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Indicated below are
biographies of our team
Staff Sgt. Larry Gill -
Staff Sergeant Larry Gill was born and raised in Mobile,
Alabama. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in
1981. His tours of duty included Barstow, Ca; Quantico,
VA; Beirut, Lebanon; Caracas, Venezuela; Okinawa, Japan;
South Korea; North Carolina; Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and
the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert
Shield/Desert Storm and Baghdad, Iraq.
Larry was on duty at the U.S. Embassy Annex in Beirut,
Lebanon in 1984 when a Hezbollah terrorist drove a car
bomb into the building. He received his first Purple
Heart Medal for injuries sustained in this bombing, and
personally met then Vice President George Bush, in
Mobile after returning home from Lebanon. Larry
continued his service in the Marine Corps and ended his
active duty with the Marine’s following the Persian Gulf
War. He then served three years in the Marine Corps
Reserve.
In 1992, Larry then began his civilian career as a
police officer and in 1995, married his wife Leah. They
now have three children; Matthew, Sean, and Ryan. In
1996, Larry resumed his military service as a soldier in
the 1165th Military Police Company, Alabama Army
National Guard.
Larry has participated in numerous deployments with the
Alabama Army National Guard, including operations in
Honduras and Germany. Larry also mobilized for Homeland
Defense duties within the State of Alabama, following
the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001, as well as security duties at the
2002 winter Olympics, Salt Lake City, Utah.
As if he hadn’t accomplished enough, Larry, again, was
mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. As
a squad leader in Baghdad, Iraq, Larry also served as
the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge, while
attached for direct support with the 1st 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Infantry, during ground
combat operations in Baghdad and Fallujah.
On October 7, 2003, while conducting security and crowd
control operations in Baghdad, Larry was critically
injured (again), when an insurgent threw hand grenades
into Larry's platoon. Subsequently, Larry lost over 9
inches from his left calf, and suffered nerve, muscle,
and artery damage in both legs, and now wears a leg
brace on his left leg to assist in walking and
minimizing limping, and preventing foot drop. Larry
received his second Purple Heart Medal for these
injuries, and personally met President George W. Bush,
while undergoing rehabilitation and physical therapy at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Larry was medically
retired in June 2005, with an accumulative twenty-two
years of service to the United States of America.
Staff Sergeant Larry Gill's awards and decorations
include:
Two Purple Heart Medals; Army Commendation Medal; Three
Army Achievement Medals; Navy Achievement Medal; Two
Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbons; Army Combat Action
Badge; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; Humanitarian
Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars;
Iraq Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Service
Medal; Naval Unit Commendation; Four Overseas Service
Ribbons; Kuwait Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation; Valorous Unit
Citation; Two Meritorious Unit Citations; Meritorious
Service Ribbon; Army Outstanding Service Ribbon; Alabama
Commendation Medal; and Alabama Special Unit Citation.
He also has pending award recommendations for the
Soldier's Medal; the Bronze Star with "V" Device; and
the Meritorious Service Medal.
Second
Lieutenant Charles Kelly
Bartles
2LT Charles “Chuck” Bartles was raised in Yankton, South
Dakota. Chuck was extremely active in wrestling and
boxing, placing twice (3rd and 6th
respectively) in the National Junior Olympics. In May
1996, Chuck graduated from Yankton High School and
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He
also pursued his B.A. Degree from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, while simultaneously working part-time
as a route salesperson for a beverage vendor. Chuck
enhanced his studies by participating in a yearlong,
foreign exchange student program in Moscow, Russia, and
subsequently graduated with a B.A. in Russian in 2000.
That fall,
Chuck began his graduate studies in Russian and Eastern
European Studies, at the University of Kansas. He also
transferred from the United States Marine Corps Reserve,
to the United States Army Reserve, as a Civil-Affairs
Specialist. Chuck continued his studies, advanced in
his military duties to the rank of Sergeant, and
continued his part-time employment as well. In January
2003, Chuck’s reserve unit, the 418th
Civil-Affairs Battalion, mobilized in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
While in Iraq, Sergeant Bartles was attached to the 2nd
Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, as a
member of a twelve-man civil affairs team. Their duties
included restoring public works and governance
structures in Baquba, Iraq. On October 23, 2003, while
conducting convoy operations, Sergeant Bartles’s vehicle
encountered an improvised explosive device. The
resulting blast killed one soldier and severely wounded
Chuck and others in his team. The injuries to Chuck
were so traumatic, that they resulted in the amputation
of his right arm. Chuck underwent approximately 16
months of surgeries and rehabilitation at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. For his
injuries, Chuck was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by
President George Bush, and later awarded the Bronze Star
Medal for his actions while in Iraq.
While most people would
simply accept personal defeat at having to endure the
severe injuries which Chuck had sustained, this once
Olympic-class boxer had a few more rounds in him! Chuck
continued to chart his path to success by completing his
thesis for his Master’s degree, and attending a
six-month language refresher course at Fort Bragg, NC.
