Alumni wrote in inquiring about a picture on the website with some of our members in uniform. They wanted to know more about them; I asked Danny Vento to write a short article describing their journey. Thank you, Danny.
Brotherhood – A brother comes first.
I would say that if it had not been for my brothers being there with me, that deployment would have seemed twice as long. Around this time our communications were very limited. The ipod was brand new, the internet was very slow and nonexistent where we were, and we had a field phone that echoed and had a 4 second delay like we were yelling into a tin can. As novices you get closer to your brothers having to go through rituals together, attending meetings, social events, and dealing with that one active that thinks his job is to make you absolutely miserable. Having gone through all of that with these guys, I had no doubt I could depend on them for anything. Things were difficult to deal with. Being away from home, living in a tent in 100 degree heat, working in a combat zone, and of course missing school was very hard. We would constantly talk at night about the times we had at the house, and the funny stories that would always accompany the morning after. Those laughs kept your mind off of things. Everything else kind of went away for a while. It was my brothers that I could talk to about what I was dealing with back home, frustrations, and just being home sick. I called the house phone a couple of times, but mainly would try and call Joe for updates on the status of the chapter. The five of us would always refer to inside jokes that no one else got but us. We always tried to eat evening chow together if we could. We checked on one another after a trip outside the wire. We looked out for one another and made sure the other was dealing with things and had someone to talk to.
I am very proud to say I was a Sigma Nu at TECH. I never hesitate to tell anyone who asks what fraternity I was in and what chapter. I feel fortunate to have been a part of Eta Zeta Chapter. I thank god I had my brothers to lean on in a time of need.
“He ain’t heavy……”
The five of us;
Justin LaCroix, Nick Nunn, Jeremy Roberts, John Quarles, & Danny Vento
Also, Joseph Murphy was our company Executive Officer though we did not see
him that often.
Justin LaCroix, Jeremy Roberts, and Danny Vento are still currently serving in the
serving as a National Guard Recruiter, and Danny is on active duty serving with
the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
