THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190018
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
In December 1995, I was living in Chesapeake and working throughout Hampton Roads. Today, I have traded my business suit for an Army green battle dress uniform and I am temporarily stationed at Taszar Air Base, Hungary, supporting Operation Joint Endeavor.
As an Army Reservist with more than 24 years of service, I was called to active duty to support our Bosnian Mission.
In the past few weeks, I have never been so proud of America's military men and women. The female specialist from Texas, the captain from Louisiana, the sergeant from Georgia, all coming together under adverse living and weather conditions to assist NATO's effort to bring peace to Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are not in the newspapers each day, but their acts are indeed heroic.
Some are traveling south ``into the Box,'' as we call Bosnia, while others are stationed in Hungary and Croatia supporting their maintenance and equipment needs during this yearlong mission.
As the calendar begins new months - March, April, May - the focus of interests may shift to other worldly events. But please do not forget about our American sons and daughters who are bravely working long hours in foreign countries.
Write to a service member if you know one, or participate in other programs which support their efforts. We are proud to serve America. We want you to be proud of us. Please don't forget us.
God bless America.
Ltc. JOHN S. Di DIO
Operation Joint Endeavor
HHC, 29th ASG
APO AE 09793, March 28, 1996 by CNB