Last January, Steve Stansbury stepped away from college and his spot on Coach Moser’s staff to prepare for an upcoming deployment to Iraq. Steve’s training took him from Camp Lejeune, NC to the heat of Twenty-Nine Palms, CA (and a few memorable weekends on Pacific Beach) before arriving in Iraq in October. For more than 3 months Steve and his squad conducted mounted security patrols as well as providing escort. Much to the like of his friends & family, this deployment was shorter than expected, ending on January 19th. However, Steve hasn’t touched foot South of the River just yet. Steve can kill a man with just his pinky and because of this, will remain in Iraq teaching martial arts until early spring.
All kidding aside, Steve is just one of several 2005 MHS graduates currently serving our country. Jude O’Toole (Marine), Jason Crask (Marine), Caleb “Bubba” Clark (Marine), Jesse Weigle (Army) and Dustin Rosenbaum (Army) are all spread across the globe. Jude, Jason and Dustin have all served tours in Iraq as well.
As we soon welcome the safe arrival of Sgt Stansbury and thank him and the others for a successful deployment, we watch another SOR native leave. Wally Holt (MHS 2004) is expected to leave within 24-48 hours on his 4th deployment for the Army, heading to Afghanistan. Wally will serve as a security squad leader in the Khost Providence up to the Pakistan border, manning the gun from the Army’s new gun trucks….”no more humvee” as stated by Wally. In November 2007, Wally nearly lost his life in Iraq when the humvee he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. [story] Wally is expected to be deployed for 12 months. I personally know a 5 year old girl who will be praying nightly during those 12 months for the safe return of her uncle Wally.
We thank and praise all of those listed here as well as the dozens of other SOR names not listed for their service, both past and present.