Tim Pennington

I was born in Mesquite, Texas and was raised on a farm where we raised cows on about 100 acres. This land has been in our family since 1928, so it’s a pretty special place.

I am the youngest sibling, I have two older sisters, but they was in their early teens by the time I was born.
Growing up, I learned how to care for cows and grow all sorts of vegetables in several gardens. When we had time, we would always to to the local creek and fish using a cane pole.
My parents wanted me to have the best education possible so they sent me to a private school. After graduating high school, I enrolled in a local Jr college. After a couple of semesters, I discovered, college wasn’t for me.

This is when I decided to join the service. Someone in my family had joined the service since WWI. My dad got drafted during the Korean War, he was a infantryman, but once over there, his command discovered he was a pretty good cook. My dad always said it was always nice being around warmth and food as it was very cold over there and it rained a lot. My dad spent 13 months over there, once he returned to his assigned base, he fulfilled his enlistment, then he came home.

My dad was my inspiration to join the service, so in 1991, I joined the US Air Force. I was a 46150 Munition System Specialist. My first duty station was Morbach Germany, our command was located in Ramstein Germany. I thought it would be pretty cool to work on bombs, but soon discovered it was also pretty dangers and could be deadly. I entered the Air Force just as Desert Storm was initiating, and when I arrived at my first duty station, I spent a lot of time preparing munitions for shipment or escorting the big rigs, transporting them to railhead. . The US Air Force had a program called Palace Chase, it allowed Airmen to get out early with no penalties. So I exited the US Air Force with intentions to go back to college. But after attempting college, again, life wasn’t the same. I missed the service, dedication and camaraderie. I went back to US Air Force recruiter to see if I could enter the Air Force again, but was denied. Next door was the Army recruiters. I went to their office and the rest is history.

I entered the US Army in 1994 as a 88M, Heavy Equipment Operator. My first duty station was Ft Eustis, Va with 7th Group, 10th Battalion. I spent some time in the motor pool, but was selected as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) driver. During my assessment, I was selected by the Department of Defense to go to the White House Communication Agency (WHCA). I left Ft Eustis late 1996. While I was with WHCA, , I drove government tagged tractor-trailers and coach buses, also completed several additional duties. After 9/11/01 I was PCS’d to Crawford Tx to be assigned at former President Bush Ranch. My duties included all logistical requirements, management of staff buildings and maintenance of all GOV vehicles, plus additional duties that varied from week to week. I got notified that I was up for a new assignment, I left Crawford mid 2004 and was told it was Camp Arifijan, Kuwait. I was assigned to 160th Signal Brigade as Command Driver. I coordinated all air and ground transportation, assisted in providing our Brigade Chaplain transportation upon request and assisted the mail clerk with his duties. I trained all civilians who worked with the Brigade on safe operation of a GOV during their stay in Kuwait. I drove over 25 thousand miles during my 12 month deployment, I departed Kuwait mid 2005. My next duty station was with the Department of Defense Courier Service at Ft Meade, Maryland. There I transported our nations secrets all over the world. I departed Ft Meade mid 2009, headed to my final assignment, Ft Hood Texas. I was assigned to the 13th ESC/HHC/G3. During that period, we pulled everyone out of Iraq. I was assigned to work in the SCIF, we wrote all the operational orders and coordinated the casualty notifications. I think that was the hardest part of my career, knowing that we lost a brother or sister and it was up to our command to notify next of kin. Soon, after Iraq, doctors discovered my neck condition ( cervical stenosis disc degenerative disease) which caused my arms and hands to become numb when wearing my gear, due to that and several other injuries, I was medically retired in 2012.

I learned many things while serving. I think all young adults, after graduating high school, should be required to serve at least 4 years. Joining the service made men and women grow up, taught them life skills and created friendships for life. But also learned that being in the Military is hard on marriages/families. I traveled a lot, we called it TDY, and that’s different from deployments, then there was field training. A lot of time away from home, can and did cause problems. But now I’m blessed with a wonderful wife. I have 2 daughters from previous marriage and she has one son from previous marriage. We have two grandchildren, they are extra special.

No one should have to tell you why someone joins the military. When you eat dinner with your family, pause and look around, at your family. That’s what motivates men and women to serve. It’s not about pay, or the supposed glory, it’s for families, for America, regardless of color or religion, we are in it together, one mission, one fight, to protect all of our families.

Tim Pennington
SSG, USA (Ret)