Prior to enlisting in the Army in 1996, Michelle, a native of Massachusetts worked two jobs while in college. Michelle enlisted as an engineer and quickly realized her love for the military. Michelle worked hard and went to many military schools in order to make the ranks of a non-commissioned officer and a leader of many projects. Her first tour of duty was at the 101st Airborne Division, Ft Campbell, Ky. During her assignment there as an engineer, Michelle was one of few female soldiers to be awarded for her physical condition and outstanding physical fitness scores. Michelle also played softball for the battalion softball team and then was selected for the all division team. After her exposure to the divisions sports team Michelle was encouraged to tryout for the All Army softball team in 2000, where she later not only made the team, but became the All Army captain. Her contribution to the team earned her many awards in addition to the team's national championship. Michelle was also selected for the All Armed Forces team, which earned her an All American status.
After the attacks of September 11th, Michelle's unit was deployed to Afghanistan to support the war on Terror. In Jan 2002, Michelle was assigned to the 84th engineer battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schoffield Barracks Hawaii. During her assignment with the 25th ID Michelle continued to play softball for the Army and again contributed to a championship season. Michelle went to many leadership courses and accumulated over 2500 hrs of projects management skills and training. In late 2003 Michelle's unit received orders to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, after deploying in early 2004 Michelle's job description changed as many troops do in time of war. Michelle's unit became heavily involved in transporting equipment to all areas of the country in order to support the efforts on the global war on terror. After being in Iraq for a few months Michelle's unit became very familiar with transporting critical equipment and personnel to various parts of Iraq, Syria and Kuwait.
On May 1st, 2004, her unit was part of a convoy transporting another unit and their equipment back to Kuwait for re-deployment to the states as well as to pick up critical equipment to return to Camp Anaconda Iraq. During this assignment, the convoy Michelle's unit was in, was re-directed because many main supply routes had been blown up by insurgents. This forced the convoy to take an alternate route and skirt the Iranian border, a route that had yet to be cleared. While driving through the city of Alamarah Iraq, the unit came under heavy attack as insurgents fired multiple rocket- propelled grenades and intense rounds of small arms fire into the convoy. Michelle's unit was totally surrounded and caught under heavy intense fire. While under siege, she sustained injuries attempting to save a fallen comrade during this horrific ambush. Several soldiers were injured, and two soldiers were killed in action, including the comrade Michelle carried out. Michelle was transported from Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Hospital in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., where she spent 22 months after multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy for severe back injuries. Michelle was also awarded the Purple Heart. Michelle's career in both the Army and Softball ended as a result of her injuries.
Since her retirement from the Army in May of 2006, she is employed with the Department of Labor assisting wounded service members and their families as they transition back into the civilian sector. Michelle continues to work tirelessly with multiple organizations across the country to facilitate the best needs for our nation's heroes, in hopes to "change the culture"
