On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress established the United States Army, which began as 10 groups of riflemen set to serve for one year. It has since grown into the largest US military branch, with 1.4 million active duty members and an additional 540,000 members in the Reserves and National Guard. Today, we celebrate the Army’s 242nd birthday.
TDS has a long-standing tradition of Army service, beginning with our company’s founder, LeRoy T. Carlson. Roy was involved with World War II in more ways than one. First he met with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to discuss how to organize U.S. resources before the war. He then served in the Army from 1941 to 1943 and later served in the Navy from 1945 to 1946. We salute all of the men and women who have bravely protected our country through this institution, and highlight some of the TDS employees who have served in the U.S. Army:
- Mark Andersen, administrator, IT Application Support II
- Randy Brasfield, senior FST network specialist
- Mike Crook, associate manager of Network Operations Support
- Randy Downs, senior NOC technician
- Jarret Hesseling, manager of Server & Applications Operations
- John Kautza, Network Specialist II
- Ted Schumacher, manager, Talent Acquisition
- Jon Steen, manager of Network Management Operations
- Gary Wojtowicz , buyer II of Finance
Mark Andersen
During his time in the service, Mark was stationed in Germany on the East/West German border, where he was as close as you could get to the Soviet and East German soldiers during the Cold War. He recently traveled back to Germany where he had the surreal experience of seeing “Observation Post Alpha” turned into a museum. The Army impacted Mark in many ways, from the habit of speaking “loud to be heard” to instilling the values of the Army that include Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. “You can take a man out of the Army, but you cannot take the Army out of the man,” Mark explained. |
Randy Brasfield
Desert Storm was one of Randy’s most memorable experiences while serving. He served as an infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division where they traveled through three countries. One of the many memories that Randy has during his service is a comical one from his time traveling from country to country. “Visualize a military vehicle racing across the desert at 30 mph with a picnic table strapped on its roof. It looked like the Beverly Hillbillies,” recalled Randy. Looking back, Randy believes that his time in the service has made him a very strong-willed person. |
Mike Crook
Being in the Military taught Mike that the world doesn’t revolve around you and that one needs to value and respect others, which has made him the person he is today. |
Randy Downs
One of his most memorable moments happened in Airborne School when he first jumped out of a C130 at 1,500 feet. He first felt an intense fear, but after jumping he experienced a great rush from seeing the Earth from so high up. Joining the Army gave Randy a newfound sense of purpose and perspective that he carries with him through everything he does in life. He has learned to adapt to adversity, including spending almost two years away from his friends and family, and has a strong feeling of appreciation for everything we have in this country. |
Jarret Hesseling
Jarret served in the Army National Guard from 1994 to 2000 as a 51T, or a “technical engineering specialist.” He acted as a surveyor for the army, surveying land and developing project land for building projects. He left as an E-4 specialist. In August of 2000, Jarret was working in San Diego, California on border patrol roads. The temperatures would reach extremes, and children would often watch them work. A water truck would drive down the roads to keep the dust down as they worked, and it became a daily ritual and a fond memory of Jarret’s that the truck would spray the kids with water each day. Jarret joined the military at a critical time in his development and maturity, teaching him integrity and responsibility. “At age 19, you think you know it all, but spend six months with an Army drill sergeant,” said Jarret. “You will quickly change your tune.” |
John Kautza
While in Germany, John served on a special weapons group. He tracked nuclear weapons across Germany and was required to keep constant contact with the convoy. If contact was lost, it was up to the special weapons group to track the last place they reported from. The Army taught John many things, including work hard and always doing what is best for your country. He was not in a good place prior to being drafted and said he would do it all again if given the chance. John would like to thank any person who has served or is currently serving. |
Ted Schumacher
Ted joined the Army to be a part of his family’s military tradition. His most memorable experience was jumping out of a military aircraft at low altitude. While managing the state’s employment assistance program, Jeff Mand, manager – Network Configuration & Technical Support, reached out to Ted about starting a veteran hiring initiative at TDS. Now Ted works full-time in Talent Acquisition. |
Jon Steen
In 1990, Jon joined the active reserves as an Army Training and Evaluation Program (ARTEP) evaluator officer. During these training missions, it was Jon’s job to make sure the battalion or company completed their mission. However, even when unexpected events took place, such as your commander being listed as a combat loss, the mission still needed to be finished. When Jon was stationed in Germany, he loved being able to travel around Europe, although, it made him grateful to live in and serve the USA. The Army gave Jon the direction he was looking for. He learned discipline that allowed him to attend college after his service and pursue a career in cellular engineering. |
Gary Wojtowicz
While serving, his first duty station was with the 517th Maintenance Company at the Gerzeski Barracks. The Gerzewski Barracks had been around for many years, first being used during World War II and stayed with the U.S. Army until just after the Cold War. Gary always wanted to be a soldier, which led him to enlist and stay in the service for 13 years. |
TDS extends its greatest gratitude to these individuals for sharing their stories. Thank you to all those who have served our country, and happy birthday to the U.S. Army.
No comments yet.