Heroes with super powers honored at Fort Sill volunteer social

FORT SILL, Okla., Nov. 27, 2020 — Col. Rich Harrison, the guest speaker at Volunteer Appreciation Night, called the post’s volunteers “heroes with super powers.”

The bimonthly social held Nov. 19 at the Patriot Club drew dozens of family members, and unit and agency leaders in a show of support for the honorees.

“We acknowledge heroes who freely give of their super powers, which is their time and their talents, to make Team Lawton Fort Sill a better place to work, live, and to raise our families,” said Harrison, commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School, chief of ADA, and deputy commanding officer of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill.

“Our volunteers provide several organizations on post and across the community extra hands, financial resources, and unwavering commitment as they make a difference every day,” he said.

Organizations benefiting  ranged from Soldier and Family Readiness Groups to homeless shelters to churches to youth groups and sports clubs, the colonel said. The honorees were service members, family members, retirees, veterans, and friends. They were nominated by their respective units or agencies for their dedication, time, and excellence.

“They have saved the community thousands of dollars in the form of manpower, goods, and services in the support of our Soldiers, their families, and the greater Lawton community,” Harrison said.

The volunteers are also heroes because, like health care workers and those who recently assisted with voting, they choose to serve even during the COVID-19 environment, Harrison said.

In his welcome, Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, FCoE and Fort Sill commanding general, said the decision to hold the recognition during the pandemic was weighed heavily on.

“We think it is so important to have a sense of community where we say ‘thanks’ and recognize folks,” Kamper said. “If we can spread out and wear masks, then this is probably a risk low enough worth taking.”

The event was live streamed. During the ceremony, Harrison elbow bumped the honorees and presented them with certificates of appreciation, as their service narratives were read by Ken Emerson, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security operations specialist for ceremonies.

The volunteers were joined center stage by family members, and leaders from their units and organizations. Not all of the 18 honorees could attend the ceremony.

Volunteer Sgt. Chris Seo, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, was recognized for his work with Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR); the American Red Cross; and as secretary of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program.

Why does Seo volunteer?

“I feel part of the Army family, and I feel we should help each other out on this installation,” he said. “I love to volunteer.”

He added that before he joined the Army he volunteered at his church. One of those efforts was assisting homeless people in Mexico.

Carlos Harbin Sr. said he was shocked that he was selected by his unit for the recognition, but it felt good. He was recognized for work at his church, St. Elmo Missionary Baptist Church in Lawton, and as a coach with an Amatuer Athletics Union basketball team.

“I feel blessed to be able to give back to my community,” said Harbin, who works in the FCoE G3/5/7.  “I look forward to continuing volunteering in my community.” He said he was nominated by his supervisor Pamela Jackson-Williams.

Army spouse Shauna Gerritsen, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) leader, attributed her recognition to good leadership.

“The leadership saw what I was helping with and doing for the SFRG and they recognized me for it,” said Gerritsen, who has volunteered the 12 years that she’s been a military wife. That includes volunteering at SFRGs at Fort Carson, Colorado, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Volunteering is a great way to connect with new people, she said.

“I get to meet people from all over the world, and these amazing spouses and their children,” she said. “My kids and I get to create lifelong bonds with these people.”

She said she volunteers about 40 hours a month, not only at the battery level, but also assists with the battalion’s SFRG.

Volunteer Sgt. Austin Wilson, 1st Battalion, 31st Field Artillery, attended the appreciation with his wife, Dora. “I’m very proud of him for getting this recognition,” she said.

Wilson volunteers with the Grace Fellowship Church’s youth group, leading them in spiritual growth. When he was a child a person in a similar youth group was one of the most influential people in his life, and that’s one reason he volunteers.

“I want to give that back to the next generation to help grow them into strong men of faith and character,” he said.

Wilson said he felt privileged to be honored.

“Obviously, I don’t volunteer for the recognition, but it’s nice to see people above you in your command to say, ‘That’s the example we want to set for everybody in the organization,’” he said. “That’s pretty cool.”

Editor’s note: Images of the honorees may be viewed at sill.armymwr.com. Click the flickr link icon (white circle with two black dots) at the bottom of the MWR homepage. Then look for November 2020 Volunteer Appreciation.

Honorees

Leslie Araujo, B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery

Kylie Cardinet, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery

Eugene DeLoach, Fort Sill Garrison

2nd Lt. Andrew Elias, 2nd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery

Dan and Kelli Elliott, Capability Development and Integration Directorate

Staff Sgt. Adam Fairchild, Marine Artillery Detachment

Shauna Gerritsen, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery

Carlos Harbin Sr., FCoE G3/5/7

Chris Marks, American Red Cross

Kayce McCain, Air Missile Defense Test Detachment

Laura Lee Molina-McCarty, USO Oklahoma

Ingrid Olivo, St. Barbara’s Catholic Community

Scott Percy, Army Medical Department Activity

Sgt. Chris Seo, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery

Floyd Smith, Frontier Chapel Gospel Service

Spc. Carmen Tharrington, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery

Sgt. Austin Wilson, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 31st Field Artillery