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Proud American essay honorable mentions Over 60 years ago I was an infantry soldier of the 50th Armored Infantry Battalion with General Patton’s 3rd Army. We had broken through to the 101st Airborne Infantry Division. They were encir- I am so proud to be an American. I look around the world and I can’t imagine being anything else nor living anywhere else but in the United States of America. We are the greatest nation on this earth and what makes America great is its peo- ple. We are the greatest nation on this earth and cled by an overwhelming German Army at Bastogne, Belgium. I witnessed hundreds of American soldiers who had their lives taken away. There were countless numbers of what makes America great is its people. And because “In God We Trust”, I believe Ameri- cans are the most com- passionate and giving people in the world. That’s why America is the first to be called upon for help when trouble or tragedy strikes elsewhere in our world. We never Being a Proud American means to express my gratitude to all those who have come before me and worked and fought to make this country free. Freedom doesn’t come free. My family came to this coun- try over 100 years ago. I am the second generation to be born in the USA. My great-grandparents brought their children to the Americans severely wounded. I am sorry that only a com- bat military veteran can visu- alize the pride and bravery of our military personnel. Through the years our combat veterans share this pride, say no to other countries; Americans are benevo- lent and just know that helping our fellow mankind is the right thing to do. My father served in the Korean War while in the U.S. Navy and retired after serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. I was always proud of my dad’s United States to have a better life. Freedom doesn’t come free. My relations worked hard and saved to be able to buy a piece of their new country. My grandfather would talk about peddling newspapers on the streets of New York when he was nine years old to help his family. whether they want to admit it or not. I know- I am one of those combat veterans! We have the greatest coun- try in the world; don’t let anyone take it from us. I know its value and its worth. service to our country and honored to be a “military brat”. Growing up in the military taught me patrio- tism and made me proud to be an American. I’ve never found it boring or inconvenient to salute the American Flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our country. I think America’s red, white and Freedom doesn’t come free. The family bought a home. This home was passed from father to son. My father and his eleven siblings were born in this home. My grandfather some- times worked three jobs to pro- vide for his family. Freedom doesn’t come free. My father and three of his four brothers served their coun- It’s worth our lives to defend it for our loved ones. I am now 87 years old and have enjoyed a wonderful life. Dr. Andy Giambroni, DVM, Red Bluff blue is the most beautiful flag in the world and I still get choked up hear- ing our national anthem. America’s military is not the largest force in the world, but it is the might- iest and most respected. And I don’t know when I have felt more pride than when welcoming our local soldiers home from try when their country called during World War II. Freedom doesn’t come free. My oldest brother served and was killed in action in the Viet- nam War. Freedom