Photo By Bernhard Lashleyleidner | Pfc. Cadle, an armor crewman with Co. D, 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt., 1st ABCT, 1st Inf....... read more read more
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After witnessing one of his best friends being killed in a drive-by shooting by a local Chicago street gang on the campus of his former high school, Pfc. Dylan Cadle’s life changed dramatically. The event pushed him into a life of service.
Cadle, an armor crewman with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, has served in the military for almost two years.
“When you are scared to leave your house because you might get shot, it’s time to make a change,” Cadle said.
Cadle’s family immigrated to the United States from Belize in 1990 and settled in Chicago’s west side.
Two years after his family arrived in the United States, Cadle’s mother and older sister were hit by a drunk driver. His mother died and his sister was injured. Cadle was only four months old at the time of the accident.
“My aunt, Elisa, raised me and my sister,” Cadle said. “My father was not around and she wanted to keep us together.”
Elisa Baptist said after her sister, Dylan’s mother, was killed, she didn’t want child services to take the children away and put them in foster care or an orphanage.
“I wanted to keep the family together,” Baptist said. “I wanted them to grow up in a loving home surrounded by family. I know my sister would want this as well.”
Cadle said the neighborhood in which they lived was pretty dangerous, but he was determined to succeed.
“Upon graduating high school, I quickly enrolled in Wilbur Wright College in Chicago,” Cadle said. “At the end of my second semester, I was confronted with my friend’s death, but it wasn’t until a 2-year-old child was killed a few weeks later during a drive-by shooting that gave me the courage to leave this situation and change my life.”
Cadle said death seemed like it was all around him and he wanted to be the first person in his family to get out of that situation, so he made the decision the join the Army.
“When he told me he was planning on the joining the Army, I thought it was a good decision,” Baptist said. “There is not much for young people to look forward to in this city and we didn’t want him to end up dead or in jail.”
Cadle joined the Army and was assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for initial entry and advanced individual training as an armor crewman. He was assigned to the brigade in April 2014.
“It is a privilege to wear this uniform,” Cadle said. “I admire everyone that came before me that has worn the uniform.”
Cadle said it took a lot of courage to fight for one’s country and the thought of being surrounded by other likeminded people, who share the same patriotism, motivated him to be the best he could be.
“Life doesn’t always go as planned,” Cadle said. “I am very thankful to be alive to be able to serve my country.”
Cadle’s platoon leader, 1st Lt. Michael Dabeck, said he was one of the hardest working Soldiers in the section.
“He works way above his pay grade,” Dabeck said. “He is very resilient and upbeat and willing to go above and beyond on any task assigned.”
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2015 15:53 |
| Story ID: | 180199 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Why I Serve: Tragedies put Soldier on path of service, by Bernhard Lashleyleidner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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