In July 2004, Sergeant Bartles chose to return to duty
in the Army Reserves, and in December, he officially
graduated from the University of Kansas. Sergeant
Bartles is the first upper extremity amputee to return
to duty since the Vietnam War. On June 14, 2005, Sgt.
Chuck Bartles set another first, when he became the
first amputee to be commissioned as an officer in the
United States Armed Forces. In the fall 2005, 2LT
Bartles deployed to Afghanistan.
He is now the
Battalion Signal Officer for the 418th
Civil-Affairs Battalion, and is currently attached to
the Foreign Military Studies Office, Ft. Leavenworth
Kansas, as a Russian/Central Asia, Intelligence
Analyst. 2LT Charles “Chuck” Bartles has published
several articles detailing counter terrorism, Russia and
Central Asia, and is currently applying to Law School.
Sergeant
Steven R. Clark
Steven Clark was born in Louisville,
Kentucky, and raised in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1990,
following High School, Steve pursued his education at
the University of South Florida and graduated in 1994
with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Subsequent to
completing his degree, Steve accepted employment with
the University of South Florida, where he worked as the
Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, and Adjunct
Faculty.
Following the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001, Steve felt compelled to answer our Nation’s
call to duty. He made the unselfish decision to abandon
the safety and security of his 9 to 5 job, and
immediately enlisted in the United States Army. Steve’s
leadership and commitment to duty quickly led to his
advancement to the rank of Sergeant. Steve was
stationed in Germany as the gunner on Multiple Launch
Rocket System (MLRS).
Inevitably, Steve deployed to Iraq. While
performing combat operations in October 2003, Steve
sustained severe injuries, which ultimately resulted in
the amputation of his right arm. Steve endured 11
months of surgeries, physical therapy, and
rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where
President George Bush presented Steve his Purple Heart
Medal. During his brief, three-year Army
career, Steve clearly set the example by earning: the
Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Badge, Saint Barbara’s
Medal for Field Artillery, Army Good Conduct Medal, four
(4) Army Achievement Medals, two (2) Army Commendation
Medals, the Global War On Terrorism Medal, the National
Defense Medal, and the Iraqi Service Medal. Sgt. Steven
Clark was medically discharged from the Army in August
2004.
However, his desire to work with, and assist
his fellow soldiers was as prominent as ever. Steve
began working for the Severely Injured Soldier Support
Center, Pentagon Detachment. A pilot program developed
to assist disabled veterans in securing meaningful
employment and to help with their transition back into
the civilian populace. Steve is now the Director of
this program and is currently assigned as a Program
Analyst at the Pentagon’s Severely Injured Center, for
the U.S. Department of Defense, Under Secretary for
Personnel & Readiness. Steve Clark continues to serve
as a Peer Counselor, for wounded soldiers, at the Walter
Reed Army Medical Center.
Staff Sergeant Jessica
L. Clements
Jessica
Lee Clements was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. After
graduating from Green High School, Jessica fulfilled her
ambitions to serve our Nation by joining the Army
Reserves in 1995. Jessica attended Basic Training at
Fort Jackson, SC, and Advanced Individual Training at
Fort Eustis, VA, where she learned the daily operational
procedures and responsibilities of the U.S. Army
Transportation Corps. Simultaneously, while serving
in the Army Reserves, Jessica worked as a model,
bartender, and loan officer, while also earning her
degree as a licensed massage therapist. Jessica’s
leadership and commitment to duty was evident, as she
quickly moved up through the Non Commissioned Officer
ranks, to that of Staff Sergeant. After serving in the
Reserves for eight years, Jessica deployed to Iraq in
January 2004.
As a Squad Leader, attached to the 1st
Armor Division (1st AD), Jessica’s duties as
a convoy commander included the daily supervision of a 7
man team, and responsibilities for transporting and
providing hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel,
throughout the entire operational area of Iraq. In May
2004, Jessica was severely injured when a roadside bomb,
also known as an improvised explosive device (IED), was
detonated and ripped through her vehicle. The shrapnel
from the blast slammed into Jessica, tearing through her
Kevlar helmet, resulting in a massive, traumatic brain
injury. SSG Jessica Clements was evacuated to Walter
Reed Army Medical Center, where she endured eleven
months of brain surgeries and countless hours of intense
physical therapy and rehabilitation. Jessica slowly
regained her independence as she learned how to walk,
talk, and think. SSG Jessica Clements was awarded the
Purple Heart Medal for her injuries, as well as a Bronze
Star Medal for her actions in Iraq.
Jessica is currently attending the University of Akron
and is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work.
Jessica hopes to become a counselor and work with
disabled veterans, either with the U.S. Department of
Veteran’s Affairs, or the Disabled American Veterans.
SSG Jessica Clements has appeared on CNN,
CBS 60 Minutes, ABC World News Tonight, and the Pentagon
Channel.
Corporal
Bobby Isaacs
Cpl. Bobby Isaacs was born in Durham, NC in April of
1981. In 1999, Bobby graduated from Liberty Christian
School and subsequently began working as a mechanic.
