Why We Serve: Lieutenant Proudly Carries On Family’s Legacy of Service

Why We Serve ^ | Sgt. Sara Moore, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2007 – Six members from three generations of Tabitha White’s family have served in the military, so her service in the Marine Corps is a point of pride she takes seriously.

Marine 1st Lt. Tabitha White is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military’s story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program. Defense Department photo  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“I consider it a privilege to be an American, and I realize we have many freedoms and liberties that other countries are not afforded,” the Marine lieutenant said. “I wanted to take part in protecting these liberties and freedoms and my family and other American citizens who can't or won't serve.”

White is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military’s story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program.

White, who was raised in Meridian, Miss., joined the Marine Corps four and a half years ago and now serves as an air defense control officer in Cherry Point, N.C. She deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, from January to August this year, where she served as an airspace cell coordinator and the squadron command historian.

White is currently deciding whether to stay in the military when her service contract expires next year, but she said her service has been rewarding and valuable. “All of my experiences have developed and matured me as an individual, and I am thankful for every one that I have had in the military,” she said. “The highlight has been all of the people I have had the opportunity to meet.”

Sharing her story with those people is what White said she likes about the Why We Serve program. She has participated in 28 speaking engagements and said she has seen that the public wants to hear personal stories of men and women serving in the military.

“I can bring my story to many children and young adults in a form that they can understand,” White said, adding that her background in education helps her in this area. White holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in reading and math.

The Why We Serve program began in fall 2006 and was originally the idea of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. White and the other nine servicemembers in her group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.

Related Sites:
Why We Serve

[Little Bill]

How many people in this country have thought about how many of their family members have served? My Family has been around a while so we have a lot. Others have a lesser numbers but they did serve Voluntarily, why?

[ASOC]

Grandpa (1st gen American) went to France to fight the Kiser.
Dad and Uncle went to North Africa/South Pacific to fight Nazis and the Japs - later, they were both drafted for Korea. Uncle survived Anzio landing.
Later, I spent 22 years in Service and won the Cold War (with a little help)
My son just finished up a tour with the Corps - and traveled/fought in Iraq (2x), Africa, Cuba and parts of South America.

Can’t say about the Grandkids, I hope by the time they are old enough, they will be working from orbit, putting together ships for the Second Great Migration to (fill in your favorite star system). Or not.

[Little Bill]

That is cool, in my family we had some misunderstandings with the Indians in 1637 and it went down hill from there. If we could have avoided moving every fifty years or so we might have avoided a lot of trouble. LOL

The reason I was thinking about this was my dear exes Grand Pa, he fought for the Russians in 1905 and then for Us in 1917, he was very young. His kids fought in WW2 and Korea, My Father In Law did 2.5 in a LuftStalag, cousins and nephews in Vietnam, I think that our Grandkids will be challenged.

Second Great Migration to (fill in your favorite star system). Or not. Are going to write a Novel? I have enough Scots Irish blood that I would be on the first boat out.

[ASOC]

LOL

Grandpa used to say that he KNEW some 1sr cousins were shooting at him in France...

I hav ebeen trying to write something other than tech articles...the money from the tecg stuff is fine, but nobody will ever invite you to a Con as a guest : )

[ops33]

My son will report to Army basic next month. His brother in law is currently in training at Ft. Bliss, TX preparing for a January deployment to Irag, his second tour. His father served 20 years in the USAF including the first Persian Gulf War. Both of his grandfathers served in WW2. One grandfather was a Marine and earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star on Okinawa (a fact I did not know until after the gentleman died). The other grandfather retired from the Army after 25 years and was a veteran of WW2, Korea, and Viet-Name. One of his uncles is a Viet-Nam vet. My son has a great-great uncle that served in WW1, was postumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and is buried in France. His g-grandfather served in the Canadian Army during WW1. In fact, I have records showing that a member of my son’s family has served in every American War from the Revolution to the War on Terror.
Needless to say, I am very proud of him! His basic training will be at Ft. Sill, just a few miles down the road. My wife and I will attend his graduation parade, you’ll be able to spot me in the stands. I’ll be the one who cannot button his shirt!