Photo By Lisa Landreth | 1st Lt. Michael Cirillo, executive officer for A Company, 46th Engineer Combat...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — If patriotism and heroics are in any way hereditary, 1st Lt. Michael Cirillo, executive officer with A Company, 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), seems predestined for absolute greatness.
"I've heard the stories about how my late grandfather, CW3 (Ret.) Charles Fink, was a pathfinder who designated the drop zones for D-day," explained Cirillo. "The family also talks about how he fought courageously during the Battle of the Bulge during World War II and served as a first sergeant during the Korean War."
After becoming a warrant officer, Fink served as a Special Forces Jungle Expert, completing two tours with 3rd Special Forces Group during Vietnam. Although he now rests in Arlington National Cemetery, his legacy lives on in his grandson.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Cirillo was a football, basketball, and baseball stand-out at Dixie County High School and after graduation he enlisted in the Army in 1996 as a Combat Medic.
After serving four years in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1st Lt. Cirillo decided to pursue a career in the active Army as a Motor Transportation Operator. After serving a tour in Korea, 1st Lt. Cirillo, then a sergeant, was selected to be the driver for the Commanding General of the 1st Corps Support Command at Fort Bragg.
1st Lt. Cirillo fulfilled a lifelong dream and successfully completed Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. in August 1998. Incredibly, Mr. William "Red" King, the first enlisted Soldier to ever become Airborne qualified, was on hand to pin 1st Lt. Cirillo's Airborne wings. Following in the hallowed footsteps of his late grandfather, 1st Lt. Cirillo furthered his career by graduating the Army Pathfinder Course in 2001.
The next big step for Cirillo was being selected to serve at the White House Communication Agency in support of the President of the United States and the White House Staff in February 2003. He held the position of Operations Sergeant for a Presidential Communications Team. During his assignment, 1st Lt. Cirillo supported over 22 overseas Presidential visits and 160 Presidential stops in the United States.
After earning his commission as an engineer officer in April 2007, and completing Engineer Officer Basic Course, Cirillo served as a platoon leader in A Company, 46th ECB (H), based at Fort Polk, La.
He deployed in June of 2008 and served as the platoon leader for the security element of Task Force Gold Forward in Sadr City. 1st Lt. Michael Cirillo continues to make significant contributions in his current position as the company's executive officer.
"Working with 1st Lt. Cirillo, has been a high point in my military career," said Sgt. 1st Class Harry Ritter, from Mechanicsville. "In my 20 years of service, I have never met another officer with such drive and determination. He is a credit to the officer corps."
Although he was honor graduate of his Advance Individual Training, the 1st Corp Support Command Soldier of the Year in 1997, and the 2008 Forces Command runner-up for Engineer Platoon Leader of the Year, he credits his most notable achievement as marrying the former Jenny Dill of Redding, Calif., in August 2007.
1st Lt. Jenny Dill also serves in the 46th ECB (H) and the Cirillos are scheduled to return to Fort Polk in early September.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2009 06:24 |
| Story ID: | 37480 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 418 |
| Downloads: | 171 |
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