PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org August 14, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Soldiers honored for shooting response L ast week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll traveled to Fort Stew- art, Georgia, to honor the hero- ism of soldiers who responded to an Aug. 6 shooting on the installation. “There are not a lot of institutions and not a lot of people like you that can go through what you did yester- day and come back to work today and do [physical training],” Driscoll said, according to an Army news release. “The heroism shown under fire is something that we should all aspire to show.” Five soldiers were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the 3rd Infan- try Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, but the rapid re- sponse of other troops likely prevent- ed a worse tragedy, according to the Army. Sgt. Quornelius Radford, an Army Secretary Dan Driscoll awards Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers who helped restrain the gunman and treat victims during a shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. BERNABE LOPEZ) AUSA Graphic Novel Honors WWII Hero 3 Guard Officer Wins Army Writing Contest 4 NCO & Soldier Programs AUSA Scholarships 7 Chapter Highlights Fires Fort Bragg and North Carolina 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 14 AUGUST 14, 2025 See Fort Stewart, Page 5 automated logistics sergeant, is ac- cused of firing on his fellow soldiers. He was quickly subdued and taken into custody, according to the Army. First Sgt. Joshua Arnold of Bravo Company, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, commended Sgt. Aaron Turner of Alpha Company for stopping the shooter, and the com- bat medics on-site who immediately began treating the victims. “I think everybody reacted appropriately,” Arnold said. “No one froze, no one lost their composure. Everyone main- tained their bearing.” Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor, a career counselor and a former combat med- ic, heard the gunshots while check- ing her email and didn’t hesitate to respond. “I have seen gunshot wounds be- fore. So, I just kind of had that ex- perience, I knew what to do,” Taylor said, according to the release. “We're supposed to protect each other.” All the wounded are in stable con- dition, and Radford was quickly sub- dued and taken into custody, thanks to the soldiers at the scene, said Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commanding gen- eral of the 3rd Infantry Division. “When we spoke to the surgeons in the hospital, it was clear that the ac- tions they took from merely stopping the bleeding before they loaded up the ambulances and quickly evacu- ated to Winn Army [Community Hos- pital], certainly saved their lives,” Lubas said, according to the release. Driscoll also recognized several www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY August 14, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Graphic novel showcases story of World War II hero R etired Col. Van Barfoot, a former enlisted soldier who earned the Medal of Honor and a Silver Star for his actions in Italy during World War II, is the fo- cus of the latest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army’s series on recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor. Medal of Honor: Van T. Barfoot recounts his actions as a member of 3rd Platoon, Company L, in the 45th Infantry Division’s 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment. On May 23, 1944, Barfoot moved alone along the enemy flank near Carano in north- ern Italy and took out three machine gun nests and took several German soldiers prisoner before thwarting a counterattack and helping wounded American soldiers to safety. Born in Edinburg, Mississippi, on June 15, 1919, Barfoot enlisted in the Army in March 1940 and was a tech- nical sergeant training in Norfolk, Virginia, when he was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division and sent to Europe in 1943. Lone warrior According to his award citation, Barfoot moved alone to the enemy’s left flank while his platoon was heav- ily engaged with well-entrenched forces. He crawled up on a machine gun nest and made a direct hit with a hand grenade, killing two Germans and wounding three others. He continued along the German defense line and, arriving at another machine gun nest, he fired his Tom- my gun, killing two and taking three others prisoner. German soldiers of another machine gun crew reacted by abandoning their position to sur- render to Barfoot, the citation reads. Leaving his prisoners to be picked up by American soldiers, Barfoot re- turned to positions in the immediate area and secured more prisoners, rounding up a total of 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated newly captured ground, the enemy unleashed a fierce counterattack. Barfoot grabbed a ba- zooka and took up an exposed posi- tion in front of three advancing Mark VI tanks, the citation reads. From 75 yards away, his first shot disabled the lead tank, prompting the other two tanks to flee. As the crew of the disabled tank dismount- ed, Barfoot killed three of them with his Tommy gun and continued into enemy terrain to destroy a recently abandoned field artillery piece, the citation reads. The Army