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Grateful Nation Award in The Washington Jewish Week

- Tuesday, November 4, 2003 |

The Washington Jewish Week
October 30, 2003

Honoring Those Who Serve: Six Receive Jewish Group’s Grateful Nation Award

by Eric Fingerhut
Staff Writer

Three fought in Afghanistan, two in Iraq and one protected the borders here at home. Some are members of special forces teams, while others are reservists. Their home bases are in six different states, from North Carolina to California, with points in between.

The Washington Jewish Week
October 30, 2003

Honoring Those Who Serve: Six Receive Jewish Group’s Grateful Nation Award

by Eric Fingerhut
Staff Writer

But the six recipients of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs’ Grateful Nation Award Monday evening in Pentagon City have one thing in common: They served with distinction in the war on terrorism.

The award, presented before some 600 people, was designed to honor members of the military’s junior ranks who had distinguished themselves during the past two years.

“These are the most important people protecting our nation,” said JINSA president Norman Hascoe. Generals and high-ranking military officials often receive a great deal of credit, he said, but it is important to make sure others “get more recognition.”

Some of the honorees said that they had not been particularly familiar with JINSA, which supports a strong American defense and strengthened strategic cooperation with “trustworthy allies,” before they were notified of the award.

But while often deflecting attention from their own accomplishments, they praised the organization for, as U.S. Army First Sergeant John Hawley said, “setting a standard” for “supporting our soldiers and airmen.”

Hawley said in an interview that he preferred not to talk about the accomplishments that led to his award. As a leader of Charlie Company in Task Force Blue Devil, he was responsible, according to the award citation, “for the operational readiness of all his soldiers” deployed to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as the “force protection plan” and the planning of movement by both aircraft and ground assault convoys.

U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain’s Mate Paula Jaklitsch was cited for her service during the past two years while assigned to Coast Guard Station New York.

To her, it was “just my job.”

“I’m glad to be able to do what I’ve done,” said Jaklitsch, who helped evacuate 300 co-workers on Sept. 11, 2001, from her office building near the World Trade Center and then reported to her Coast Guard unit immediately, before the official recall of reservists to active duty.

She also assisted in implementing a training program for boat crews to help fight terrorism and – owing to her civilian financial management experience – identifying budget shortfalls at her station.

Jaklitsch said she welcomed JINSA’s support of the military and the strong U.S.-Israel alliance.

“Israel is out there by themselves,” she said, and “the two countries need each other.”

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Michael Lamonica said he looked up JINSA on the Internet after being informed of the award, and he was “very impressed” with what he heard Monday evening, when Reps. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) spoke of the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship while receiving JINSA’s Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award.

“The things said here tonight make sense,” said Lamonica, noting he was not unique.

The military is “full of people who do what I do … on a daily basis. You never read about it [and] don’t need to read about it.”

As special tactics superintendent of the Gold Team, Lamonica participated in three combat jump operations and a four-day desert mobility operation in Afghanistan. On his second rotation in that country, he provided support to a SEAL team.

Lamonica said he was surprised at “how joint the environment is here,” noting that representatives of all five services and of the Special Operations received awards.

“That made me realize how important it was to be here,” he said.

The Grateful Nation Award recipients were selected by their respective services, said JINSA board chair David Steinmann, who hopes the award will be given annually.

Other award recipients were Navy Chief Boatswain’s Mate Stephen Bass, who helped to recover two U.S. citizens during combat in Afghanistan; Marine Corps Reserve Cpl. Seth Wells, for his leadership during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and Special Operations Command Maj. George Thiebes, for his work defeating Ansar Al-Islam and forcing the surrender of the Iranian dissident group Muhajadeen El Khalq.

U.S. Marine Corps Col. George Dunbar was happy to see a fellow Marine reservist honored at the dinner. It was “noteworthy of JINSA to recognize the service men and women fighting for freedom and the American way of life,” he said.

“It’s a great idea,” he added.