A Veteran’s Devotion to Country!

November 11, 2024

                                                                        Photo Credit: eExtraNews


eExtraNews would like to thank one of the most important groups we have in our coverage area of NE Texas and SE Oklahoma and one of the reasons why we can give you this news today. That group of Great Americans is OUR Veterans! We say OUR veterans because they are OUR brothers and sisters, OUR mothers and fathers, OUR grandparents, OUR cousins, OUR aunts, OUR uncles, and OUR neighbors. The only reason we have the freedom in this country that we do, is because of OUR veterans that have served and fought for that freedom, those that are now fighting to maintain that freedom, and those who will continue to fight for it in the future. Each of OUR veterans have stories of service, sacrifice, bravery, and accomplishment. Each story is as unique as the veteran that tells it. But today the story is for OUR veterans and that story is a great big THANK YOU! Thank you for all you have done to make the United States the greatest country in the world. Please take time to attend a Veterans program and thank OUR local veterans not only today, but every single day of the year, simply because they deserve every bit of it.

As a Veteran Owned business, I know what my brothers and sisters have done that donned a uniform, I have the t-shirt too. In previous years I have written articles about why our Freedom is Not Free or what it means to be a Veteran. This year I’m going to spotlight one of my veterans. He doesn’t live in our area, doesn’t have family here other than being my brother in arms and the original BP (inside joke). He was what we called at the time in the Navy, a sponsor. Depending on the branch of service, your job profile, and your rank, service members rotate to new commands every 2-5 years. When you transfer duty stations, your new command will designate someone a collateral duty as your sponsor. They reach out and welcome you. They help you with a wide range of things like recommending good housing areas, good schools if you have kids, and they are the ones that take you around your new command to “check-in” and meet your new chain of command. My 1st command was the USS Belknap (CG-26) in Gaeta, Italy in 1988 and my sponsor was ET3 Paul Burkhart. We were both Electronics Technicians on what was the Flagship for the Mediterranean Sea. We instantly became best friends, and we travelled to over 20 countries in Europe. As our careers progressed, we stayed in contact (as there was no internet back then) and crossed paths as we circled the globe. In 1996 Paul applied to the Enlisted Commissioning Program and started the process from an E6 to becoming a Commissioned Officer. I was his first salute at his pinning ceremony when he became an Ensign in 1998 after receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Norfolk State University. Shortly after, I reenlisted with Paul as my Reenlisting Officer, the 1st reenlistment he got to do as an Officer. Years later at my retirement in 2010, Paul, now as a Lieutenant Commander, was my Guest Speaker. Those that have served know the importance of those milestones and what it means to be selected for these special occasions. In May of this year, my wife and I flew to Norfolk, Virginia to surprise Paul at his retirement ceremony. At this point in his career, he was the Commanding Officer of the USS Bataan (LHD-5). Going from the bottom of the enlisted ranks to becoming a full-bird Captain and responsible for over 2200 sailors and marines on his ship. I was honored to give Paul his final official salute at his retirement ceremony! To have served our country for 39 years, being stationed on a Cruiser, 3 different Destroyers, a Frigate, 3 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Amphibious Assault Ships, a Littoral Combat Ship, plus numerous shore duty rotations, a career spanning almost double of a normal career. That tells the dedication, devotion, and sacrifices he has made to making our country free. To my old friend and all of OUR Veterans that have served, THANK YOU and God Bless the United States of America!

Paul grew up in North Chili, New York and joined the Navy in August of 1984 in the delayed entry program and entered boot camp in July of 1985. He has been married to Michelle Fields Burkhart for 33 years and they have two children, a grandson, and twin grandbabies due in a few short weeks. Paul is now a government contractor and the Gold Team – Team Leader for the Tycom Material Inspection Team with the McHenry Management Group in Norfolk, VA. Their kids have carried on the tradition of serving our country in the Navy with daughter Lieutenant Commander Allyson Burkhart DeNora, an Internal Medicine Doctor and the Chief of Residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA, and son Lieutenant Zachary Burkhart, a Department Head at the Nuclear Power Training Facility in Norfolk, VA.

I am a graduate of North Lamar HS who joined the Navy in 1986. Was stationed in Italy, Hawaii (2 times), Virginia, Maine, California and Mississippi, and has travelled to over 30 countries. I lived onboard a Naval Destroyer & a Cruiser, spent 9 years as a Senior Technical Advisor, Technical Support, and as an Instructor with the Navy SEALs, and was a Department Head at a Joint Training AF Command before retiring in 2010 with 24 years as a Navy Chief. After retiring I returned to Paris with my family and completed a degree from Paris Junior College and Texas A&M University – Commerce receiving Summa cum Laude honors in 2012. I own WeDraw3D – Paris Drafting as well as eExtraNews.

Written by: JD Marrs

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