As most of you know, the Cincinnati Bearcats will be heading to Annapolis, Maryland to play the Virginia Tech Hokies on December 27, 2014. While the game is important to both fan bases and serves as a great excuse to sneak away to DC, the Military Bowl is much bigger than the two fan bases. The Military Bowl is important because proceeds from the game will benefit the USO (United Service Organizations). This all hit home for me as I shared lunch with a decorated Army Warrant Officer at a Military Bowl event this afternoon.
Today I met Warrant Officer One Jeremiah Minor. Minor is from the Tri-County area, and grew up in Cincinnati. After high school, and while still a civilian, Minor ran a successful DJ business. As a DJ he went by the name “D Double J,” and opened up for the likes of DJ Scribble, Tone Loc, and Sir Mix-A-Lot. I’d bet you haven’t heard or thought about those names in a while!
Despite his early success at running his business, two events changed the course of Minor’s young life. First (and like many of our military men and women), Minor was deeply impacted by the events of September 11, 2001. Second, Minor’s grandfather, James Edmunds – a former Army paratrooper, passed away. Motivated by a desire to protect his Country and make his family proud, Minor enlisted in the United States Army in 2002.
Minor has worked his way up the ranks and presently serves as a Warrant Officer. He switched jobs within the Army, transitioning from a Forward Observer with Airborne Infantry in his earlier deployments into Military Intelligence in his most recent deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now 36 years old, WO1 Minor speaks of his sacrifice humbly. But make no mistake; few have sacrificed more for this Country.
Since joining in 2002, WO1 Minor has been deployed 4 times. He has accumulated over two years of service in Iraq, and over one year of service in Afghanistan. He received the Purple Heart Medal after being hit by a grenade blast in Iraq, and being grazed by small arms fire.
Like I said, few have sacrificed more.
My encouragement, then, is simple. While you’re preparing to attend or watch the Military Bowl, remember that many young men and women volunteered to serve. When they could have been working, building businesses, or attending either school, some offered their very lives up for the United States of America. For that, we should all be grateful.
As if he has not already sacrificed enough, Warrant Officer Minor expects to redeploy to the Middle East in 2015. Thank you for your service!
If you’re interested in donating to the USO, their website is linked here.
By: Brian Fox
More pictures from today’s event…
