Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston visits with Sgt. Chang Wong Monday at the amputee care center. Wong was injured in the Global War on Terrorism and is undergoing therapy at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Posted on 02/08/2006 4:47:19 PM PST by SandRat
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Army News Service, Feb. 8, 2006) -For one Soldier recovering from wounds sustained in Operation Enduring Freedom, a visit from the Army’s senior NCO came with a special birthday gift -- a promotion.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston visited wounded warriors recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center Monday to thank the troops for their sacrifice and service.
Spc. Ernesto Godoy was promoted to sergeant during Preston’s visit. Godoy was injured in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device while on a routine patrol with the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy.
Although suffering from extensive injuries including the loss of both legs, Godoy stood in full uniform with the aid of his prosthetics as Preston pinned on the new rank.
Preston spoke individually to the wounded as he walked around the amputee care center, asking them about their injuries, families, the recovery process and plans for the future.
“With everything on his schedule, the fact that he would take time to talk to everyone is awesome,” said Sgt. Chang Wong, who, like Godoy, lost both his legs.
At the burn center, Preston gowned up, donning patient safety gear to visit burn patients in their hospital rooms.
“I’m happy for the Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class David LeCroy, senior clinical NCO for the burn center. “I think it’s important for the Soldiers to see one of their senior leaders come and show their appreciation for what they do.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Layton, command sergeant major for Great Plains Regional Medical Command and BAMC, was glad to showcase the health care provided at BAMC to the Army’s senior enlisted leader.
“I’m thrilled to see the sergeant major of the Army take time out of his extremely busy schedule to purposely and thoughtfully visit our soldiers at BAMC, especially knowing that he has easy access to the wounded at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, D.C.),” said Layton.
“It speaks volumes to what type of senior NCO the sergeant major of the Army really is,” he said.
Following visits to the wounded, Preston met with BAMC senior NCOs. Preston identified the task of mentoring and growing Soldiers to become NCOs as a priority.
“We need to grow Soldiers to be leaders,” said Preston. “We are going to be at war a long time; we need to do this right.”
Preston said that without a commitment to growing the Army’s future NCOs, the Army will suffer a death spiral from lack of leadership replacement.
He talked to the group about the new Army Combat Uniform, explaining that the uniform was designed by Soldiers for Soldiers. He highlighted the Velcro design for the unit patches and its wash and wear ability without getting wrinkled.
Preston also explained the reasoning behind extending the Sergeant Major Academy from six to nine months.
“We want to ensure that the material we teach in school will be relevant at your next duty station,” said Preston, adding that lessons learned from Desert Shield and Desert Storm added to the course length.
(Editor’s note: Andricka Hammonds writes for Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs.)
here, I warned you.
Bump.
You're right -- tears.
God bless these brave, noble men! We are so lucky as a nation to have them.
I will always shower the SMA with accolades. I met him, and talked with him more than once, while he was the V Corps CSM. An extremely approachable CSM, even for a young buck Sergeant. He cared about his soldiers then. He offered outstanding advice to his NCOs then. I could only imagine he does the same now. Hooah, SMA Preston.
Yes, you did warn me. Thanks, SMA Preston, for going out into America and visiting with our troops who have given so much. Thanks Spc Godoy and Sgt Wong, and all your fellow soldiers, for your service to our country.
Man! God bless his soul!
Congrats to Sgt. Wong. I hope he makes a career of it.
BTTT
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