Quad Cities native enjoyed time at home while in command

By Mr. Darryl Howlett (FORSCOM)January 28, 2015

Hometown Soldier
Capt. Joseph C. Pauley, left, Quad Cities native and former commander of First Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment at the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, enjoyed his time living in the Quad Cities. Pauley and his girlfriend, Kaylee Heron, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Who says you can never go home again?

Capt. Joseph C. Pauley, a Milan, Illinois, native, recently completed an 18-month tour as commander of First Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment.

"It's very rare you get the opportunity to get back to your hometown in a command position. The Quad Cities is a great area," Pauley said.

The 11-year Army veteran arrived at First Army in 2012 after serving in units across the United States where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device intelligence expert.

The Sherrad High School and Western Illinois University alumnus enlisted in the Army Reserve and served in the 724TH Transportation Company at Bartonville, Illinois, before being commissioned as an active duty Army officer.

Pauley said he has felt the support of family and friends including his parents, grandparents, two siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins -- all Quad City residents, while assigned to First Army.

When Pauley, 30, learned he would be stationed in the Quad Cities with First Army, he knew giving back to the community was a must.

"Growing up, I enjoyed all that the Quad Cities had to offer and wanted to give back to the community."

Last fall, Pauley volunteered for the annual Birdies for the Brave golf event as a flag holder.

"It was a great event that supports local Soldiers," he said.

Not only has Pauley volunteered, he has encouraged other Soldiers to volunteer at several local charity events including Birdies for the Brave, Boys Scouts, Warrior Dash, the local USO and several VFW and American Legion events.

Another of Pauley's proudest moments was volunteering for the Honor Flights of the Quad Cities, recently escorting his grandfather, George Pauley, 90, a World War II Navy veteran to Washington, D.C. as part of the Honor Flight.

That spirit of volunteering led Pauley to convince, Kaylee Heron, his girlfriend of four years, to move to the Quad Cities from her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, to lead First Army's Family Readiness Group.

"FRGs are great force multipliers: they are good for troops, Soldiers, and families to meet outside of the work area," Pauley said.

"Once she moved here, I knew it was something she wanted to do," he said. "Both of her parents were in the Army."

Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, First Army's commanding general, spoke highly of Pauley's support for families.

"He helped dramatically increase our FRG outreach support and participation by his energetic personality and also developed a social media program designed to help keep our families updated on current issues, trends, and activities," he said.

Pauley will depart for Fort Meade, Maryland in early spring. Pauley says, however, no military base will ever compare to being home in the Quad Cities and serving at First Army.