I was born and grew up in and around St. Louis, Missouri. I attended Oakville Senior High School, graduated in 1992, and joined the Army less than two weeks later. I had applied and had been accepted to Benedictine University in Atchison, Kansas for the Fall semester, 1992, but did not have money to pay for it. I entered the Army Reserve in June 1992, and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, graduating as a Motor Transport Operator. I then enlisted in the Regular Army in February 1994.

My overseas assignments include Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and two tours in Germany, during which I participated in extreme cold weather training, Trondheim, Norway and desert training, Incerlik AFB, Turkey with HQ, Allied Mobile Forces (Land). I have also participated in mounted land navigation with the British Army Motoring Association in Paderborn, Germany. My only other assignment in the United States has been Dco, 782nd MSB, 82nd Airborne Division. My military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course; the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course (Honor Graduate); 82nd Airborne Division Unit Movement Operations and Air Load Planners Courses; the Standard Army Training System Course; the Army Recruiter Course; and the 82nd Airborne Division Jumpmaster Course.

My awards and decorations include the Army Commendation medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Armed Forces Service Medal; the NATO Medal; the Driver�s Badge; the Senior Parachutist Badge, and other service medals and ribbons. I have also been inducted into the Military Order of St. Christopher.

I am a member of the Transportation Corps Regimental Association and the Noncommissioned Officers Association.

I have been married for over five years, and have two children. Besides my wife and my children, the Army is the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me...and if it had not been for the Army, I would not have met my wife, nor had my children.