We spent the month of November spotlighting our staff who served in the military on Facebook. Here's a roundup of all our Erwin veterans!
Sergeant Major (CSM) Carland served 6 years in the Army Reserves and more than 20 years in the Army on active duty. While in the Reserves, he was a combat engineer, and he completed his degree at WCU. After graduation, he went on active duty as an Army Ranger Combat Medic. He was deployed to Iraq and Bosnia, and he went to 8 countries while in the Army. He was also a paratrooper for 4 years. CSM Carland has been stationed in Hawaii twice, Alaska, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, and New York.
Ms. Castillo served in the Army for 22 years. She enlisted and later went to flight school, and she flew Blackhawks for 9 years. She did two tours in Iraq and retired as a Chief (CW3). She also got her college education paid for and worked her way up in the Army. She would like her students to know this path is also possible for them.
Mr. Fox, our Woodworking teacher, served in the NC Army National Guard for 3 1/2 years after joining in his Junior year of high school. Mr. Fox was an MP, stationed out of Clyde NC.
Chief Gutierrez served in the Army for 20 years. He was deployed multiple times and worked as a Logistician. He was also a paratrooper for 20 years.
Officer Newell, our SRO, served in the Marine corps for 13 years. He worked as a forward observer/targeter. He was deployed five times, including to Somalia and Iraq. He would like our students to know that being in the military is a great life; he has visited 43 countries and lived in three countries, and the military covered the cost of his college education through the GI bill.
Mr. Owens, one of our Assistant Principals, served in the Air Force for 2.5 years. He served in the Philippines attached to an audio-visual division as a combat photographer and worked with the military police.
After joining the Army the day he graduated high school, First Sergeant (1SG) Prevatte served for 24 years. His many jobs included drill sergeant, Army recruiter, equal opportunity representative, and paratrooper. He also taught Senior ROTC at the University of Tampa. 1SG had six deployments and has served as a UN Peacekeeper.
Mr. Renz, a math teacher, served in the Air Force as a crew chief for F-111 aircraft for four years.
Dr. Tellez, a history teacher, served in the Air Force for four years. He went overseas to Tan Son Nhut in Vietnam and refueled planes, including SR-71s. He served in Vietnam for 41 days before the war ended. He was on the Laughlin Air Force Base softball team as a shortstop for three years. He traveled the world playing softball and won 211 straight games.
Mr. Tomes, a math teacher, served in the Marines for 5 years. He was a ground support equipment technician, and he traveled all over the US during his time in the Marines. His college was paid for by the GI Bill.
Thank you to all of our faculty veterans!