars and received three Purple Heart medals for wounds sustained in combat. Mccaffrey served as the assistant to GEN Colin Powell and supported the chairman as the JCS adviser to the Secretary of State and the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

CSMJeffrey J. Mellinger CSM Jeffrey J Mellinger assumed the duties as the U.S. Army Materiel Command's Command Sergeant Major on 2

ovember 2007 and retired on 31 December 2011 with nearly 40 years of continuous active duty. Mellinger was previously assigned to the U.S. Army Alaska and spent several months speaking to units and groups on his experiences in Iraq.

After being drafted in April 1972 at Eugene , Oregon, Mellinger did his basic and advanced training at Fort Ord , California, before completing airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was in the Federal Republic of Germany as a unit clerk. Upon his return from Germany, Mellinger was assigned to the 2d Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, Fon Lewis, Washington. For the next five years , he served as unit clerk, battalion personnel staff NCO, machinegun squad leader, rifle squad leader, rifle platoon sergeant and weapons platoon leader. He then performed drill sergeant duty at Fort Gordon , Georgia and returned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, sen' ing again as a platoon sergeant.

Additional assignments include Special Forces Military Freefall Instructor, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; senior team leader, 75th Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment, Fort Benning, Georgia; assistant professor of military science, University of Alaska-Fairbanks; First Sergeant, Company C (Airborne), 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry (Manchu), Fon Wainwright, Alaska; Senior Enlisted Advisor, 4 lst Separate Infantry Brigade, Oregon Army

ational Guard; Command Sergeant Major, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; Commandant, U.S. Army Alaska oncommissioned Officer's Academy, Fort Richardson, Alaska; Command Sergeant Major, U.S Army Japan and 9th Theater Support Command, Camp Zama, Japan; Command Sergeant Major, First U.S. Army, Fort

Gillem, Georgia; and Command Sergeant Major, Multi-National Force-Iraq from August 2004-May 2007.

Mellinger's military education includes the Commandant's List, NCO Basic Course; Ranger School; Jumpmaster School; Jungle Expert School; FBI Crisis Reaction Course; Military Freefall Course; Drill Sergeant's Course; Commandant's List and Honor Graduate, NCO Advanced Course; Instructor Training Course; Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course; Commandant's List , Sergeants Major Course Class 37 and the Command Sergeants Major Course.

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit (2d award), Bronze Star Medal with V, Meritorious Service Medal (8th award), Army Commendation Medal (7th award), Army Achievement Medal (4th award), Army Good Conduct Medal (13th award), Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 8 , Iraqi Campaign Medal (3), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Ranger Tab, Drill Sergeant Badge, Combat Action Badge, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (4), Army Superior Unit Award (4), Canadian Commando Parachute Badge, Royal Thai Parachute Badge and Malaysian Parachute Badge.

Mellinger is a member of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution , a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and has been presented the Order of Saint Maurice (Primicerius), the Order of the Combat Spur, the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the General Brehon B. Somervell Medal of Excellence. He has more than 33 hours of accumulated freefall in more than 3,700 jumps and is a FAA Master Parachute Rigger.

Mr. Gary Sinise Gary Sinise has been working in support of veterans for more than 30 years. His commitment started in the early 1980s when he began supporting local Vietnam veterans groups in the Chicago area and created the Vets ight program at the Steppenwolf Theatre, which he co-founded. This program continues to this day and invites veterans to a free dinner and performance for each one of the plays produced at the theatre.

Among his numerous film and television roles, it was his 1994 portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the landmark film Forrest Gump, which formed an enduring connection with servicemen and women throughout the military community. Shortly after the film opened, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization invited Sinise to its national convention to present him with the National Commanders Award for portraying the double amputee. His relationship and work with the DAV in support of our wounded service members has lasted for more than 20 years. After

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