1000 miles away… a journey to Veterans Day
I started 2 great adventures at the beginning of 2023:
1. Working at the New Freedom VFW Post 7012
2. Challenging myself to run 1000 miles by 2024
Both have been life-changing and rewarding.
I was 600 miles into my running goal when someone suggested I use these adventures simultaneously to the benefit of each other. I took the suggestion and launched a fundraiser that will push me to complete my goal while also supporting the organization I have come to love and work for. Additonally, I began dedicating 50-mile segments to individual Veterans and featuring their military bios.
Most of my friends, family, and VFW Post 7012 patrons know I set this running goal and will regularly inquire about my mileage tally…I love this accountability! It helps me to stay focused and determined as I run 1000 miles to support and honor those who were willing to travel 1000’s of miles from home to serve our country.
My 1000 Miles of Gratitude for their Courageous Miles of Fortitude.
There are many Veterans I’d still like to honor but am running out of miles… as of today, I’m down to my last 23. This final 50 mile segment has been dedicated to any and all Veterans. I welcome Veterans, or anyone who wishes to honor a Veteran, to post their names and service information below.
Appropriately, I plan to reach 1000 miles on November 11th… Veteran’s Day. My final mile will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Pleasant Ave. Heritage Rail Trail crossing between Railroad and New Freedom, and end in the parking lot of the New Freedom VFW Post 7012. I invite anyone to join me in honoring our Veterans in that last mile-walk, run, bicycle, rollerskate, or use any other human powered mode of transportation. If you would like to honor a Veteran that day but do not want to complete the mile, make a hero sign in their name and display it along the mile path or at the finish line… they ALL deserve recognition.
Below is a recap of the Veteran dedications from my 1000 Miles Away Campaign. As of today, we have collected $1350.00. If you wish you contribute, click the “Donate” button on this website or use the collection jar located on the bar of the canteen at Post 7012. Thank you for supporting our local Veterans.
My next 50 miles are dedicated to the VFW Post 7012 Commander, John Smith…aka, Captain Jack.
Jack was drafted for military service on 8/11/1967 and enlisted on 9/5/1967. He completed his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ and advanced training at Fort Gordon, GA. He arrived in Vietnam in March of 1968.
While most Americans were enjoying Super Bowl III between the New York Jets and Baltimore Colts on January 12th, 1969, Jack was experiencing significant action in Vietnam. That day his unit was heavily involved in a conflict that resulted in 8 killed in action and 28 wounded. Also lost we’re 4 CH47 Chinooks, 2 UHI-1s and 1 Cobra.
Jack received a 1 month leave in April of 69 and returned home. During that leave he began dating Judy. His tour in Vietnam ended in November of 1969 and he reported to Fort Hood Texas for most of 1970. In June of that year, Jack and Judy were engaged. They married on November 14th before he was sent to Okinawa, Japan. He returned in September of 1971. Jack’s official discharge from the Army occurred in 1973.
In 1975, he enlisted with the National Guard and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1977. He was active duty until 1980 and reserve until 1990 when he retired.
Jack and Judy have been married 52 years and have 2 children and 3 Grandchildren. .
My next 50 miles (700-750) are dedicated to Devin Taylor (Sergeant, US Army)
Devin enlisted into the U.S. ARMY as a 68w (healthcare specialist) in February of 2013. He attended basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning in Georgia.
After graduating airborne school he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 509th Airborne Infantry regiment at Fort Richardson Alaska. Here he served in a variety of roles from ambulance driver, to medical supply, to emergency care sergeant. During this time he became a father to Emmett Taylor, born June 2015.
