3-8 CAV

My first active duty unit of assignment in the US Army- 3rd Battalion, 8th United States Cavalry- Fort Hood, Texas. (M1A2 Abrams Tank Battalion). September 11th, 2001 happened while I was at OBC at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It was at the end of our training- they cancelled the "10 Day War", and told us to get to our units as quickly as possible. I arrived at 3-8 CAV, 3rd GREYWOLF BDE, in the 1st Cavalry Division in late September. I was the Platoon Leader for 3rd PLT "RENEGADES," Bravo Company, 3-8 CAV. My commander was CPT Roman Cantu. My Platoon Sergeant was SFC Daniel Jackson. Bravo Company had some of the greatest NCOs in the Tank Corps- Bruce Higley, SSG Alex Gould- but I owe a lot to SFC Jackson. He took care of the platoon, taught me, made me an officer worthy of the men who had to follow this new 2nd Lieutenant. A lot of time in the field- gunnery, shower runs, AGTS, Sugarloaf. At the end of my time in 3-8 CAV, we shot Top Tank in the Company- 882. 23 years later- Daniel Jackson is teaching young men and women in JROTC- still leading from the front. Our country is strong because of men like him.