Pennsylvania Guardians - Summer 2010

Story and photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania
Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars
During the Pennsylvania Department
of Veterans of Foreign Wars Midwinter
Conference, more than 700 VFW leaders
and members rose to their feet to salute
the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s
Sgt. 1st Class Roger F. Daub, who was
given a PA VFW Eagle Award and certificate
in honor of his outstanding service
with the Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade
Combat Team in Iraq.
The Department presents this award
to recognize significant contributions of
Pennsylvania Guard troops in global
contingency operations.
“We were proud to honor Sgt. 1st Class
Daub as one of this state’s finest Soldiers.
His efforts, and that of his comrades in the
56th SBCT and other Guard elements who
have deployed, have further strengthened
Pennsylvania’s outstanding military history
of always being on the forefront of
defending freedom,” said PA VFW state
commander Frank Mills, who noted that
Pennsylvania has the only National Guard
Stryker unit. “Sgt. 1st Class Daub’s excellent
record of planning and implementing
protection of command leadership and
VIPs is a shining example of why many
have commented that PA Guard units rank
among the best elements in America’s
entire military. We’re proud to call Sgt. 1st
Class Daub and all PA Guardians our
comrades as combat veterans in the VFW.”
Daub, who looks forward to becoming
active with the Palmyra VFW Post, served
as a platoon sergeant of the Protective
Services Platoon for the 56th SBCT
command group. Daub was selected over
15 of his peers to serve as the patrol
sergeant for the Brigade Personal Security
Detachment. He led more than 200 combat
patrols, driving more than 8,000 miles
through the brigade and Multi-National
Division-Baghdad operational environment
in eight months. He planned, coordinated
and executed every mission for the brigade
commander and accompanied him on
every mounted and dismounted patrol.
Daub’s leadership and expertise were
vital in transforming a 42-Soldier section
into a cohesive security section. During
the initial phases of integrating, he trained
all drivers and vehicle commanders on
navigation routes and ensured that they
were aware of all significant activities and
trends throughout the brigade’s operational
environment. On down days, Daub
incorporated training for the Soldiers
Pennsylvania National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, Sgt. 1st Class Roger Daub, and
Pennsylvania VFW state commander Frank Mills pose after Daub was presented with the PA VFW
Eagle Award in honor of his service in Iraq.
on weapons qualification and operational
environment familiarization. He was an
irreplaceable asset to the platoon, establishing
platoon tactical procedures and
continuity books.
“I am deeply honored to stand in this
room with you and on behalf of members
of the 56th Stryker Brigade and the
Pennsylvania National Guard,” Daub said
at the conference in Gettysburg. “Our lives
would be incomplete without people like
you, and we stand on your shoulders in
everything we do. When our unit flew back
from service in Iraq, we were welcomed by
Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, other
command staff and members of the VFW,
just 40 feet off of the plane. What a
fantastic testimony to the men and women
who serve in the VFW as a tribute to those
who serve in the military. I am humbled
to stand before you as a brother. I will
never forget this.”
Daub, who began his military service
in the Marines, joined the Pennsylvania
National Guard in part because he
missed the camaraderie he enjoyed with
his fellow troops. He looks forward to
becoming part of the VFW family.
“There is a special bond that VFW
members and their families share with
each other and with today’s troops and
their families,” said Mills.
“Our members and their entire
families know what it is like to endure
deployments, so we welcome veterans
from modern war service and their loved
ones into our ranks because we have much
to offer in camaraderie and support,” said
Mills. “That’s why the VFW is often
present when military troops depart for
training and deployment, and we are
there to welcome them home.”
Consisting of 112,000 members in 520
local posts, Pennsylvania is the largest state
department of the VFW. Many VFW posts
have adopted Pennsylvania National
Guard’s Army and Air components to provide
troops and their families with support
before, during and after deployments.
Thousands of Guard troops and
younger veterans from other branches
have joined the VFW after serving in the
Global War on Terror. In fact, veterans
under the age of 45 represent the fastest
growing segment of the VFW’s national
membership. A growing number of female
veterans are also joining the VFW and
some now serve in leadership positions at
the post and state levels.
The VFW has many special programs
designed to help military families endure
the hardships of deployments including
Operation Uplink, which allows troops
overseas to call home for free every
month. The VFW Unmet Needs initiative
provides emergency grants for military
families facing financial difficulties, while
the Adopt-a-Unit program encourages
VFW posts to take local military units
under their wing to help troops transition
into and out of deployments.
For more information on the VFW’s
troop support and other programs,
contact VFW state adjutant John Brenner
at (717) 234-7927 or e-mail him at
adjutant@vfwpahq.org. ❖
Summer 2010 / GUARDIANS / 25