PERSONAL MILITARY HISTORY

Name: Linda J Holt (Pisano), Staff Sergeant, US Army (Veteran) 31 AUG 1974 – 08 JAN 1978 and 29 MAY 1979 – 28 AUG 1987

Assignments: Awards: Special Note:

1974 SEP 1 to 1974 OCT 30 - WAC Basic Training, Fort McClellan, AL 1974 NOV to 1975 MAR – AIT Radio Teletype (05C), Fort Gordon, GA 1975 APR to 1977 SEP - 472d Signal Co, Special Troops Bn., Germany 1977 SEP to 1978 JAN – A Co.,142nd Signal Bn., 2nd AD, Fort Hood, TX 1978 JAN to 1979 MAY - Break In Service. US Army Active Reserves 1979 JUL to 1980 JUL - HHC, 519th MI Bn., Fort Bragg, NC 1980 JUL to 1981 MAR –533d CEWI Bn., 3d AD, Hoechst, Germany 1981 MAR to 1983 MAR - MMC, 3rd AD, Frankfurt, Germany 1983 APR to 1984 APR - MI School (98J), Fort Devens, MA 1984 APR to 1984 AUG – Naval Classic Wizard Course, Winter Harbor, ME 1984 AUG to 1987 AUG - Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC 1987 AUG 28 – End Term of Service – Honorable Discharge Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal (3); Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (2); Sharpshooter Badge - M16 Rifle; Army Lapel Button. July '75 - Completed the 100-Mile Nijmegen 4-Day Marches in Holland as a member of the 472 Signal Company, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Support Command, VII Corps, US Army Europe. Received Presidential Sports Award for Backpacking.

My Decorations My Promotions

Army Commendation

Medal

Army Achievement

Medal

Good Conduct

Medal

NCO Professional

Development Ribbon

Army Service

Ribbon

Overseas Service

Ribbon

SSG Linda J. Pisano (Holt)

Oct. 1983 at Fort Devens, MA

Graduation Ceremony

MI School (98J, EW Intcpt/Analyst)

1974 PVT – E2 1976 – 1983 SGT - E5

1975 PFC - E3 1983 – 1987 SSG - E6

1975 – 1976 SPC E-4

WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS

Branch Insignia (Obsolete)

SIGNAL CORPS

Branch Insignia

Branch Insignia: "Crossed flags" have been used by the Signal Corps since 1868, when they were prescribed for wear on the uniform coat by enlisted men of the Signal Corps.in 1884, a burning torch was added to the insignia and the present design adopted on 1 July 1884. The flags and torch are symbolic of signaling or communication.

My first permanent duty station was in Germany at the 472nd Signal Co., Special Troops Bn., 2nd Support Command, VII Corps on Nellingen Barracks, a small Army post on top of a hill just outside the city of Esslingen on the Neckar River. A few weeks after arriving at the 472nd, I volunteered to participate in the 100-mile Nijmegen 4-Day Marches. This annual event, held in July, commemorates the liberation of Holland by the Allies. For completing this event, for which I am extremely proud, I received the commemorative medal and I received the Presidential Sports Award for Backpacking, signed by President Gerald R. Ford, as well as the4-Day Marches medal. From 1975, when I arrived at the 472d, until 1977, when I left, I participated in every annual REFORGER exercise, WINTEX (Winter Exercise) and numerous smaller exercises, providing communications in my RATT Rig out in the fields and forests of Germany. When I was promoted to Sergeant/E5 in 1976, I was put in charge of the Female Barracks. I was responsible for establishing a cleaning duties roster for the common areas, assigning each of the female soldiers living in the barracks a task for the week, for ensuring that the barracks were clean and ready for inspection every day prior to morning formation, and for reporting any repairs or maintenance that the barracks needed.

Branch Insignia: The head of Pallas Athene was approved as the insignia for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942. Pallas Athene was a goddess associated with an impressive variety of womanly virtues. She was the goddess of handicrafts, wise in industries of peace and arts of war, also the goddess of storms and battle, who led through victory to peace and prosperity. The design was retained by the Women’s Army Corps when it was established in 1943. The Women's Army Corps as a separate corps of the Army was disestablished on 29 October 1978 by an Act of Congress.

After graduating basic training, I went to the U.S. Army Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia for my Advanced Individual Training (AIT). In May 1975, I graduated as a Radio Teletype Operator (05C) with Morse Code.

I enlisted into the United States Army Women’s Army Corps (WAC) on 31 AUG 74 and completed my basic training at the WAC School at Fort McClellan, Alabama on 31 OCT 74. I was granted a SECRET Clearance (ENTNAC) on 07 OCT 74.

472d Sig Co., 2D SUPPORT COMMAND

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia & Distinctive Unit Insignia

142d Signal Battalion, 2D ARMORED DIVISION

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia & Distinctive Unit Insignia

My next duty assignment was to A Co., 142 Signal Bn., 2nd Armored Division, FORSCOM at Fort Hood, Texas, where I worked as the Orderly Room Clerk, using my secondary MOS, 71L (Admin Spec), and assigned as the Female Barracks NCO. During my 5 months there, I received praise for my work as the Recorder during our unit’s Annual General Inspection. My initial enlistment ended at Fort Hood with an Honorable Discharge on 06 JAN 78.

