- Abraham Lincoln

Veteran’s Day is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Many people do not know why this important day is celebrated on November 11th. This date comes from World War I. Although the war officially ended on June 28, 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the actual fighting stopped on November 11, 1918. An armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. That is why each year we honor all those who served on the 11th, no matter what day of the week it may fall.

 

We are honored to celebrate a few of our own right here in Forest Ridge. We would like to thank each and every one of you for serving our country and protecting our freedom.

 

Branch: United States Air Force

Rank: Sgt.

Years Served: Jan 03, 1967 - Dec 19, 1970

Basic training, 6 weeks, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX; technical training, 9 months, Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS & National Security Agency, 6 weeks, Ft. George G. Meade, MD. 15 month tour, 6937th Comms Grp, 15 month tour, Peshawar, (West) Pakistan; 20 month tour, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE.

Desire to serve my Country

Patriotism, Loyalty, mission completion, self-discipline, self-motivation, camaraderie.

 

Branch: US Army

Rank: Active Army Sergeant 82nd Airborne- Combat Engineer 12B

Years Served: 6 years ‘06 - ‘12

Tours of Duty? OIF, OND, OEF

9/11

I was enlisted, and medically retired, it wasn’t a great time.

Put God first.

 

Branch: U.S. Navy

Rank: Petty Officer 3rd Class

Years Served: 1988-1992

Deployed with USS Doyle FFG 39, Operation Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm

I have always wanted to be a public servant

Branch: U.S. Navy

Rank: Lieutenant (O-3) Naval Aviator

Years Served: June 2014 to present

Lt. Daniel Fulton attended college at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, graduating in 2018 with a Bachelor Degree in Astronautical Engineering, while commissioning as a Naval Officer, Ensign (0-1).  After his commissioning he received orders for Primary Flight School at Pensacola, FL, followed by Advanced Jet Training in Kingsville, TX. He was then assigned to the “Sidewinders” of VFA-86, an F/A-18 Fighter Attack Squadron at Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA. Soon after reporting to his squadron, the Sidewinders were deployed as a part of Carrier Air Wing 7, onboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) for a ten-month patrol where he performed more than 100 carrier arrested landings. Lieutenant Fulton is currently training to fly F-35C fighter jets as his squadron transitions away from F/A-18E. He resides in Hanford, CA.

Long time Forest Ridge residents may remember Daniel from his life guard job at our neighborhood pool in the summers of 2012-2013. When he wasn’t cruising around town in his red Jeep or working at the pool, he might occasionally buzz the neighborhood in a Cessna 150.

 

Branch: U.S. Army

Rank: Sergeant E5 Ammunition Specialist 1st Cavalry, Ft. Hood, Tx Trombonist, 3rd Armored Division, Frankfurt, Germany, and 8th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, Wa

Years Served: 8 years active, 2 Reserve, 1974-1984

Tours of Duty? 2, Conus and European theaters.

I wanted to become my own man.

I went in thinking the military would develop my character, actually, it revealed it.

 

Branch: US Army

Rank: Specialist 4 - Military Policeman US Air Force/Master Sergeant - Law Enforcement Specialist

Years Served: 22 years. 1/77 to 1/99

US Army/Ft Dix NJ 1977 - 1980 England AFB LA, 1981 - 1985 Osan AB, Korea 1985 - 1986 The Pentagon, Wash. DC 1986-1990 Whiteman AFB, MO 1990 - 1999

My cousin joined 2 years prior to me. It sounded good and gave me a starting point on my own.

While working on JCS Chairman Colin Powell's military security force, I met Pres. George Bush Sr. and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Developing and maintaining self-discipline will take you as far in life as you want to go.

 

Branch: U.S. Army

Rank: Staff Sargent Airborne Infantry

Years Served: 2007-2013

Tours of Duty? 2009-2010 Iraq 2011-2012 Afghanistan

I joined because I knew the Army would equip me with skills that would be beneficial throughout my life.

When I returned home from Iraq after a full year being away was one of the most joyous experiences of my life. My whole family was there, music was playing, huge American flags, fire trucks, the whole 9 yards. Reuniting with my wife and small son after being away so long was beyond words.

It doesn’t matter what happens to you, all that matters is how you respond.

 

Branch: U.S. Army

Rank: Sgt Squad Leader

Years Served: 1968 to 1972, and 2 years inactive

I dropped out of college and joined the army, volunteered for service in Vietnam. I joined in July of 1968, basic training was ant Ft Benning, GA, advanced infantry training ant Ft Polk, LA, then back to Benning for NCO school and jump school. I was shipped to Ft Dix, NJ, for 2, 8 week courses as acting assistant drill instructor, waiting for my brother’s return from Vietnam before they would ship me over. My brother returned in September, 1969, and 3 days later, I shipped out for Nam.

I graduated from Robert E Lee HS in Springfield, VA in 1966, and went to Paris Jr College, Paris, TX, for a year then transferred to East Texas State in Commerce. I was having too much fun in school, not really focused on school work, and soon, realized they were about to send me home for a semester, on scholastic probation. My thinking was, dad would probably kill me if he got that letter. So, because he was career Air Force, and my brother was on his way to Vietnam real soon, I could save my skin by calling him and letting him know “I felt a calling to do my patriotic duty a drop out to join the army and volunteer for Nam. He had been 3 times. It worked! He approved, and I was saved from his wrath. What was I thinking?

Long story short, I wound up in the infantry. In September of 1969, I shipped out to become a squad leader in the Americal Division, 196th light infantry. We had our share of battles with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in the “I” Corps, based out of Chu Lao and on LZ Sibera.

Life’s lesson…”war is hell”. That’s a saying for a purpose. I learned the importance of discipline, honor and looking back, how God has a plan for each of us. I know He brought me through that because later in my life, my purpose was made very clear to me. I was here to be a care giver and a protector. I’m so very thankful and blessed.