Everyday Patriot

  Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 13, 1958. While he was young, his family relocated to Newville, Pennsylvania, and Sergeant First Class Shughart would graduate from Big Springs High School in 1976. He would enlist in the US Army shortly following his high school graduation. Sergeant First Class Randy Shugart trained as a Ranger and spent time stationed at Fort Lewis before receiving Special Forces training and moving to Fort Bragg. He was assigned to the Delta Force in 1986. During a period of hostilities, Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, and on October 3, 1993, was killed while trying to rescue the crewmembers of a Blackhawk helicopter. He rests at Westminster Cemetery in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The actor Johnny Strong portrayed Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart in the movie Black Hawk Down. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* ****** ********************************* a.d. elli...

Master Sergeant Albert Blithe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 20, 1923. After school, he worked for Westinghouse Electric as a crane operator before enlisting in the US Army on August 18, 1942. Master Sergeant Blithe trained as a paratrooper and was assigned to the 101st Infantry. He deployed to the European Theater in September of 1943, and on June 6, 1944, he took part in the 101st Airborne drop into Occupied France during the D-Day Landing at Normandy and was wounded by a sniper shot to the collarbone. Master Sergeant Albert Blithe continued his service in the Korean War and deployed to Korea with the 187th Airborne.  He chose to remain a career soldier in the US Army. After the war, Master Sergeant Albert Blithe was assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group. On December 10, 1967, while stationed at Wiesbaden, Germany, Master Sergeant Albert Blithe died from complications of an ulcer. He rests at Arlington. Master Sergeant Albert Blithe's character has b...

  Sergeant Kenneth Thomas Keller was born on October 31, 1963, in Cook County, Illinois.  He was an active football player, playing both minor league and for Loyola Academy.  Sergeant Keller enlisted in the US Marine Corps shortly after graduating high school in 1982 and trained as a helicopter crew chief. Sergeant Kenneth Keller deployed to the Middle East for Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War, and on October 8, 1990, his helicopter crashed while on patrol.  He rests at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery ca...