SMSgt. “The world try beautiful and it’s really a sensation that we have always been very grateful I got a chance to would,” Zahradka said.
“We landed in Baltimore, Maryland, therefore was experiencing culture. The new society representative waved you as a consequence of, beamed and just said ‘invited domestic.’ I understood I happened to be back in the united states, and also usually stuck beside me,” Zahradka told you.
“I found myself older than people going right on through first studies, but I absolutely preferred they. I liked new part [where] I didn’t must think. I was informed when you should awaken, whenever i would eat, things to wear and how to build my bed. My big date are structured out for me it are eg a holiday,” Zahradka told you.
Their decision is part of the newest army were only available in senior high school, but the guy decided to waiting before signing up for.
Regardless of if doing the fresh new military is going to be difficult, Zahradka does not have any regrets regarding the their knowledge regarding the Supplies and you can National Guard.
So i ran to come and you can graduated school, got a position come, then I got time for you dedicate to this new Supplies,” he told you
“It had been among four really rewarding one thing inside my lifestyle. My very first is actually meeting my wife and achieving one or two great girls and you to definitely ranks number 4 shortly after my children,” Zahradka told you.
“In fact, We met my wife after i had registered [the new Reserves]. She was in the brand new Federal Shield and i was a student in the Reserves,” he told you.
Calcaterra, interviewed which have Lieutenant Colonel Smith, and you may was available in towards slide out of 2019
Immediately after Zahradka arrived in Afghanistan to your effective obligation, their part since the a primary Sergeant offered him the responsibility regarding looking out for about 140 other troops. He previously invested couple of years inside Afghanistan, and he told you his unique feel leftover your having long-term memory.
“[The latest sights] had been unique. I found myself on Bagram Valley, north away from Kabul during the Afghanistan therefore was basically at about 5,500 legs of elevation and you may encircled into three sides of the 11,000-feet slopes. It actually was beautiful. I ran there inside Sep and so i been able to come across they whether it was warm whenever it had cool and you will this http://www.datingmentor.org/illinois-dating/ new snow do come further along the mountain and in the fresh new area for the November,” Zahradka told you.
“I recall my family and i once had a banner folding ceremony in the Selvidge Middle school while the first 12 months my partner [Sandra] and you may my personal eldest child were within the Selvidge,” the guy said. “I got an opportunity to Skype into the one service from Afghanistan therefore i surely got to watch.”
“She would watch all of our ceremony however, we had to help you change the quantity from given that she was covering up underneath the woman dining table because they were less than a rocket assault during the time. I was very nervous because my girls had been with me and you can an incredibly dear friend from exploit who was simply a great Vietnam seasoned try with me as well and then he knew what was happening. I remember the primary don’t very master what was taking place from the the time therefore we must show her or him and sustain it out-of my children one mother’s around a skyrocket attack proper today,” Zahradka said.
Immediately after retiring regarding Supplies and you can training in the Scott Sky Force Legs inside the St. Clair, Illinois, Zahradka located a special opportunity to illustrate at the Lafayette for the once the among AFJROTC educators.
“We spoke into former Sergeant here and you may Dr. This is my personal fourth-year of teaching and it’s become one to quite fulfilling things I’ve actually ever complete,” the guy told you.
“I am swelled with pride and you may I’m sad possibly once i envision of a few of the people which just weren’t able to return home and you may that simply don’t arrive at benefit from the freedoms which they fought to possess,” Zahradka told you.
