FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Marci Hodge ~ February 4, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Marci Hodge

Info from here.

           

"In this job, you find out what you're made of; if you can hack it or not."

Recently promoted to Major, Marci Hodge knows a thing or two about what she's made of. She's spent ten years in the Army; 5 years on Active duty and another 5 so far in the Reserve. She returned from Camp Victory in Iraq, her second deployment, a couple of years ago.

"I'm not interested in reliving traumatic events. The job is to create stability and win hearts and minds," expressed Hodge, who spent 8 months in theater this last time.

MAJ Hodge, who served as Division Humanitarian Assistance Officer as well as the Battalion Sustainment Chief for the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion, is a logistician and civil affairs officer; simply put, "I can move anything," she said, like thousands of fourth and fifth grade level books for school children that the Department of State had been previously trying to move from Jordan to Iraq for the last few years with no luck.

Or such as in Iskandiayh, one of the 14 different locations her battalion covered in Iraq, where she worked on a project with local government to get a completely staffed plant that had survived the war back to fully functioning capacity. Working with one of the facility's managers- one of the few who spoke English at the plant- MAJ Hodge's team on the ground even helped establish organizational practices and human resources, bringing in corporate mentors from the United States.

Her team worked to ensure that the plant would be in a position to operate without the U. S.'s assistance in the future. They brought in older generators to their Forward Operating Base that the Army no longer needed but had the potential to refurbished, and presented the plant with and its employees with their first large project post-war. Local Iraqi truck drivers were also employed to transport the refurbished generators.

"It put folks back to work," said MAJ Hodge, citing at least a thousand workers associated with the local Iraqi plant's operations.

And it's the "folks" she's interacted with that have made the most significant impression on MAJ Hodge, including the Iraqi locals.

"People matter regardless of where they are," she said slowly, emphasizing that people are the same despite miles of ocean and geographic boundaries.

MAJ Hodge, awarded the Bronze Star for her meritorious service in Iraq, identified it as a "human connection" one that allows people to relate and help one another.

And according to MAJ Hodge, one would be hard-pressed to find "more amazing people" to work with than the American troops she's served alongside while in the Army, able to overcome the inevitable obstacles and disappointments that occur while deployed with camaraderie and hard work.

"It's your duty to give back," said Hodge. "You give it everything you've got."

Awarded: The Bronze Star

Right click to download this hero's story.

Interview:

September 15, 2010 - Crawford Broadcasting Comany (4.4MB)

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Arrowhead1952]

One of the local property owners had a big SB party that lasted until 1030 and then the cleanup started. I had another facility I had to close, so didn’t get to bed until after midnight.

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

Glad you and Bo had a good weekend...and a romp at the lake! Hope they get the mirror put back with no problems!

It’s going to be warm and dry here...a big *yawn* since it nearly always is anyway. LOL!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Pro ((HUGS))

It was a good game, especially the first half. I hated going to bed on 3rd quarter when SF was making a comeback...I’m surprised I could fall asleep. I’m usually nosy and have to see what is going on. LOL

Oh, I bet you’ll have a nice time on Friday helping BIL and visiting sister. Does she usually spoil you when you’re there?

Grab another cup and get to work! hehe.

Hope your Monday is magnificently marvelicious!

[beachn4fun]

The one I had came out as a result of an accident I had with a fence post a couple of weeks ago

Gotta watch them fence posts, they be a nasty bunch. LOL

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Luvy ((HUGS))

dang Mondays seem to come around every week

I hope some of those 70s come this way. It was 25 this morning.

Hope your Monday is mellow.

[beachn4fun]

Sounds like you had a fun time even though you got to bed late.

[beachn4fun]

since no one else wants it

[beachn4fun]

since no one else wants it

[beachn4fun]

since no one else wants it

[beachn4fun]

since no one else wants it

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy xxxday, beachy...((HUGS))

Count me among them. LOL! Have a good rest of the day.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Evening To Our Valiant Troops, To Our Vets, To Our Families, Our FRiends, Our Allies And To All Canteen Denizens!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe, especially those in combat!



Evening Colors
(click)



May The Lord Protect And Uphold Our Troops In Their Vital Mission!

May He Keep Safe Their Families During Their Time Of Separation!

May He Preserve And Uphold The American Nation In This Time Of Adversity!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac, and thank you for Evening Colors. *HUGS*

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*





Keep Faith with the Fallen of Benghazi! Let the Obama Regime, for once, tell the Truth!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)