Page 11 - Wayne Soares News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

  Growing up in Cheshire, he graduated from Hoosac Valley High School and enlisted at age 19, inspired to serve by the 9/11 terror attacks.   "I just walked right into the recruiter and signed up …. always wanted to serve my country," he said. "I remember watching the attack on the World Trade Center and it just fueled my fire to serve."     "It was really an eye-opening experience," he said. "I came from a small community, I learned so much about everything in the world ... everyone is equal and on the same playing field. It was a great experience for a young adult."   Gaylo...

  Tony Pastore served his country in the Air Force during World War II and, again after the war, as a corporal. At 96 years of age, he is a pure gem of "The Greatest Generation" with a fabulous voice to boot.   Born in Pittsfield, he enlisted on March 23, 1943, and was sent to Fort Devens in Ayer. From there, he went to basic training in Miami Beach, Fla.      He was assigned to the New England Aircraft School in Boston, then was sent to Fort Banks in Winthrop, where he came down with double pneumonia.    "The colonel there liked me so he sent me home for 30 days to recuperate...

    McGinnis grew up in Englewood, Calif., and did his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. His first assignment was at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a member of the 2nd Platoon, 25th Infantry Division. He remembered there "being a great deal of history there." After being deployed to the Philippines to train that country's Scout Rangers, he was sent to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State to the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.    "I went back and focused on what I had to do ... told my guys that if you fail at it, make sure as hell you look good doing it," he said.

  McCarthy served his country as a sergeant in the Army in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968.    His basic training was at Fort Dix, N.J., before he shipped out first to Alaska from McGuire Air Force Base.   "We were drinking at a bar and this civilian who was working on the pipeline was bombed and said he wanted to go with us to Vietnam," said McCarthy, than laughed. "We wrapped him in an overcoat and snuck him on the plane. ... The pilot said he didn't have to pay for his flight over but had to pay for the return trip. It made the news."

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It was an absolute pleasure to recently interview Andrea Esposito, who served 15 years in the Army and retired with the rank of staff sergeant. She was welcoming, outgoing and provided an excellent overview on her extraordinary military service as we met at Soldier On.   Her career is impressive as she had to overcome a great many obstacles in her life and used those experiences to excel as a leader in the Army.    Esposito grew up in North Haven, Conn., and enlisted in May 1985. Her basic training was at the famed Fort Dix in New Jersey, where she was in one of ...