commissioned Barfoot on June 21, 1944, promoting him to the rank of second lieutenant while he was still in Italy. Rather than receive his Medal of Honor in Washington from President Franklin Roosevelt, Barfoot chose to stay with his men and continue to fight as the infantry advanced into France. On Sept. 22, 1944, Barfoot received his award in Epinal, France, from Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch III, according to a narrative of his life and combat actions from the National Museum of the United States Army. Decades of service Barfoot went on to serve in the Army for three more decades, in- cluding in the Korean conflict and in Vietnam as an aviator, logging almost 200 combat hours in rotary- and fixed- wing aircraft. He would earn three Purple Hearts during his service. He died on March 2, 2012, at the age of 92. Medal of Honor: Van T. Barfoot is available here. AUSA launched its Medal of Honor graphic novel series in October 2018. This is the 27th novel in the series. The digital graphic novels are avail- able here. “Barfoot’s classic World War II he- roics make this book a great addition to the Medal of Honor series,” said Jo- seph Craig, director of AUSA’s Book Program. “I’m proud of the work the creative team put in to tell his story to a new generation.” Each AUSA graphic novel is cre- ated by a team of professional comic book veterans. The script for Medal of Honor: Van T. Barfoot was writ- ten by Chuck Dixon, whose previous work includes Batman, The Punisher and The ‘Nam. Artwork and the cover were by Jim Lavery, who has worked on Com- mando, Classics Illustrated and The Talking Gun; colors were by Peter Pantazis, who previously worked on Justice League, Superman and Black Panther; and the lettering was by Troy Peteri, who has worked on Spi- der-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | August 14, 2025 Gen. Bob Brown, USA Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, USA Ret. Vice President, Leadership and Education, AUSA Luc Dunn Editor Desiree Hurlocker Advertising Manager Advertising Information Contact: Fox Associates Inc. 116 W. Kinzie St. • Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 800-440-0231 Email: adinfo.rmy@foxrep.com ARTICLES. Articles appearing in AUSA Extra do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- sions of personal opinion and should not be interpreted as reflecting the official opinion of the Department of Defense nor of any branch, command, installation or agency of the Depart- ment of Defense. The publication assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited material. Email: extra@ausa.org ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its publisher, the Association of the United States Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy of the advertisements appearing herein, and no such representations, warranties or en- dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the publication. The advertisers are solely respon- sible for the contents of such advertisements. MEMBERSHIP RATES. To celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, from April 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, membership rates are reduced to a five-year Premium rate of $50 and a two- year Premium rate of $30. Lifetime member- ship is $250. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. Two-year Basic membership with select ben- efits is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join . Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY National Guard captain’s essay wins Army’s premier writing contest A n essay by a Wisconsin Army National Guard captain is the winner of this year’s General William E. DePuy Writing Contest. Capt. Micah Neidorfler’s article, “Fighting for the Day After: Preserv- ing Chinese Maritime Infrastructure in a Conventional War,” was selected for the top prize in the Army’s pre- mier writing competition. In second place is Maj. Juan Quiroz Jr., who wrote “The Escalat- ing Stakes of Proxy Wars.” Sgt. 1st Class Travis Lee Mann wrote the third-place article, “Steppes of Resistance: Mongolian Nationalism as a Strategic Resis- tance to Chinese Revanchism in the Indo-Pacific.” The theme for this year’s DePuy Writing Contest was the challenges of planning for security in a world that is “increasingly borderless, mul- ticultural and economically interde- pendent.” The winner receives $1,000, a cer- tificate of recognition and publica- tion in Military Review, the Army’s professional journal. Second- and third-place entrants also receive a cash prize and certificate and spe- cial consideration for publication in Military Review. AUSA is the sponsor of the prizes for this year’s DePuy Writing Contest and will feature the winners at its Annual Meeting and Exposition. (U.S. ARMY RESERVE/SGT. ALYSSA BLOM) Entries were judged by a panel of senior Army leaders. The Association of the U.S. Army is the sponsor of this year’s prizes and will feature this year’s winners at its Annual Meeting and Exposi- tion in October in Washington, D.C. For more information, click here. In his winning essay, Neidorfler writes about the importance of eco- nomic prosperity for U.S. strategic interests—and how that prosperity and America’s national interests are “directly linked to China.” “The U.S. Army, in planning for a possible U.S.