While stationed in Alaska. Devin worked his way from Private First Class to Sergeant and also earned his Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). Devin was directly responsible for providing combat lifesaver training to infantrymen across his battalion as well as coordinating medical logistics and supply across the brigade. He earned multiple awards for his efforts while assigned to the 509th and remembers his time there joyfully. He claims, “Nothing like jumping into subzero temperatures”
In February of 2017 Devin and his family left Alaska, bound for the center of the universe, Fort Bragg, NC now known as Fort Liberty. SGT Taylor was assigned to the 2nd Brigade 82nd Airborne Division where he was sent to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. Shortly after arriving to his new duty station he was deployed to Iraq in support of operation Inherent Resolve. He took over as the senior most enlisted medical provider for the Wyvern Causality Collection Point. SGT Taylor was directly responsible for the development and training for medical evacuations for all US Army personnel on the forward operating base. Additionally Devin served as a member of the forward medical and surgical team. Just outside of Mosul, this aid station would see many coalition and joint forces each and everyday. He remembers enjoying games of ping pong during the calm between storms. Devin was called back to Fort Bragg shortly after deploying to address family issues that arose during his absence. Upon returning Devin gained sole custody of his son, Emmett. Life in the 82nd Airborne was unpredictable and the optempo was high. Devin was temporarily assigned to the Medical Simulation and Training Center to help him have a little more stability and reliability as he was trying to navigate single parenting. Here he was an instructor/operator and was responsible for the recertification of medics and their emt and bls across Fort Bragg. He was also responsible for land and training management and worked daily with other Department of Defense assets and units who needed to use the facility. Once his instructor time was up Devin went back to the White Falcon Battalion where he finished up his time as a team leader and the medical supply sergeant. In 2019 Devin chose to accept the parenthood discharge the unit presented to him. There are times he wishes he could have stayed in but it was in the best interest of his family to separate from service. Since separating from service he has been pursuing a degree in business with the University of Maryland and has taken an active role in the VFW as our webmaster and Service Officer.
I’m dedicating my next 50-mile segment (750-800) to Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Pete Cuttino who served in the US Army from July 1961 to July 1982.
Pete attended the Infantry Officers Orientation Course, Military Intelligence Officers Basic & Advanced Courses, and Defense Language Institute. His service in Vietnam spanned several years: From 1968-1969, Pete served in Vietnam as a Phoenix Program Adviser to the Vietnamese Armed Forces in the ICorp Tactical Zone. 1972-1973 as a Command Briefing Officer and Strategic Intelligence Analyst at the Military Assistance Command Vietnam Headquarters.
Other overseas duty included tours in France and Germany and service in Korea and the Philippines while on the CINCPAC staff.
Stateside, Pete served as Company Commander and Brigade S2 with the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division and as a staff officer at Commander in Chief Pacific Headquarters and Army Training and Doctrine Command. Pete retired after 3 years in Hawaii assuming assignments could only go downhill from there.
🇺🇸 My next 50 mile segment (800-850) is dedicated to Major Margo Schaffer.
Major Margo A. Schaffer was born Margo A. Shively on April 18, 1956, in Arrington, England. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and earned a Master’s in Internal Relations through Troy State University in 1985.
Major Schaffer entered Officer Training School on March 1, 1979, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on May 25, 1979. She graduated from the Air Intelligence Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado in September, and reported to her first duty station at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. There she provided intelligence support to the first operational F-15 wing, deploying with them to exercises both in the United States and Europe.
In August 1982, she reported to Eglin AFB Florida, where she worked as the special security officer for the Tactical Air Warfare Center. She was then traded to the Strategic Air Command and proceeded to Anderson, AFB, Guam. As the combat intelligence section chief, she supported B-52 bombers, the Pacific Tanker Task Force, and Military Airlift Command C-130 weather aircraft and transient C-141 and C-5 aircrews.
In March of 1987, Major Schaffer began her long tenure as "queen" of unit support. As the chief of the Unit Support Division for the Eighth Air Force at Barksdale AFB Louisiana, she became a well-known advocate of SAC bomber and tanker unit interests. She continued this as she transferred to the 544th Intelligence Wing Offutt AFB Nebraska. As the unit support flight commander, she increased the number and types of units supported to include various types of reconnaissance aircraft.
When Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command merged to form the Air Combat Command in 1992, Major Schaffer was a key player in the effort to ensure intelligence needs were met as the forces combined. In June 1992, she returned to unit support as the production management flight commander in the 480th Intelligence Group, which supported all the units in the new command.
After setting up the new unit support function, Major Schaffer moved to the Air Combat Command staff to work unit system issues in May 1993. She worked the Sentinel Byte program, the predecessor to the current Combat Intelligence System, in support of automating unit intelligence functions. She was then chosen to work in the Air Force Mission Support System, the automated mission planner for all Air Force aircrews. She has dedicated her career to improving intelligent support to the warfighter.
Major Schaffer's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. Major Schaffer is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and Squadron Officers School.
