|
Published: November 08, 2009 12:07 am
Soldier gives service beyond duty’s call
Wetnight promoted and honored Saturday
By Brian M. Boyce
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Years of service paid off in double honors for a Wabash Valley soldier Saturday afternoon.
Clay County National Guardsman Paul Wetnight, now assigned to the 519th Combat Sustainment and Support Battalion, was promoted to Master Sergeant in a ceremony there, also gaining surprise recognition with the Indiana Commendation Medal.
Wetnight had been with the 138th Quartermaster Support Company earlier this year, serving in Iraq, when he was called home due to a family emergency. While home, he and his wife Kimberly took the opportunity to visit the town of Story in August. But the vacation took a surprise twist when a severe storm dropped 8 inches of water on the town. The Story Inn was flooded with more than 5 feet of water, silt, debris and small animals after a retention pond overflowed.
“We woke up and there was a stream running through the bungalow,” Wetnight recalled.
But as other guests fled the premises, Wetnight and his wife spent the night and all day Aug. 4 helping work crews haul trash and dirt from the inn. Much to the owner’s surprise, they refused his offers to compensate the family for their labor.
Col. Ivan Denton, Army National Guard, noted the selflessness of the act, considering it was not only a family vacation, but also a brief respite from an overseas tour of duty in wartime and one for which no compensation was expected.
“How does America produce such people?” Denton said, noting how uncommon the selflessness is. “It’s something spectacular for his community.”
A host of Wetnight’s family attended the applause-filled ceremonies as speakers described him as a “professional NCO,” “a soldier’s soldier” and a “make-it-happen kind of guy.”
Wetnight served 12 years active duty before his National Guard career. He served in the first Gulf War in Iraq in 1991, as well as deployments to the current Middle East wars.
“You see a friend in need, you help them out,” he said of the act in Story, crediting his parents and the army for raising him that way. The day before the town’s worst flood in 13 years, he recalled that he and his wife were walking along the property, appreciating the work it took to maintain such a place. “And your heart just goes out to them,” he said of the business owners, describing how he and his wife shoveled mud out of the buildings.
Wetnight said he never expected an award. “It just seemed natural to stay and help out.”
But, as Denton said, word travels quickly within the Army family, and officers at all levels felt Wetnight’s deed should not go unrecognized.
Both soldiers noted how different this world would be if more people responded to need without a monetary motive.
“I wish more people would just help without needing to be asked,” Wetnight said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
|
Television Tonight
|
|
|
 |
|
MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE
COMPLETE STEEL FABRICATION IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
for: IRONWORKER
*2-4 years
experience required
FABRICATOR
*2-4 years experience
required We offer:
great retirement prog...>MORE
CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!!
2500 miles per week
100% no touch freight
No force dispatch to NYC. Safety & ...>MORE
EXPERIENCED DENTAL ASSISTANT NEEDED
to work 2-3 days a week in a busy dental office, emphasizing in oral surgery. Pay commensurate on experience & backgroun...>MORE
NOW HIRING OWNER OPERATORS
Call 270-678-7379....>MORE
ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE
ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE
DENTAL HYGIENIST POSITION,
part time and or as needed. Send resume to P.O. Box 1172, Tompkinsville, KY 42167.
...>MORE
See all ads |
|
2002 HONDA TRIKE GL-1800
40k miles. Asking $27,000. For more info call 270-404-2959.
...>MORE
LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell?
Check here for the Premium Auto Section.
You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE
93 CHEVROLET CONVERSION VAN,
123,000+ miles., new tires, runs & looks great. Must see. $1795 O.B.O. 453-3726 or 670-8131.
...>MORE
See all ads |
|
3 BR, 1 BA DUPLEX IN THE COUNTRY.
Appliances furnished including D/W, service pets only, references required. 1 yr. lease. $495 mo. + $100 deposit. Call 2...>MORE
2 BR, 1.5 BATH, W/D HOOKUP, D/W, NEWLY REMODELED,
C/H/A conveniently located downtown $400 mo. + $400 dep. 270-646-8440.
...>MORE
2 BR MOBILE HOME, $360 MO. + DEP.
& utilities. In small mobile home park. 270-202-9148 or 529-9148. Leave message....>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA DUPLEX, C/H/A, STOVE, FRIDGE,
microwave, lawncare included. WD hookup. $450 mo., $400 dep. 270-590-1192.
...>MORE
3 BR, 2 BA BEDFORD STONE HOME,
124 Lexington Dr. $575 mo. w/$575 deposit. 270-576-8566 or 270-361-2767 www.post-web.net...>MORE
3 BR, 2 BA HOUSE, $650 MO.
2 miles from Glasgow city limits. Call 270-576-6835, between 7 am & 7 pm....>MORE
LIVE IN CAREGIVER NEEDED
for elderly woman. Will provide room and board to take care. 270-427-5468.
...>MORE
1 BR, 1 BA DUPLEX, $410 MO.
includes new stove & refrig., utilities included. $200 deposit. Call 270-404-0204.
...>MORE
EFFICIENCY GARAGE APARTMENT,
nice, clean, country setting, elec., water, gas heat, stove, fridge, & trash included. $375 mo. & $375 deposit. Call 678...>MORE
2010 FLEETWOOD 24X46, 3 BR, 2 BA, APPLIANCES,
air, thermo windows. Delivered, setup & skirting, all for only $43,300. Goffs' Homes. 270-789-4092.
...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Advertising Sales
ADVERTISING
SALES
$800-$1200 Weekly
Be your own boss.
Sell advertising to
businesses in your ...>MORE
Customer Service
11 OPENINGS
CUST. SERVICE
Set Up & Display
$400/WK
Call Sunday 9-5
Or Monday 8-4
812-238-1...>MORE
See all ads |
93 Lexus
93 GS 500 Lexus,
runs good $1000
obo. 217-808-2108
/217-808-0438...>MORE
99 Mercury
1999 Mercury Sa-
ble GS, 63K mi., au-
to, CC, tilt, tinted
windows, $4950.
(765)832-3428...>MORE
See all ads |
Wilson School area
Wilson School
1 eff. upper w/frplc
& deck $400 + elec
1bdrm new paint
w/private drive $400.
...>MORE
Garden Apt
Quiet excellent
LOCATION 2-bdrm,
garden apt, 1 bath,
all appls, carport, pri-
vate patio, on-site...>MORE
See all ads |
Maltese
Maltese w/papers,
incls crate & puppy
yard, shots/worm, 7
mo, male $300 obo
841-8836/420-1716...>MORE
Couch
carmel miro
suede couch, great
cond $350
(812)240-9361
...>MORE
See all ads |
|
|
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