doesn’t come free. Today we are a part of the new campaign with new objec- tives, but we are still the country that rally round. IN THE MILITARY AIR FORCE A1C David Alcorn A1C Desiree Alexander Staff Sgt. Ryan Allen Staff Sgt. Shawn Allen Staff Sgt. Douglas Antho- ny Aliano Staff Sgt. Matthew D. Atkins 2d Lt. Justin Barrett Senior Airman Alexandra M. Bates SMSGT Robert Baver Staff Sgt. Anthony James Borrelli Chad Brady Jen Brady Staff Sgt. Robert E. Bruce Staff Sgt.Timothy Byrd MSgt. Douglas Nelson Buck Airman Danuel Bullington Senior Airman Garrett Bullington Jameson Carnahan Staff Sgt. Dustin Carr Senior Airman Alex M. Carreon SSgt. Juan L. Carreon Tech. Sgt. Jestina Christi- son Captain Adam Crooker Senior Airman Timothy J. Diggs SSgt. Garrett M. Dunbar Scotty Duncan Anthony Flores A1C Paul Flores Catherine M. Franklin, A1C SSgt. Brian Daniel Fran- chini Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Gal- bert Tech. Sgt. Donatta Galle- gos Tech. Sgt. Joe Gallegos Airman Blayne Jon Gipson Master Sgt. Lenard Gleesing Joshua L. Gray Airman Christopher W. Harris E-4 Rodney Wayne Hart- man MSgt. Jim Hawken A1C Dustin T. Haub Tech. Sgt. James Haub Kyle Hoefling SRA Jamie Howell Staff Sgt. Christopher Huff Staff Sgt.Tony Hungate Staff Sgt.Avalee Hungate Senior Master Sgt. Scott Hyland A1C Erin Jackson A1C Deloris J. Jessel E-3 Angelina Joy A1C Azinna Kimball A1C Mitchell R. Knedler II Senior Airman Cody E. Kunau 2nd Lt. Reid Lamson Airman Katrina D. Landles Staff Sgt.W.Keith Mack Staff Sgt. Scott Martin Tech. Sgt.Shawn McCarty SRA Kristopher McLach- lan Kendall Mendenhall Captain Daniel Michel A1C Shawn T. Mireles A1C Matthew J. Misquez E2 Christopher S. Moore Major Daniel D. Moore SRA Corey Murdock A1C Timothy Neff A1C Daniel A. Nelson SRA David S. Nelson Tech. Sgt. Eric Newton Tech. Sgt. Kristina Haire- Newton Shane Norwood Airman Oscar Nunez A1C Adam Olsen SMSGT Terry L.Owen, Jr. Tech Sgt. Donovan G. Padilla Tech Sgt. Teri (Murray) Parent A1C Jeffrey D.Paulissen A1C Ryan C.Penne SRA Donald G.Peterson Staff Sgt. Gary Peterson Tech Sgt.Joseph Peterson Jacob Picklesimer Staff Sgt. Michael A. Ragan SRA Scott C. Ragan SR Airman Brian Rawlison Tech Sgt.Petra B. Reeder SRA John Roach A1C Daniel Roach Airman Branion E. Roberts A1C Tiffany A. Rogers SRA Joshua Dion Romero AIC Elizabeth Sanchez Master Sgt. James Sarosi III SRA Benjamin D. Schatz Master Sgt. Aaron Schut- ter Tech. Sgt. Kyla Schweikhart Staff Sgt.Robert Severson A1C Leslie Slate Staff Sgt. Julie Brent-Stan- field Major Linda Stanley Staff Sgt. Brian Stein Senior Airman Brian J. Swithenbank Airman Skye Thompson Staff Sgt.Tony Ray Tolley Staff Sgt. John Trostle Staff Sgt. Jennifer E.Vogt Staff Sgt. Stephen W.Vogt Master Sgt. Johnny Valen- cia Staff Sgt.David Wagner Senior Airman Jaron Wag- ner 2d Lt.Todd E.Walker A1C Robert G.Walstead A1C Patrick Ward Airman Cortney Wardinski Tech Sgt. Keri (Murray) Whitehead Airman Adam Keith Zepe- da Jr. ARMY Sgt. Melissa Ables Sgt. Bill Allen Staff Sgt. Justin Allwardt James L. Amergian Gar- rett PFC Lindsey Amundson Spec. 4th Class Matthew W. Anderson PFC Andrea Bailey Spec. 4th Class James A. Baker III Pvt. John Charles Baker Pvt.Tony Barron Pvt. Eric Bogner Sgt. John Bolster Pvt. Cody Donivan Botts Pfc. Colt Daniel Brockman Pfc. Jeremy Burnham Staff Sgt.George W.Bush, Jr. Pvt. Christina R. Cantu Sgt. Jacob A.Caylor Capt. Matthew Preston Champion Spec. 4th Class Thomas Nathaniel Champion Spec. Alex Chittenden Sgt. Donald C. Colgate Sgt. 1st Class David W. Combes