Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Licea | As a platoon leader Michael Ferrara led his Soldiers to some gruesome battles in...... read more read more
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Staff Sgt. Alex Licea
U.S. Army Central Public Affairs
Fort McPherson, Ga., (September 19, 2006) - Many would think that a man who was forced into the Army and sent to a controversial war would be bitter about working and serving the country.
But for Michael Ferrara that is not the case. In fact, he has made it a career. His hair may have got a bit thinner with shades of gray, and his waist line has put on some pounds, but the love to service has never been higher.
Ferrara reflected recently on his 40 years as a military employee. From Soldier to civilian worker, this tale is of a humble man rather than a selfish one.
Today Ferrara is the executive officer in the logistics office for the Atlanta-based U.S Army Central. With this comes the responsibility of assisting the unit's chief of staff and other senior leaders by providing guidance and assistance to a staff of more than 200 military, civilians and contractor personnel. Working with his office in the Atlanta headquarters and the forward deployed command in Kuwait, his unit supports logistics and troop movement operations in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Being responsible for the thousands of pieces of equipment and Soldiers in and out of the war zone can be is a demanding job but for this man its being the norm working at USARCENT.
Growing up in the greater-Chicago area and coming from a working class family, Ferrara, like many young people, was undecided about his future after high school. However, the future, at least for the next two years, was decided for him in the summer of 1966 when the skinny 5-foot-6-inch, 19-year-old was drafted in the U.S. Army.
As a draftee, he was quickly shipped out to Army basic training and advance training as an infantryman. He was soon commissioned as an infantry officer through the Officer Candidate Program in 1967.
Like many Soldiers during that era, Ferrara was quickly deployed to Vietnam where he would serve as a platoon leader for the 4th Infantry Division. This would be the first of two one-year war tours in the region.
A lasting war memory for him came on the day the young infantry officer was wounded during a fire fight in a little town called Plei Mrong, South Vietnam- a town outside of Pleiku located north of Saigon. Ferrara and his platoon were the first platoon to enter the hostile environment where they were quickly attacked by North Vietnamese forces.
After surviving a cold night on a mountain filled with uncertainty and a dwindling platoon, the fierce battle continued in the morning. It was there Ferrara suffered a wound to his left thigh after a round ricocheted off the ground. Despite the indescribable pain of being wounded by an AK-47 bullet, his adrenaline was so high; he did not realize he was wounded until later on in the conflict.
"I will never forget it! I really did not realize I was wounded until I rubbed my hand against my trousers and noticed the blood coming out," said Ferrara. "It was not funny after that; it hurt!
"But I never really panicked; I was just a bit concerned because we did not know at the time if we would be able to get helicopters in for medical attention."
His concerns would soon be answered when the North Vietnamese were suppressed by his unit, ending the skirmish. The lieutenant and several other Soldiers were evacuated back to their base camp for treatment.
Ferrara suffered a serious wound to the thigh, but luckily the round did not hit a major bone or artery. He would however be sent to Japan for two months to recuperate from his injuries.
But his story of pain would soon become a story of love.
After a year of rest in the U.S., Ferrara went back to Vietnam for a second tour. This time he served as a supply and logistics advisor and a regimental combat team advisor to the 9th Army Republic Vietnam Division in the city of Sadec, South Vietnam.
It was there where he met his wife Lang, who worked as a waitress in the military compound's officer club.
After only knowing each other for six months, Ferrara took Lang to a local courthouse and got married. Despite the differences in culture and getting married during a serious conflict, the couple has now been married for 35 years and have four children.
As a young officer, Ferrara remained on active duty until 1974 when he was released due to a reduction of forces but stayed in as an Army Reserve officer until his retirement.
After nearly a 30-year military career of active and Reserve duty, serving in a range of various positions from commanding an infantry company at Fort Bliss, Texas, or a logistics coordinator at Fort Ord, Calif., Ferrara retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1995. However his involvement with the military continued as he worked for the Army as a civilian.
Now living in the greater Atlanta area, the 59-year-old "baby boomer" prepares to enter his 41st year of service to the nation. For a man who never intended to make the Army a career, the Army has been his life.
"I love the unity of being in the military, everyone is a family," said Ferrara. "I have always enjoyed working for our nation."
The retired Soldier is now battling the task of keeping up with his favorite sports teams and playing with his five grandchildren.
Ferrara plans on working for a few more years before retiring as an Army civilian. And that he said he would just have to look for a new routine.
USAR
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2006 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 7839 |
| Location: | FORT MACPHERSON, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 103 |
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