Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Spc. Terrence Muller, a native of the Marshall Islands in Micronesia, makes a phone...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
BAGHDAD – Imagine lying on a beach covered with white sand and lined with gorgeous coral reefs beneath the most pristine ocean water in the Marshall Islands in Micronesia. Spc. Terrence Muller knew that life all too well while growing up on this island, which consists of 27 flat-laying atolls and three islands scattered across the region in the Pacific Ocean.
Muller, who loved the tropical humidity, enjoyed watching the coconut trees sway to and fro with wind in his hometown of Majuro Atoll, the capital city. He often found himself fishing with his father, diving with his friends, sailing canoes or just simply catching a breeze and watching the waves smack the shore of the beach.
"Growing up by the ocean created an addiction for me," Muller said.
He remembers surfing on plywood he and his friends pried off old homes. When he wasn't on the beaches surfing or soaking in the weather, he could be found playing basketball, baseball or tennis table with his friends. He always looked to have a good time.
Life wasn't always a "day at the beach" though. His family struggled and didn't have much money as they lived in a shack by the ocean side. In his words, "life was a struggle for me."
He once saw his buddy's father nearly die while fishing in the ocean. His friend's father was struggling with a catch and was hit by a shark.
"His arm was tore up," said Muller. "If we hadn't helped him to shore, he might have been a goner."
No matter how tough life was for Muller, he knew he had options and wanted to succeed in life and give his future children the things he never could have possibly enjoyed.
He learned from his father, who has been the biggest influence in his life. He struggled hard so that I may be where I am today, and I'm trying to turn the tides now," Muller said.
When Muller graduated from high school, it almost seemed like a dead end for him. He couldn't find a job and couldn't afford college.
"I was pretty much a bum and a dead weight on my parent's shoulders, which was my inspiration in finding the fastest way out of the house and making something of myself," Muller said. "I couldn't stand being a burden on my parents anymore, so the recruiter came along and offered me a job."
Muller soon raised his right hand and was "on my way out to the world with nothing but the pack on my back and my flip flops," he said.
"Prior to coming in, I saw the U.S. as the land of opportunity," Muller added.
Muller soon found himself serving as a paralegal. Though he had no experience or knowledge of the field, he came to find this decision a great one.
He now serves with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), in the paralegal office deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Since we've been deployed, I've been working military justice – Article 15s, chapters and courts-martial," Muller said. "I've also had hands on experience with legal assistance and the Foreign Claims operation. You have to be pretty versatile to be effective in this job. All and all, my experience has been interesting – good times!"
One thing Muller has learned from this deployment is that the experience one gains from it is what they make of it. He has gained great knowledge on the Iraqi culture and learned more about his job than he thought he ever could.
"Spc. Muller is an asset to the Strike legal office," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Hess, a native of Lancaster, Ohio, who serves as Muller's senior non-commissioned officer. "He's a self-starter who is quite capable of accomplishing the mission with or without supervision and with or without prompting."
Hess said he believes Muller is a Soldier he can count on to get the job done and get it right the first time around.
"During this deployment, he has been an absolute workhorse," said Hess. "Nearly all of the UCMJ actions processed through our office were completed by Spc. Muller. He was also involved in our claims missions and in the processing of investigations under AR 15-6. Spc. Muller is the kind of Soldier that I want to have working for me in any section of any legal office."
Muller said he plans to continue his service to the United States and plans to reenlist and take his career to Europe. He plans on continuing his pursuit of gaining a degree in criminal justice as well.
Over the next few years, life will continue to unfold for Muller. Soon he will return home to Fort Campbell to spend time with his wife, who he has known since his high school days and married just before the brigade's deployment in October.
"This beauty helped in shaping my life too," Muller said. "She always encourages me to do my best and is always supportive when it comes to me making decisions."
Besides returning home safely to his bride and family, Muller also accomplished another major milestone in his life during the deployment.
Muller, along with many other Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, gained his American citizenship, Sept. 1, 2008.
"Another checkmark next to my list of future accomplishments," Muller said, "but I already felt like an American the moment I raised my right hand and swore to take arms and serve this great nation of ours."
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.02.2008 09:08 |
| Story ID: | 25821 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 363 |
| Downloads: | 285 |
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