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www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Wednesday, May 20, 2015 A5 YOUNG VOICES ‘I want to see how far I can go in life’ HRVHS CLASS of 2015 member Stan Ochesk e y wrote this essay to apply for the U.S. Service Academies, via the office of U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, and was ac- cepted last winter to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Ocheskey is the son of Brent and Emily Ocheskey. By STAN OCHESKEY I awoke to the sound of the front door unlocking in the early hours of New Year’s morning. As the lights came on, I saw my dad standing in his bulky police uniform, his thoughts much heavier than his gear. He grimly told me he had just helped cover a bad crash on the freeway, and we both knew that what he had seen would be with him for life. My dad has always been an inspiring influence in my life. As an Oregon State A NDERSON Continued from Page A1 and need.” Anderson was hired through the House Wounded Warrior Program, which is sponsored by the Depart- ment of Defense to help dis- abled veterans transition from military life into a civil- ian career. She will work out of the Cong ressman’s of fice in Bend, where she resides, through the end of 2016. “I am like a kid in a candy store about this opportuni- ty,” said Anderson. Female soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines make up 14.6 percent of active duty troops. Although the prohibi- tion against women serving in combat units was lifted in 1994, it has been U.S. policy to exclude women from in- fantry units. While discussion contin- ues in Congress and the Pen- tagon about putting women on the front lines, Thompson said they are already there. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, women served as foot soldiers in door-to-door searches and, Trooper, he has helped our community in many ways by making a dif ference every day. He has sparked a sense of responsibility in me to challenge myself and serve my country. It is my goal to attend an institution where I am men- tally and physically chal- lenged to be my best, where I can support our nation’s val- ues. This is why I am re- questing your nomination for the Naval, Air Force, and Military Academies. Doing well in school, making care- ful life choices, taking the lead in my school and dis- trict FFA organizations, de- veloping into a poised public speaker and a strong water polo player have brought me to this point. I am ready for more. I want to see how far I can go in life, discover all of my capabilities while dedi- cating myself to my country. like Anderson, provided con- voy security on missions and went out in the field on pa- trols. Roadside bombs in the wars of the Middle East have been the number one killer of U.S. troops. About 160 female soldiers have lost their lives during the Post 9/11 wars and most were killed by enemy action. Thousands more have been injured, some losing legs and arms in explosions. However, with few excep- tions, news stories about their tragic deaths have rarely captured national at- tention — even though their losses are unprecedented in modern history. Twenty of the female troops who died were moth- ers of one or more children a g e 18 or young er. One woman was mortally injured after the bomb she was at- tempting to disarm detonat- ed. She died in the arms of her soldier husband, who was stationed nearby. “I was in a military police company and only 20 of us out of 170 were women,” said Anderson. “We all became brothers and sisters — I loved my battle buddies.” She joined the military from her home state of Geor- Photo by Jennifer Furrow STAN OCHESKEY gets a hug from his mother, Emily, at Stan’s Air Force acceptance ceremony at Hood River Valley High School in De- cember, attended by Rep. Greg Walden. If I am selected for a mili- tary academy, you can ex- pect me to give my best ef- fort every day, to work in an individual or team setting to meet any challenge present- ed to me. I will serve my country with pride, determi- nation, and a sense of re- sponsibility. I am a confi- dent leader and public speaker, and I’m excited to contribute those skills to one of the U.S. Service Acad- emies. I find leading natur- al, but I also diligently take direction from those in charge. I would represent gia out of a strong sense of patriotism. She deployed in 2006 with the 127th Military Police Company, which was based in Germany. Her duties as part of Oper- ation Iraqi Freedom often found her traveling roads laced with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). She also helped transport enemy combatants who had been captured and identified as “high value targets.” For her combat-related work in that arena, Anderson earned a PSYOP (Psychological Op- erations) patch that has since been mounted for dis- play. She remembers tensions running high after an Iraqi Police Station was ambushed on Jan. 20, 2007. The men who staged the attack were wearing what appeared to be legitimate U.S. military uni- forms and badges but were suspected of being terrorists from Iran. Once inside the compound of coalition forces, they un- leashed a brazen and deadly assault on Americans, killing one service member and capturing four others in a hail of grenades and gun- fire. The enemy combatants headed for the Iranian bor- der but did not make it be- cause Anderson’s squad tracked them down with help from Iraqi policemen. When U.S. soldiers reached the convoy of stolen American SUVs, the mili- tants shot and killed the four captives and abandoned the vehicles, along with uni- forms, equipment and rifles, according to Anderson. The soldiers who died that day had been in the process of planning to ensure the safety of thousands of Iraqi people expected to visit the holy city for an upcoming holiday. The attack, which lasted 20 minutes, occurred on the same day the U.S. lost at least 20 other troops, including a dozen in a helicopter crash. Questions about how the attackers gained access to the safe zone, and who they were, remain unanswered and have spawned a Face- book page called “Sold out – Blood Betrayal in Karbala,” and a documentary of the same name is in the process of being made. Although Anderson has strong feelings about what happened in Karbala, she de- clined to comment on the in- cident during a recent inter- view with a Chronicle re- any of the academies as a student and a member of their water polo team be- cause I’m 6’6” with a long reach, a powerful shot, en- durance, and speed. I am a team player who communi- cates effectively with team members and encourages everyone involved. A challenging experience is what I expect from the academies. I know I will grow stronger in the skills I already possess. I am eager to discover and develop other capabilities and emerge from an academy a highly skilled, capable and confident leader. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” I expect to discover this truth within one of the academies, sur- rounded by many inspiring men and women who are as passionate as I am. I hold myself to high stan- dards in all areas of my life — social, spiritual, and aca- demic. Besides my academ- ic, athletic and leadership qualifications, I am certain I would excel at any of the academies because I easily adapt to new situations and take a calm, concentrated approach to problem-solv- ing. I believe that America is a positive place that pro- tects the rights of its citi- zens to the fullest extent. I am eager to actively work to defend these American val- ues at the academies and be- yond in service to my coun- try and its citizens. Service requires sacrifice, but I am ready to take on that respon- sibility, just as my dad did that difficult January night. My father has great mental and emotional strength. I hope that one day I can serve as he has and help those who need my strength. porter. She returned to Germany from Iraq in 2008 and re- ceived her honorable dis- charg e at the rank of sergeant the next year. She then headed to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oregon State University before de- ciding to make Oregon her home. “The reason I went for that degree was to be able to help vets — that’s what I’m all about,” she said. Her former first sergeant, Ray Domenech, posted this message about Walden’s hir- ing of Anderson on the Con- gressman’s Facebook page: “Excellent choice, you will be hard pressed to find a smarter, more motivated and caring individual than Sgt. Anderson…” Anderson can be reached at Walden’s Central Oregon office at 541-389-4408 or via email at Margie.Anderson @mail.house.gov. WEEKLY SUDOKU This week’s Sudoku presented by: Y OUR B USINESS N AME Answers on Page A8 T RAINS Continued from Page A1 Hood River adopted a reso- lution banning coal and oil trains rolling through town in December. The document states, “because the rail alignment runs through our downtown area, the impact of existing and proposed oil trains is potentially cata- strophic in terms of loss of life and devastation of the City of Hood River commu- nity, environment and econo- D ALBEY Continued from Page A1 munity members alike and I have no doubt she will con- tinue her commendable ser- vice to Hood River County’s children as the Human Re- sources Director for the school district,” Superinten- my.” In January, The Dalles passed a resolution urging state officials to pursue tougher federal regulations of crude oil shipments. The goal of the environ- mental groups’ federal suit is to send the new oil train rules back to USDOT in order to make revisions, said Kristin Boyles, an Earthjus- tice attorney on the case. Boyles said the suit is pri- marily focused on “fixing the flaws in the r ule” that USDOT released in early May. “We would ask the court to strike down (those) particular aspects of the rule,” said Boyles. The rail industry also took issue with the federal rules, but in the opposite direction. American Petroleum Insti- tute filed a lawsuit on Mon- day in the U.S. Court of Ap- peals for the District of Co- lumbia Circuit that asks for more time — it challenges the timeline for retrofitting rail cars and requirements for electronic brakes. The new regulations are expected to cost an estimated $2.5 billion to implement over the next two decades, according to estimates in a May 1 press release by USDOT. Lang explained that the suit in favor of tighter rail regulations will likely be “consolidated” with other legal challenges around the nation, and be decided in a federal appeals court. Lang said the Friends have worked with Earthjustice in the past. The case is Sierra Club, et al v. Secretary of Trans- portation, U.S. Court of Ap- peals for the 9th Circuit, No. 15-71461. dant Dan Goldman said. Dalbey was raised in South Dakota, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psycholog y and Spanish from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, and earned her Masters of Education in Administration from Con- cordia University. Her teaching career began in 1996 in the Denver Public Schools as a teacher of Eng- lish for non-native English speakers. She came to the Hood River County School District in 2000 to teach in the migrant preschool and Kindergarten at Pine Grove Elementary School. Dalbey became the vice-principal at Wy’east Middle School in 2004 and moved into the Wy’east principalship in 2006. Dalbey is multilingual in English, Spanish and Russ- ian, plays the viola and vio- lin, and is married to Tom Dalbey, who teaches fourth grade at May Street Elemen- tary School. Catherine and Tom have two children, both attending May Street. Soroptomist names 2015 ‘Women of Distinction’ Soroptimist International of Hood River’s welcomes Allyson Pate, Ann Frodel and Tami Swanson as the 2015 winners of its annual Women of Distinction Award. Each year since 1975, Soroptimist of Hood River has worked with community leaders and organizations to honor women whose work in a professional or volunteer capacity has made a signifi- cant difference in the quality of life in our community. The three women will be introduced by their nomina- tors at an awards luncheon in their honor on Wednesday, May 27, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the Best Western Hood River Inn Gorge Room. Tickets for the luncheon are $24 each and available at Waucoma Bookstore. H a s y o u r h e a r i n g b e c o m e j u s t a l i t t l e There can be many different causes. It could be something simple. You deserve to find out what's really going on. We'd like to help. Call 541-387-3277 now to reserve your free counseling session. 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