Sgt. Melissa Ann Cranmer Pfc. Reid J. Culver Pfc.Doug Dean Pvt. Ryan Dennis Spec. 4th Class Keith E. Doughty Sgt. Arthur Carl Drake II Staff Sgt.Travis Droz Sgt. Richard Elsom Sgt. Creed Enos Sgt. Joe Ernst Sgt. Michael J. Estes Pfc. Richard Clark Fitzger- ald Spec. Rene N. Flores Jr. Pvt.Whitney Fortier Sgt. Donavan G.Freitas Pfc. Robert A.Freitas Pvt.William Garner III Staff Sgt. Christopher George Tim Gittelsohn Pvt. Mario Grandios Pvt.Kevin Grannes Robert D. Gray Sgt. Bruce Gridley Sgt. Bradley Grisenti Capt. Jason C. Hall Pfc. Christianna Marie Hamill Brandon Hamlyn Spec. 4th Class Lalena Heathington Pfc. Forrest Stephen Hewlett Cpl. Rick Hoover, Jr. Spec. Mei-Ling Hoover- Clark Spec. Enan Irwin Spec. Jared E. Johnson Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Johnson Spec.Zachary L.Johnson- Scott Pvt.Amy J. Jones Spec. 4th Class Chad Wesley Jones Capt. Richard E.Keffer Sgt. Fifth Class Steven Kelsey CW2 Alan Kenyon Sgt. Jason Kimball PV2 Brandon Konberg Cpl. Marsha Lack Pfc. Grant Lemmon Pvt.Mackenzie Lewis Spec. 4 Class Jason Leon Pfc. Joe Lopez W2 Philip D. Lowe Sgt. Nathaniel Lucas Pvt.Patrick Lucas Pvt. 1st Class Daneva Marshall Capt. J.R.Mead Pfc. Jeremy Michael Col. Brian Miller Cpl. Michael Mills Spec. Shawn Minor Sgt.Pete Mitchell Spec.William N. Monson John Morgan Sgt. Isaiah Morgan Spc. Glenn Morse Sgt. Jasen Murphy Sgt. Heather Newton Spec. Dylan Peters Pfc.Doug Peterson Spec.Tricia Ponserella Sgt. Blair R.Poore Sgt. E-5 Jason Walter Porter Col.David Price Sgt. E-5 Garrett Ralston PFC Brian Ramirez Pvt. Robert Raymond Pfc. Allen W. Robertson Pvt.Travis Rogers Pvt. Ashley Rollins Capt. Jeff Rottenberg Capt. Kimberly Rottenberg Staff Sgt. E-6 Donald Royce E-4 John Serrano 1st. Lt. Michelle Siemens, RN, BSN. Sgt.1st Class E7 James T. Smalley Pv2 Phillip Ryan Spence MSgt. Jon Stirewalt Spec. 4th Class David Towne Spec.Tyler True Spec. Joseph Turner Sgt. 1st Class Abigail Van- Tichelt Sgt. 1st Class Walter Van- Tichelt Sgt. Eric R.Wackt Pfc. Matt Wagner Sgt. Benjamin Earl Weath- ersby E-2 Jason Webb Spec. Jeromy White Sgt.Paul L. Whitfield Sgt. Jason M Williams Sgt. Mark Wooden E-2 Doyle E. Zornes MARINES Cpl. Joseph Alvarez Lance Cpl. Daniel Lee Anderson Cpl. Jonathan Andersen Cpl. Julia Allison-Ardoin Lance Cpl. Christopher Ashworth Thomas Barbosa 2nd Lt.Thomas Bennett Major Brooks D. Braden Cpl. Scott M. Brasher Sgt. Steven R. Browning Cpl. Damien Andrew Brushel Cpl. Jason T. Byrne Master Sgt.Wade Camp- bell Lance Cpl. Jedediah Canafax Pfc.Tim Carter Lance Cpl. Ben Castle Pfc. Gerardo Castro Lance Cpl. Jareme Clark Lance Cpl.Mathew Collins Cpl.Patrick Lee Conklin Sgt. Cody Coulter Lance Cpl. Jameson W. Cuthair Cpl. Bradley Dahnahy Second Lt. Jess N. Darnell Pvt. Jason M. Dierberger Sgt.Tracy Divita Pvt. James Ebersole Cpl. Salvador Garibay Cpl Todd R.Hambly Cpl. Jason Harris Cpl. Blair Lyle Hencratt Pvt. Brian D.Howtopat PFC Kevin Scott Langum Sgt. Jill S. Linnet Lance Cpl. Alexander R. Mason HN Brian P.McKenna Lance Cpl. Peter J. Men- doza Sgt. Albert Miller Capt. Michael Keith Mishoe Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Munns Gunnery Sgt. Tage M. Nickerson CPL Daniel R. Nosek Sgt. Dustin L. Reese Cpl. Sonny Sauceda Cpl.Thomas Scott Lance Cpl. Jason L. Servera Sgt.Keith Sharp Lance Cpl. Brad Sol Sgt.Travis C. Spencer Cpl.Kylee H. Stroing Cpl. Daniel Stubbs Gunnery Sgt. Kirk A. Swenson Cpl. Jonathan Turner Lance Cpl.Michael P.Turn- er Cpl. Nicholas R. Upton Pvt. Ryan M.Vanatta Lance Cpl. Raymond Matthew Walker Pfc. Jason