The White Falcon - 26.02.1993, Blaðsíða 7

Skydiver lands 1992 Military Member of the Year award
AMS1 (AW) Wilson's job is to counsel base personnel on drug and alcohol issues.
briety as the single most valuable experience
in his life. His job as the Drug and Alcohol
counselor for NAS brings him face-to-face
with personnel from all walks of life.
“Sometimes I feel like offering sugges-
tions to a person, how he or she can improve
themselves. But my job is such that I must
remain neutral and passive,” Wilson says.
He enjoys his job immensely and smiling,
says, “Now the Navy’s really getting their
money’s worth.”
Wilson plans to stay in the Navy for a
number of years. “When my time for retire-
ment comes up, I envision living in New
Mexico and pursuing both skydiving and
hot-air ballooning.
Story and photo by
J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
The tremendous rushing sound of the wind,
coupled with a few last-minute fleeting
thoughts of turning back occupies his mind.
A quick check of the harness, and the thought
of freefalling 10,000 feet to earth is erased.
The moment of release is uneventful. An
almost serene feeling of omniscience over-
comes the skydiver as he glides towards the
seemingly smooth surface of the earth.
It was during times like these that AMS 1
(AW) John Ray Wilson, Navy Drug and
Alcohol Counselor, Naval Air Station (NAS),
Keflavik, and recreational skydiver, thinks
back to the steps he has taken to improve his
life since joining the Navy nine years ago.
Wilson, 35, was recently selected as the
Iceland Defense Force Senior Military Mem-
ber of the Year for 1992. He maintains that
his decision to enter the military gave his life
a whole different direction, “I worked con-
struction and odd jobs here and there. The job
situation in my hometown of Nashville, Term.,
was dismal to say the least. Once I was in the
Navy, my weakness for alcohol became very
apparent. I was slowly ruining my body.”
The recovered alcoholic attributes his so-
U.S. Naval Air Station,
Keflavik
Good Conduct Medal
LI1 Jeffrey Malloy (4th award)
Expert Pistol Shot Medal
YNSN Timothy D. Burney
Letter of Commendation
LT Keith M. Gould
U.S. Naval Security Group
Activity, Keflavik
Navy Achievement Medal
CTR1 Marcia M. Austin
Enlisted Aviation Warface Specialist
MS 1 (AW) Michael L. Meskel
Senior Sailor of the Quarter
CE1 Robert D. Rowton
Junior Sailor of the Quarter
CTM3 Cindy L. Ohara
Advancement to present rate
CTA2 Alan D. Simson
CTR3 William C. Anderson
CTR3 Matthew Gebhart
CTR3 Kyle A. Roff
CTRSN Cathem M. Bergeron
CTOSN Javone M. Pitts
Letter of Commendation
CTM3 Cherice L. Frazier
U.S. Naval Facility,
Keflavik
Navy Achievement Medal
OTM1 Steven Woodring
Good Conduct Medal
OTAC Richard Peny
OTAC Linda Seekings
OTM1 Paul Carmen
OTA1 David Huffman
OTA2 Robin Burt
RM3 Byron Cosby
Senior Military Member of the Year
OTA1 William Piazza
Military Member of the Year
OTM2 Charles Curry
Junior Military Member of the Year
OTA3 Christi Canfield
Advanced to present rank
OTA3 Robert Hubbard
Letter of Commendation
OTM1 Paul Carmen
OTM1 Christine Ennis
OTM1 Mary Moore
OTA1 Patricia Piazza
OTA1 Jennie Pilcher
OTM1 Steven Woodring
OTM2 Charles Curry
OTM2 April Quackenbush
OTM3 Patrick Griffin
UTCN Javier Lopez-Martinez
NATO Satellite Ground
Terminal F-15, Keflavik
Joint Service Achievement Medal
ET2 Teresa A. Carl
Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist
ET1 (AW) Michael T. Murgia
Sailor of the Year
CE1 (SCW) John F. Mulholland, Jr.
Sailor of the Quarter
YN1 Donald D. Cipriano
Letter of Commendation
RMCS Hawes P. Amos
University of Maryland
Dean’s List
Maribel Bems
Dean Deloach
Mark Huehns
Elizabeth Juras
Florence Marino
Randy Nickerson
February 26,1993
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