-China war, needs to address winning on the battlefield but also securing a viable post-war settlement, something the Army has struggled with since the Second World War,” he writes. Neidorfler is assigned to 2nd Bat- talion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He previously served in 1st Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Bri- gade, and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and is cur- rently deployed in support of Opera- tion Spartan Shield in the U.S. Cen- tral Command area of responsibility. For more information on the DePuy Writing Contest, click here. Collette is a premier travel provider with guided travel for those who want to go places and let someone else take care of all the details. AUSA members save $50–$100 per person, combin- able with all other offers. For more, visit www.ausa.org/travel.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY August 14, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 Fort Stewart From Page 1 soldiers and Army civilians at the hospital for their role in providing emergency medical care. “You never hope this happens in our Army com- munity. But the resilience all of you are showing by being back today, it matters,” Driscoll said, thanking the team for their dedication and the resilience they demonstrated in the incident’s aftermath. Prior to Driscoll’s visit, Winn Army Community Hospital commander Col. Margaret Berryman sent a mes- sage to her team expressing grati- tude for their actions. “Thanks to the swift, skilled and coordinated response across our organization … those soldiers are now stable and re- ceiving the care they need,” Berry- man wrote, according to the Army. “This is our purpose: to care for the warfighter, to protect life and to stand ready when it matters most.” The actions of the 3rd Infantry Division soldiers reflect the Army Values, Driscoll said. “This is one of those moments where you should be incredibly proud to be an American soldier,” he said, according to the Army. “Your grit, your resilience, your training, took a terrible day and made it much less terrible than what it could have been.” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll greets soldiers at Winn Army Community Hospital who treated victims of a recent shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | August 14, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY spacesaver.com/military Storage Solved ® PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA INCREASED Readiness MORE Capacity Reliable, Accessible, and Stored Ready for Action T he Army Spouses’ Club of the Greater Washington Area is a nonprofi t organization run by volunteers with the mission to sup- port and promote socioeconomic and educational outreach for soldiers, families and Army civilians in the Washington, D.C., area. “Our club offers numerous oppor- tunities to reconnect with old friends and make new ones through monthly luncheons, tours, volunteer and fun- draising events, and other social ac- tivities,” the organization’s website says. “The D.C. area has so much to offer, and we invite you to explore it with us.” Club members live throughout the Washington, D.C., metro area, in- cluding Maryland and Virginia, with many residing near installations such as Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir in Virginia and Fort McNair in Washington, Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: ASCGWA D.C. Membership is open to military spouses from all branches and com- ponents, as well as veterans, retirees and Army civilians. Membership dues are $45 per year, which grants access to reservations for monthly luncheons, the digital Backchannels monthly newsletter, various club-sponsored activities and special programs and more. The organization hosts a lun- cheon on the third Thursday of ev- ery month, as well as tours, activi- ties and special programs designed to offer opportunities for connection and collaboration. It also sponsors a scholarship program that generated $13,000 in awards for military chil- dren over the past year. “We take pride in our heritage, celebrate our diversity, and look for- ward to a bright future,” the group’s website says. For more information, visit https:// aoscgwasecure.wildapricot.org/. If your association is interested in partnering with AUSA, contact Su- san Rubel at srubel@ausa.org. Association Partnershipwith AUSA is an opportunity for like-minded military service organizations to join AUSA in support of the Total Army—soldiers, DoD civilians and their families.Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, right, AUSA's vice president for Leadership and Education, presents a scholarship during the association's 2024 Annual Meeting. (AUSA PHOTO) www.ausa.orgAugust 14, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA scholarships are investment in Total Army family O ne of the ways the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army proud- ly champions education is through its national scholarship program, a dynamic initiative aimed at easing the financial challenges of higher learning for those connected to the Army. This includes active- duty soldiers, veterans, spouses, de - pendents and individuals who dem- onstrate a commitment to the Army’s values through service, volunteerism or community engagement. Each scholarship recipient is cho- sen through a purposeful, val- ues-driven selec- tion process led by AUSA’s NCO and Soldier Programs team. With deep insight into mili- tary life, the team ensures the pro- gram uplifts those who strengthen the force and its broader community. Fueled by the generosity of donors and the dedication of AUSA chapters worldwide, the program goes beyond tuition assistance. It invests in the fu- ture of the Army by empowering indi- viduals, reinforcing community bonds and cultivating a more resilient, edu- cated and connected Army family. AUSA awards more than 40 schol- arships annually. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $25,000, and in partnership with Trident University, NCO & Soldier Programs three full-ride scholarships also are offered each year. This year’s recipi- ents will be announced soon. One inspiring example of the pro- gram’s impact is a military spouse who, after years of shouldering family responsibilities during her spouse’s service, chose to return to school. Thanks to an AUSA scholar- ship, she earned a degree in educa- tion and now works as a counselor for military families. Looking ahead, the NCO and Sol- dier Programs team aims to broaden the scholarship program’s impact by increasing its visibility among grad- uate students and career changers, forming new industry partnerships for tailored scholarships and improv- ing the user experience for applicants and reviewers. These enhancements are designed to meet the Army com- munity’s evolving educational needs. As applications continue to rise, maintaining a thorough, mission- aligned review process remains a top priority. Our reviewers, all vol- unteers and many with extensive military, education and leadership backgrounds, play an invaluable role in upholding the integrity of our se- lection process. The AUSA scholarship program honors those who embody service, resilience and leadership, whether they wear the uniform or stand be- side someone who does. It supports students balancing academics with military life, family responsibilities and community service. Each award reflects AUSA’s steadfast belief in their potential to lead and inspire. To apply, contribute or learn more, visit www.ausa.org/scholarships. Retired Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Boggs is AUSA’s NCO and Soldier Programs' Skillbridge intern. The AUSA scholarship program honors those who embody service, resilience and lead- ership, whether they wear the uniform or stand beside someone who does. (DoD PHOTO)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | August 14, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA ‘Christmas in July’ fundraiser benefits junior ROTC Board members with AUSA's Fires chapter in Lawton, Oklahoma, greet Santa Claus dur- ing a 'Christmas in July' event hosted by the chapter. (AUSA PHOTO) Members of AUSA’s Fort Bragg and North Carolina chapter collect donations for military children Aug. 1 at the installation’s South Post Main Exchange. (AUSA PHOTO) L ast month, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Fires chapter in Lawton, Oklahoma, brought some holiday cheer to the summer heat with its “Christmas in July” Community Partner Appreciation Event at FISTA Innovation Park. “Designed to celebrate and thank our chapter’s valued supporters, the evening combined fun, fellowship and fundraising in a festive atmosphere,” said Charli Hall, the chapter’s vice president. Attendees enjoyed casino games, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and holiday-themed drinks, all while sup- porting a worthy cause, Hall said. Half of the event’s proceeds will ben- efit the junior ROTC programs at MacArthur, Eisenhower and Lawton high schools. Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Sartain, senior enlisted leader for the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, delivered a keynote ad- dress, highlighting the importance of community engagement and invest- ment in future military leaders. A spirited “Best Dressed” contest added to the festivities, with the win- ner receiving a coveted bobblehead of Sgt. Hero, AUSA's mascot, for their standout holiday attire, Hall said. The event was made even more special through the support of the lo- cal Patriot Spouses Club, whose vol- unteers assisted throughout the eve- ning to ensure its success, she said. Eight Fires chapter board members were also in attendance, helping host an event that celebrated community collaboration and the shared mission of supporting military families and future leaders. Chapter supports back-to-school giveaway for military kids O n Aug. 1, members of the Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg and North Carolina chapter collected donations for mili- tary children during the installation's annual Back to School donation drive. The chapter was joined by volun- teers from the Fort Bragg Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and Sergeants Major Association. “It was wonderful to see our commu- nity come together to support the Fort Bragg ASYMCA and ensure our students have the sup- plies they need for a successful school year. A special thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who donated,” the chapter said in a Facebook post. Fires Fort Bragg & North CarolinaNext >