This was in addition to my regular work duties as an 05C in the Radio Platoon, which included regular checks, maintenance and operation of my assigned vehicles, a ¼ ton Jeep and a 5/4 ton pick-up truck with the RATT Shelter mounted in the bed and a trailer with 2 diesel generators, plus all of the antenna, radio, teletype, and crypto equipment that was part of the RATT Rig. I was also chosen to attend and I completed the VINSON Secure Communications Net Control course at Flint Kaserne in Bad Toelz, Germany. In preparation of our re-inspection by the Inspector General, I was selected to be temporarily assigned to the company supply room to take inventory, label and organized the equipment and supplies that were present, and order everything that was not on hand. We received a “Superb” rating from the IG.

SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA: Yellow, blue and red are the colors of the branches from which armored units were formed. The tank tread, gun and lightning flash are symbolic of mobility, power and speed. The division's designation is in an Arabic numeral. Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved on 22 November 1940. It was amended for the addition of a tab on 16 August 1954. The insignia was further amended to revise the design to make the insignia and tab in one piece on 4 November 1970. DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA Symbolism: Orange and white are the colors traditionally associated with the Signal Corps. The arm grasping two lightning flashes symbolizes the communications support mission of the battalion to the armored division. The palm tree stands for the unit’s World War II action in the Mediterranean area. The fleur-de-lis represents campaigns in France. The black bear, emblem of the city of Berlin, represents service in the Rhineland, Central Europe, and the occupation of the city of Berlin in 1945. The wavy line, representing the Meuse River, and the chevron, representing a highway in perspective, refer to the battalion’s participation in the liberation of Belgium.

SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA: The two chevrons, simulating a belt supporting the sword, indicate the numerical designation of the organization and likewise allude to the unit's basic mission to provide support to combat troops. Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 2d Support Brigade on 15 February 1966. It was redesignated effective 15 January 1973, for the 2d Support Command. DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA Background: Originally approved for the 2d Support Brigade on 6 June 1966, the insignia was redesignated, effective 15 January 1973, for the 2d Support Command. MOTTO: EXCEL ALL

ENLISTED EVALUATION REPORT (EER) 1978 JAN 06

Immediately after being discharge from the army, I returned to Germany as a civilian for five months, living in the Nuremberg suburb of Furth, with my fiancé, SFC Joseph Pisano. While I was there, I worked as a Recreation Specialist at the Darby Barracks Rec Center. When I returned to the U.S., I joined the Army Reserve as Radio Teletype Operator in California and then, about seven months later, transferred to North Carolina. After just about14 months after my initial discharge and while I was living in Fayetteville, I chose to return to active duty on 29 May 79. I was assigned as an 05C to HHC, 519th MI Bn., 525th MI Bde., 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where I married my longtime fiancé, 1SG Joseph D. Pisano. In just over one year of serving with the 519th, I completed the four-week long Primary Leadership Course (PLC), which was run by the Special Forces, competed in and won the Junior NCO of the Quarter competition, was named the Battalion Junior NCO of the Quarter, and was a member of the Color Guard. Our unit convoyed from Fort Bragg to Dobbins Air Force Base in Destin, Florida to support a large field exercise, where I provided Radio Teletype communications. I also completed a six-week Radio Repair course and the Battalion Training Management System course.

519th Military Intelligence Battalion

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia & Distinctive Unit Insignia

Symbolism: Teal blue and golden yellow, the colors used for branch unassigned, were the former colors for Army Intelligence organizations. The sphinx, adapted from the Army Intelligence Reserve branch insignia, issued again to symbolize Army Intelligence. Resting against the terrestrial globe is an open book representing the knowledge made available through mastery of the languages of the world. The globe itself indicates the worldwide scope of the Battalion’s research activities distinctive unit insignia was approved on 20 May 1960. It was ended to correct the description of the design on 10 March 1964.

ENLISTED EVALUATION REPORT (EER) 1980 JUL 24

MMC DISCOM, 3D ARMORED DIVISION

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia & Distinctive Unit Insignia

In 1980, I was transferred to 3rd Armored Division in Germany. First, I was assigned as an 05C to the 533rd Combat Electronic Warfare Intelligence (CEWI) Bn., 3rd AD at Michael Barracks in the Frankfurt suburb, Hoechst. About six months later, I received a joint domicile transfer to the Materiel Management Center (MMC) DISCOM, 3rd AD on Drake-Edwards Kaserne in Frankfurt, as assignment with my husband, 1SG Pisano. Here, I served as the Commander’s Driver, the Reenlistment NCO, and the Skills Qualification Training (SQT) NCO, in addition to my regular duties as an Illustrator (81E). During our Annual Inspector General’s (IG) inspection, our unit received an “OUTSTANDING” for our Training program, which I was responsible for establishing and conducting. Also, as the Reenlistment NCO, I always exceeded our unit’s reenlistment goal.

Symbolism: Yellow, blue and red are the colors of the branches from which armored units were formed. The tank tread, gun and lightning flash are symbolic of mobility, power and speed. The division's designation is in an Arabic numeral. Background: The 3d Armored Division activated at Camp Beauregard, LA on April 15, 1941. The Division served in the vanguard of the breakout from Normandy, knifing through France, Belgium and Germany in the fall of 1944 and earning its famous "Spearhead" nickname. "You will spearhead the attack," was a frequent mission given the Division by General J. Lawton Collins, then VII Corps Commander. The Division served a brief occupation tour and was inactivated in November 1945, at Aalen, Germany. Reactivated in 1947, the Division initially served in support of the Armor Training Center at Fort Knox. Deployed to Germany in 1956, the Division remained in Germany for the next 33 years. It served in Desert Storm, and was subsequently inactivated, in Germany, on August 15, 1992.

ENLISTED EVALUATION REPORT (EER) 1982 MAR 26