FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Seventeen years ago, 1st Sgt. Joseph Creighton with Company B, 84th Chemical Battalion, began his Army journey in the same training environment where he now serves as a leader. While the buildings and faces may have changed, the mission remains the same —transforming civilians into Soldiers. Today, he wears the stripes of a first sergeant — back in the unit where it all began, near the same hometown that shaped him.
Raised just down the road in Laquey, Missouri, Creighton grew up with Fort Leonard Wood in his backyard. Now, he's come back home to serve and give back to the place that raised him.
“I grew up playing sports at Davidson Fitness Center,” Creighton said. “That was my early connection to Army life.”
For a local kid who spent weekends around the post and watched Soldiers training nearby, returning in uniform as a first sergeant isn’t just meaningful, it’s deeply personal.
Creighton joined the Army in 2007, searching for something bigger than himself — a sense of direction, purpose and pride in who he could become. What he found was a wealth of professional growth — perhaps most notably, his time as a recruiter in the San Antonio, Texas, area, a defining chapter that continues to shape how he connects with young Soldiers and communicates the value of Army service in his current role.
“I took a deep dive into recruiting,” Creighton said. “I wanted the Army’s presence in the community to be led by me.”
Master Sgt. James Baker, operation noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Raleigh Recruiting Battalion in North Carolina, grew up alongside Creighton and said his return brings valuable perspective to the 84th Chemical Battalion and the local community.
“Serving in the area where he was raised brings a unique perspective,” Baker said. “His familiarity with the community’s values and needs allows him to lead with authenticity and purpose, bridging the gap between the military and local residents.”
84th Chemical Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Vincent Green said Creighton’s local connection only strengthens his impact on those he mentors.
“His connection to the community has a huge impact on new recruits, because he can show them where he came from and where he is now,” he said.
Capt. Dan Cui, Bravo Company commander, agreed, and said his return to Fort Leonard Wood is also impactful for recruiting.
“His story makes the Army feel personal and attainable because he is living proof that someone from their hometown can not only succeed in the Army but come back as a respected leader,” she said.
When he’s not training the nation’s newest warfighters, Creighton stays actively engaged in the community, often speaking with local youth about military service.
“I want students in these rural areas to know they don’t have to stay,” he said. “I want to inspire them to raise their expectations and understand their potential. The military opened doors I never knew existed and helped me grow, mature and become the man I am today.”
When his time as first sergeant is done, Creighton hopes to leave a legacy of unwavering commitment — one that encourages other Soldiers to use their stories to shape the next generation of warfighters.
“It all starts with your Army story,” he said.
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