When the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
occurred, Bobby felt compelled to answer our Nation’s
call to duty. Six days later, he enlisted in the U.S.
Army. Bobby recalled thinking to himself, “I couldn’t
stand to see what I was seeing, knowing my country was
at war, while I was at home partying with my friends.”
“The decision didn’t take long at all.” Following his
basic training, Bobby was assigned to the legendary 101st
Airborne (Air Assault) Division, as part of the 3/502
Infantry, and within two years had been promoted into
the Non Commissioned Officer ranks as a Corporal. In
March 2003, Bobby deployed to Kuwait in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Later that
same month, the 101st Airborne began their
journey north into Iraq. Operation Iraqi Freedom was
underway! Corporal Bobby Isaacs and his unit
participated in ground combat operations throughout
Iraq. Al Hillah, An Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, and Mosul,
were a few of the areas of operations. On December 10,
2003, while conducting security patrol operations in
Mosul, Corporal Isaac’s squad came under attack. The
ambush of Bobby’s squad was initiated with the
detonation of two, 155mm artillery rounds, followed by
small arms fire. It was an intense firefight, but the
enemy attack was quickly suppressed. However, the blast
of the artillery rounds and the hot, razor sharp
shrapnel had found its mark. Corporal Bobby Isaacs’s
legs were shattered and his right femoral artery had
been severed. The medics worked feverishly to save
Bobby. It took several tourniquets to control the
bleeding, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to keep him
alive and stable enough to transport to the 86th
Combat Support Hospital. However, due to the severity
of his injuries, Bobby was given an “imminent death”
retirement. He was not expected to live.
Cpl. Bobby
Isaacs cheated death and his condition stabilized well
enough for him to be evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany,
and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Bobby’s
leg could not be saved and unfortunately, he had to make
the decision for them to be amputated. He has since
endured an astonishing 42 surgical operations since his
injuries. Corporal Bobby Isaacs is now retired and
living with his wife, Charlotte, near Roxboro, North
Carolina.
Corporal Bobby Isaacs has been featured in
several media venues, to include: “Blood
Brothers: The Soldiers of Ward 57” by
Michael Weisskopf; Extreme Makeover Home Edition; Time
Magazine; Nightline; ABC with Martha Raddatz; MSNBC
Hardball; Stars and Stripes; Dallas Morning Star; and
several local news programs and papers.
Specialist Kevin Wayne
Pannell
Kevin Wayne Pannell was born in Nashville, Arkansas and
raised in nearby Dierks, Arkansas. Kevin was raised
with a sense of duty and commitment, as both of his
parents were Emergency Medical Technicians.
While in high school, Kevin was very
athletic. He loved everything about football, and most
outdoor activities. During his sophomore year, Kevin’s
interests in football became shared with his curiosity
of the military. He learned the National Guard offered
a program that would allow him to perform his basic
training in between his junior and senior year of high
school. After much persuasion on his part, his parents
reluctantly agreed to sign the waivers on his enlistment
papers and on January 26, 1996, Kevin enlisted in the
Arkansas Army National Guard. He completed his Basic
Training at Ft Benning, Georgia and upon completion,
returned to Dierks High School to finish his senior
year. During this year, a tornado ripped through the
state of Arkansas, shredding thousands of homes and
killing twenty-six people. Kevin’s unit mobilized to
assist the citizens of his state. After graduating from
high school, Kevin returned to Ft. Benning, Georgia and
completed his Advanced Infantry Training, and in 1999,
Kevin deployed to Kuwait for Operation Southern Watch.
Kevin’s life changed forever in April
2001, when he welcomed into this world, his son, Hunter
Lee Pannell. Later that same year, not only did an ice
storm sweep across Arkansas, devastating trees and
highways and leaving thousands of people without
electricity or heat, but September 11, 2001 marked the
worst Terrorist attack on United States soil. Once
again, Kevin’s unit was called to the scene of a natural
disaster. In 2003, Kevin mobilized for Operation Iraqi
Freedom. His unit would be assigned to support the 1st
Cavalry Division, Charlie Company 1/153rd.
Kevin was assigned to the infantry units conducting
house-to-house raids, movement to enemy contacts, and
other security patrol operations throughout Baghdad,
Iraq. On June 13,2004, while conducting patrol
operations in this area, Kevin and his patrol was
ambushed by terrorist insurgents with explosive devices
and small arms fire. During the incident, Kevin was
severely injured when he was hit with shrapnel from two
grenades. Thanks to the quick actions of the men in his
company, Kevin’s life was spared. However, because of
these injuries, both of Kevin’s legs were amputated. He
received the Purple Heart Medal for these injuries.
Specialist Kevin Pannell spent the
next year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington, DC, working his way through countless hours
of physical therapy and rehabilitation, keeping a
promise to the men of Charlie Company to meet them on
the flight line upon their return. Kevin made good on
this promise! He is now retired and resides in Hot
Springs, Arkansas. Kevin is employed with the Arkansas
National Guard Family Readiness Program, and continues
to advocate for the rights of disabled people and
manages a nonprofit organization for disabled sports.
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