America's Bravest - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

America's Bravest


WALB-TV salutes those who risk their lives to bring freedom to the Iraqi people...

Photos of America's Military in Action

This is Spc. Jeremiah Edwards.  He is assigned to the United States Army Military Police Company currently posted at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He is married to Brittany Evans Edwards of Leesburg/Sylvester, Georgia, the son of Jerry & Cindy Edwards of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, and the youngest brother to Andrew Edwards, also of Big Cabin, Oklahoma.

He joined the United States Army in April of 2007. He has served one tour to Iraq from August 2008 until August 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is scheduled to deploy in 2011 to Afghanistan. Please keep him & his family in your prayers!!

  

Hello. My name is SPC Malinda Odom. I am currently in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

I am about to be home and be able to go back to being a mother to my 2 year old son Jase Anthony Odom. I have been over here since April of 2009. I sure can't wait to be back with my family!

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Senior Airman Stephanie Tovar, a 2001 a graduate of Tift County High School,  is stationed at Pope Air Force Base, NC deployed to Kuwait.

She has two small boys, one 3 years, and the other 20 months, who are being watched by family. She is the daughter of Robert and Jacqueline Gurz of Tifton.

We love her dearly and are very proud of her serving our country and can't wait for her to return.

Thank you for the wonderful support of our troops,

Stephanie's mother, Jackie Gurz

 

Hello from Iraq!

I have seven Brothers and four Sisters in Albany. I am sure neither one of them would acknowledge me through contacting you all. I am First Sergeant Larry L. McGowan, of Sylvester. 

I graduated high school in 1984, and Joined the Army on Oct 23, 1984.

I am in Iraq for 10 months with two to go, stationed at Baumholder, Germany, to the  HHC 2-6 Infantry.

I am married to Mary Dell Brown of Albany.

Our children are: Caitlin J. McGowan and Larissa R. McGowan, with 22Years of Service.  Proud family members: Wife (Mary), Mother and Father (Willie Pearl McGowan and Grover McGowan)

Thanks you for all of your recognitions and may God bless all of our soldiers both Foreign and Domestic.

Again, Thank you WALB!

Larry L. McGowan
First Sergeant
United States Army

Sgt. Christy Cornelius from Adel, Georgia  is a 1989 graduate from Cook High School, and enlisted in the Army in 2001. 

She has served in operation Iraqi freedom. Her position in the  U. S. Army is an dentist assistant. She is currently stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. She has been there two years now. 

She is the daughter of Freddie and Willa Kay Cornelius, she is the fourth oldest out of five children and the third oldest of all the girls. 

She has three boys Marquavious, Xavier, and Christopher. Marquavious just graduated from Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii. 

Her family misses her and loves her with all their hearts. 

Submitted by her sister, Tameka Cornelius

Joshua Sher joined the United States Marine Corps in August of 2002. 

After completing his Military Occupation Specialty training at 29 Palms, California, he went to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Wing Support Squadron-171,  as a Secure Telecommunications Specialist. After duty in Japan, he went to  Camp Lejeune, NC with the 2D Second Force Service Support Group, which now is Marine Logistics Group.  



Staff Sergeant Eric Clarke Graduated Hartford Public High School in Hartford, Connecticut in 1993. 

He's stationed in Aviano, Italy, for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

He sends best wishes to all for 2008 !  

SSgt. Lisa Payne-Harvey was deployed to Kuwait  she is the wife of Paul Harvey. 


They have three children Nicholas 14, Chris 8,and Dominique 5 years old. Lisa was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq and we are happy to have her back home. Lisa's parents are David and Barbara Payne of the Big City of Lenox Ga.

We support all of our troops and we pray that they return back safe.

This is my son Patrick Howard, stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky. He spent some time over in Afghanistan fighting the war against terrorism, and I am very proud of him.

He is carrying a Boom Box (radio) that he made from his own hands to carry in a parade over there to help boost the moral on the base at Kandahar.

So please people tell our military folks that your proud of them and support them whether you believe in the wars or not.

They are sacrificing there selves to keep our United States free of terrorist coming over here and reeking havoc on our neighbor hoods and our families!!

I love you Patrick Wayne Howard!

Sandra McGee

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This is Sergeant First Class Edward R. Scott. He is my hero! He is the strongest, most caring, giving man I have ever know and I am blessed to have him as  my husband. He is presently serving in Iraq.

Lord willing, he will be home soon. He has been in the army for 16 and a half years. His two young daughters (7&9) can't wait 'til he gets home. 

He is the first to stand up for what is right and to offer a helping hand. He is the light of our lives. We miss him and are so proud of him as he gives up so much to help people he doesn't even know. 

Willing to put his life on the line for our country and never get or expect praise- THAT'S A HERO! 

My hero and the hero to all that know him. Take care baby, we love and miss you and can't wait 'til you are home. 

I thank God for you everyday. You are the best thing to ever happen to me and I couldn't have asked for a better husband or father to our beautiful little girls. 

Keep your head down and your spirits high, we are waiting for you. I pray for you every night and all the other guys in 1/37. I know God is with you keeping you safe. You are my love, my heart, my breath, my life, my best friend! I love you!

Lieutenant Commander Jason Duelge, MD is the eldest of four children of Dr. John and Chris Duelge of Albany, Georgia.  He graduated in 1999 from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the same medical school that his father graduated from in 1977.  



He went on active duty in the U.S. Navy in July of 2004 following a 5 year residency in Radiation Oncology.  He is the father of three children, Xandra, Kaleb and Tristan, with his wife, Darci.  His eldest daughter, Xandra, will attend the University of Maryland in the scholars program in the fall of 2007.  

Duelge is an avid marathoner and finished 17 th in the Albany Marathon this March.  Lieutenant Commander Jason Duelge and his family live in Rockville, Maryland and he serves at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

I am sending you this picture of our all stars team with one of our coaches. His name is Captain Brian Lassetter. 

Lassetter:  top row in the middle, no glasses.

He is a Captain for the United States National Guard. He is stationed at Griffin , GA. 

He has served two tours of duty in Iraq for us and our country. He is also our baseball coach. He is very devoted to what he does with us and the military.

We want you to post this picture because we salute him for what he does and we salute all of the other men and women out there. 

Army Staff Sergeant Robert Adams from Atlanta Ga, is currently assigned to Ft. Bliss, Texas, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He's been with the First Cavalry Division since March, 2004. He attended Henry Grady High School, and graduated in 1992. He is the son of Robert, and Cathy Adams, brother of Caleb, and father of Bobby and Andrew.

Jeremy Haynes is a 24-year-old CPT from Albany, Georgia. Jeremy is a member of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stationed in Fort Campbell. Jeremy is a proud graduate of Dougherty High School.



His mother, Joyce Hope, wants all other military families to know that they are not alone, and the she prays for all the service personnel, and asks everyone to remember them in prayer.

Jeremy is married to 1LT(P) Mia Haynes and has 2 children. The two are currently deployed to Iraq.