Ward Pfc. Jeffery M.White Pfc. Henry C.Woolery Master Sgt. Jeff R. Woot- ton Gy Sgt. Carson Zumalt NAVY E-5 Guy Kelly Abbott E-5 CBCM Jarred S.Ables E-3 Franklin J. Arellano II Petty Officer Third Class David Baxter E-7 Chief Petty Officer James G.Brink E-6 John Vincent Crisp Josh Brady QM3 Kirby J. Brandon Petty Officer 2nd Class James J. Burchiel SA Jessica L. Campbell E-5 Dallas Chambers E-5 Stephen Colgan AM Kyle Wayne Darrow CTR2 Cole Davis Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul D.Davis ENFA Christopher Dil- saver Petty Officer 1st Class Jef- frey Dobson PR2 (AW) Richard Dun- can E-5 Robert W. Dunlap III E-6 Ryan Jeffrey Farrar SeaBee Chief Brent K. Forward Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Fry CECN Galen Gallagher Dennis Garrison MM1stSS Albert Gleesing EWSa Michael A. Grant Petty Officer 3rd Class Frederick Gregorio IT3 Alicia Kaylene Hamill Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Nicholas Hemping E-7 Chief Petty Officer Eric Hemping AM3 Roger Horner Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles (C.W.) Jones 2nd Class CTM Nathan L. Jones Travis E. Jordan Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel J. Jourdan Seaman William R.Kelly Seaman Johnathon L. Kersey Fireman Nathaniel L Kersey QM3 Brandon J. Kirby Fire Controlman 2nd Class Tracy Mitchell Main Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Mason HM3 (FMF) Brian Patrick McKenna HA E2 Joshua McManus Shane V. Morey Airman Antonio Nava Jr. YNSA Mark Neal Jr. Joseph Picklesimer MM2 David Pollack Petty Officer Third Class Michael Roach Ryan Ross Petty Officer Stan Ross E-6 Kristopher Rotter Seaman Apprentice Ryan Schaul Seaman Keith Shandley Seaman Recruit Kurtis Christopher Slaugenhaupt Minesman 2nd Class Petty Officer John Staggs PS3 Clarence S. Stevens E-3 Matt Stroud OSSA Walter H.Vassar Seaman Matthew Weston AT Clarissa Williams- McPherson E-5 Matthew Williams Quentin Winegar Lt. Cmdr. Cathy Wise NATIONAL GUARD Spec. 4 Melissa A. Ables P2C Amanda J.Adams Pfc. Dennis Beam Pvt. Michael M. Bennett Pvt.Lee F. Branham Pvt.Samuel Bullington Pvt. Jimmy Ray Cawthon Spec. 4 Michael Chaney 1st. Lt. Brent N.Dawson Pvt. Ryan Dee Freemyers Spec. Brian D. Glaser Pvt. Carl F.Hawthorne EW3 Darren Henley MSgt. James Holland Pfc. Antony Holloway Sgt. Laura Jumpp Spec. Deneva Marshall Pfc. Jake Pluim Spec. Jeffrey Neal Price Pvt. Dustin Rahming Nathan Scott Spec.Vincent Torres Sgt. Michael Wentzel Sgt. Jason C.Westlund SFC Kathy L.Wilburn Spec. Bill Wooden Spec. Candace Zepp COAST GUARD BM1 Brett Bonner Petty Officer 2nd Class April M.Hambly AMT3 Christopher Harris GM1 Brandon P.Hayward SN Anthony Longo Richard W. Summers, Jr. If you have a mother, father, son or daughter serving in the military and would like to include the person’s name on this list, call at 527-2153 or send an e-mail to clerk@red- bluffdailynews.com. If this person gets discharged from the military, call and we will remove the name from the list. Iraq and Afghanistan. These are kids I’ve held as babies who have grown into fine young men and women now serving our country. God bless them and may God continue to bless this great land called Ameri- ca. Vickie Latourell, Red Bluff Freedom doesn’t come free. I love this country that accepted my ancestors with open arms. My gratitude goes to my family for their efforts and sacrifices and to this great coun- try that enabled them to become part of the bigger picture of Proud Americans. Freedom doesn’t come free. Diane Lucero, Red Bluff