Philippe Persaud:  

Life Well, where do I start: 1986 - 1987 - moved to Long Island, New York my senior year because of my mother's remarriage. Joined the Army immediately after graduation. 1987-1989 - Attended Military Intelligence School at Fort Devens, MA. Met and married my wonderful wife on 9 DEC 1988. 1990-1993 - Stationed in Augsburg, Germany listening to Soviet radio transmissions. Got to break down the Berlin wall (Have some of it hanging on my wall) and watch the Iron Curtain fall. Deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide comfort and watch bombs drop over my head. I loved Europe and want to go back again soon. Four years of night school paid-off with me getting a Associates Degree in Business Management awarded from the University of Maryland (European Division). I got out of the Army with 5 years of service as a Sergeant. 1993-1996 - Enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (Why? My wife is from there, and it’s a great school) majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Despite already having two years of college credits, I still had to attend for four years (toughest four years of my life). Graduated in 1996 and was commissioned into the Regular Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. 1996-1997 - Realized my life-long dream of flying; attended Army flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama and after a year and a half, learned to fly the UH-60 Black Hawk. My beautiful little girl was born here and refer to her as my little Alababy. 1997-2001 - Was assigned to the 101st Air Assault Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a executive officer and platoon leader for a UH-60 Platoon. Deployed to Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) in support of Hurricane Mitch relief efforts. Flying over the jungles of Central America was one of the most beautiful and exciting experiences of my life. My little fella, Jediah was bor...Expand for more