Army Times asked readers to submit tributes to their drill sergeant and we received hundreds of responses. A sampling:
Drill Sergeant Metheny,
You were probably the most influential man of my life. To understand the gravity of the changes your leadership helped make, I need the readers to understand how I was before I joined the Army. I was a troublemaker. I had a 1.9 grade point average after graduating high school and I was going the wrong direction in life.
Drill Sergeant Metheny was the most bad-ass guy I had met. He had his Ranger tab and he just exuded toughness I wanted to imitate. Besides his being tough, he was smart. So smart that he made everything we did look easy, and he always communicated his directions perfectly. I can't remember how many times I got smoked from him. But because of his example I continually strived to improve.
I remember our platoon had a lot of problems with uniformity. He had us doing uniformity exercises and there was one moment where I was the last to get on my LBE. I was so stressed that I couldn't get it buckled and he got in my face. He yelled at me to hurry up and scared the everything out of me. After I got it, I asked him why he was always focusing on me. He said, "Because you give up as soon as things get hard!" Hearing this was about the biggest eye-opening moment I've ever had. From that point on I continued to improve. Even throughout my twelve years in the Army. That memory drives me even today through the toughest tasks.
The results of Drill Sergeant Metheny is that I'm a staff sergeant, I have 15 ribbons and I'm only 30. I have a 3.55 GPA in accounting in college. I never thought I had the strength to do everything I've done, but that one sentence has always got me through even the toughest times. You made my life, Drill Sergeant Metheny. Thank you so much.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Archuleta
Los Angeles
My drill sergeant was named Staff Sgt. Moore. From the beginning you could tell he was a natural leader, always squared away and expecting us privates to be the same. He had a nickname of "The Dragon" because he was a solid PT God. When we graduated basic he told us that we had all become his "baby dragons." Not only did he always expect the best from us, but he was the first to commend us and answer any and all questions we ever had. To this day I still talk to him if I ever need any advice about my Army career.
Pfc. Tyler Greenwalt
Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington
I will never forget the extreme professionalism of Sgt. 1st Class (now Command Sgt. Maj.) Eric Usbeck. He taught us to be competent and cocky infantrymen, modeling for recruits what it meant to be a soldier. I still smile when I remember the wry humor, usually delivered from a hoarse throat, of Staff Sgt. (now Master Sgt.) Karl Wurzbach. His humor and stories helped inspire me to bring my own humor and stories to soldiering. There are not words to describe the dedication of these men, with young families, in a very demanding duty assignment.
Chaplain (Maj.) Jonathan D. Wymer
York, Neb.
The drill sergeant who had the biggest impact on me was Sgt. 1st Class Tamara Tuff. Her name reflected just what she was. Tough. She would never request a soldier to do anything she wouldn't do. Whenever she used to smoke us, she used to really give it to us. Her favorite tactic was probably making us do incline pushups with our feet on our bunks and tossing all of our lockers because one person left it unlocked. The lasting impression on me was to take your career by the horns. Wherever it may lead you, do your very best. She is the epitome of what it means to be an NCO. I take every leader and soldier tactic she taught me and apply it to my everyday life inside and outside of the military. So I just wanted to say a big thank you to the best drill sergeant and best NCO I know.
Spc. Brian Morton
Fort Bragg, N.C.
My drill sergeant was physically tough, mentally sound, fair across the platoon, and had a knack in finding a way to get through to each and every one of us. My drill sergeant's name was Drill Sergeant Padilla (1997, Fort Jackson, S.C.). I did not have any major training deficiencies or shortfalls except climbing a rope without knots. Finally, the "Super Bowl" (comprehensive testing day) had approached and DS Padilla just "gave me the look" instructing me to get up the rope. I had a choice, knots or no knots, and I chose no knots. I can say that it took me longer than most men, but I made it to the top. Once I threw my leg over the top beam DS Padilla said, "I knew you wouldn't give up, NOW KEEP MOVING PRIVATE!" This is when I realized that my drill sergeant cared about our success as a soldier, and wasn't just pushing numbers.
As a former drill sergeant myself, I know that the individual encouragement I received on that day has given me the extra push to give everything I have in all that I do. It was my goal to make a difference in someone each and every day.
I know that my drill sergeant set the tone for my 17-year career (so far), and I am grateful that I had a positive teacher, coach, and mentorthat I call, "my drill sergeant." I feel that because of the time my drill sergeant took to properly instill pride, discipline, dedication to duty, and selfless service within me, that now, soldiers are calling me, "MY DRILL SERGEANT!"
Master Sgt. Dana M. Yaw
Annville, Penn.
My drill sergeant was DS Samuel Kauer. I didn't much like him when I was going through because he was real hard on us. Now I know that he was doing exactly what we needed. I was a slacker prior to the Army. He instilled confidence in me and a desire to push myself to the limit, always. He taught someone from a poor background with a below-average education the importance of standards and the feeling of undoubted success.
DS Samuel Kauer is currently First Sgt. Kauer stationed somewhere in Korea. I have often turned to him when I needed leadership advice. He is one of the few that talks the talk and walks the walk in the Army.
Sgt. Timothy Warney
Fort Stewart, Ga.
Drill Sergeant Forristall was a big, tough infantry sergeant. Everything was set to standard. He always expected the best from us, being hungry and competitive with other platoons. When we would lose, we had a great motivational physical training session.
My second drill sergeant was Drill Sergeant Laulusa. One day she was trying to teach us for an upcoming competition against the other platoons. She called out a command I believe on the wrong foot, and I didn't mean to sound like I was showing her up, I was trying to help. She said, 'You think you can do this?' I said, 'Yes, drill sergeant!' I ran up there and she turned over the formation to me and stood back to watch me. When I said my first command with the correct preparatory command and the command of execution, her face lit up. She made me her platoon guide.
During the boards I have competed in I always say my long-term goal is to become a Drill Sergeant. When asked why, I say to be the example of what the Army was and forever will be.
Spc. Micahel Pakula
Elwood, Ill.
My senior drill sergeant's name is one I'll never forget: DS Hoefer. He taught me a lot more than becoming a soldier. He taught me leadership, motivation, and that I could achieve anything I put my mind to. But most of all, he taught me that sometimes it's the little things that count the most. We would get mail weekly in the platoon and anyone who's ever been in the service knows how great it feels to get a letter while you're at boot camp. There was one guy in my platoon, a young kid, who never got mail. He had a rough life back home and was never happy. One Saturday his name got called and he finally got a letter. It was a letter from DS Hoefer. The letter told him to never give up because he had what it took to make it to graduation. That was the first time all cycle we saw him smile, and five weeks later he marched with us on the field at the National Infantry Museum.
Spc. Brandon A. Brown
Connecticut Army National Guard
My drill sergeant's name was DS Call. In 2006, the Army was taking everyone and their grandmother. I was a fat body. I drank too much beer in the one year of college I went to, and ate a whole lot of junk food and never did PT. So to even get to go to boot camp, I took the ARMS (Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength) test. I was still a little chunky at the end of basic training, but I remember DS Call telling me I had a little too much weight, but a lot of heart. To this day, I still remember his words and every time I think it's getting to be too much, I remember what DS Call said. I feel as though that is the best compliment I have ever received in my life. But DS Call, if you're reading this, THANK YOU. I've lost the weight, but I like to think I've still got the heart.
Staff Sgt. Erika Bush
Pensacola, Fla.