My next 50-mile dedication (850-900) is unique for a few reasons:
▪️there are 4 service bios to feature from the same family
▪️2 of them are a human couple
▪️2 of them are fur-siblings
▪️And 1 of them shares DNA with me (and no, it's not one of the furry ones)
SPC Elizabeth Patton is my cousin...she served in the US Army from 2003-2010 as a 33W Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator. Liz completed her Basic Training at Fort Jackson SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Huachuca AZ.
She was stationed at Fort Campbell KY before a 12+ month deployment to Iraq from 2005-2006. There she drove lead gun truck in 200+ convoys.
In 2008, a Permanent Change of Station took Liz to Fort Meade MD. She was later deployed to Kenya for a month in 2009. Her ETS (Expiration Term of Service) was July 2010.
The other half of the couple is SSG David Hilliard. Dave served in the US Army from 1993-2000. He served in the 902d Military Intelligence Group (Counterintelligence) at Fort Meade, MD from 1994-96.
Dave was at Zoekler Station in defense of Korea from 1996-97 and with the National Security Agency from 1997-2000.
After his military service, Dave enlisted as a Civilian Firefighter from 2003-05 in the Naval District of Washington DC. In 2005 he began service as a firefighter for Fort George G. Meade Directorate of Emergency Services, and since 2010 has been their Captain.
My first furry family member dedication goes to K9 Chef, born on 8/12/2018 in Holland. Chef trained in Florida for K9 certification with the Woodfin NC police department and was medically retired in 2022 before becoming part of Liz and Dave's family.
The second furry family member dedication is for CWD Laika, born Sept 1st, 2009. Laika was trained by AMK9 as a dual-purpose Patrol and Explosives Detection Dog. She served in Afghanistan and Iraq for 9 years straight working military and diplomatic missions in various locations. Laika was aged out of active service and repatriated to the US for retirement. She joined the family in 2020.
I have met both of these furry family members, they have visited the VFW on a few ocassions and are the sweetest pups. Recently Laika needed some special medical care and a fundraiser was created to help her. If you would like to contribute and read more of her story go to https://gofund.me/ce1cc119
My next 50 mile segment (900-950) is dedicated to Jeff Woods.
CDR Jeff “Rev” Woods spent over 24 years in the Navy after his commissioning through NROTC at Virginia Tech. His career included 11 years on active duty and 13+ years in the Navy Reserve. All 24 years involved flying duty in various aircraft. He completed 13 deployments and all but one included combat missions in various theaters.
Rev completed flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL in 1991 and was designated a Naval Flight Officer. He was selected to train as a Bombardier/Navigator in the mighty A-6 Intruder. Upon completion of his initial training at NAS Oceana, VA, he was sent to Attack Squadron 35, the world-famous Black Panthers. At the time, VA-35 was the oldest attack squadron in the Navy, having fought in major campaigns from World War 2 through Desert Storm.
Rev immediately deployed with the squadron aboard the USS Saratoga for 6 months, including missions in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. He deployed a 2nd time in 1994 with VA-35 on the Saratoga and flew more missions in Bosnia in support of the UN mission there. Following that deployment, the squadron was disestablished and Rev transitioned to flying the ES-3A Shadow Electronic Support aircraft out of NAS Cecil Field, FL.
He deployed 3 times on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Eisenhower, and USS Enterprise for missions in both Bosnia and Iraq. Following his last deployment, VQ-6 disestablished and Jeff was selected to join the Naval Reserve flying EA-6B Prowlers with Electronic Attack Squadron 209, the Starwarriors.
Rev deployed 8 times with the Starwarriors, including once to Al Asad AB, Iraq, and four to Bagram AB, Afghanistan. While at VAQ-209, he completed his Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the U. S. Naval War College. He retired in 2013 with over 3000 flight hours, 400 carrier landings, and 140 combat missions. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, 7 Strike Flight Air Medals, multiple Navy Commendation Medals, and multiple Navy Achievement Medals.
While in the reserves, Rev worked civilian jobs at Titan Corporation and Northrop Grumman. He is also a 2nd-degree Blackbelt in Taekwondo and is the Junior Vice Commander at the New Freedom VFW Post 7012. Jeff is married to his lovely wife, Cherie, and has 3 amazing children who make him proud every single day. He is especially thankful for their support and toughness during all of his deployments and also thanks his parents for encouraging him to follow his dream and for keeping him focused on achieving it.
