I would like to nominate my husband, CPL Jeno Hankerson (or Hank as we all call him). Hank is currently serving his second term in the United States Marine Corps. He is with 1/5 Charlie CO HQ PLT stationed in Camp Pendelton, CA.

I met Hank while I was in the marine corps from 1993-1997. We were friends for a year and a half before we started dating. I have never met anyone that was as dedicated to his family, friends, and country as Hank is. He left active duty after his first enlistment (4 years) was up, and we went home and he went into the marine corps reserves. After 9/11 he immediately started the process to come back to active duty, doing whatever it took to come back. If you know anything about the marine corps in particular, the toughest and most demanding job is the infantry. Because he wanted to do what he could for our country, he accepted a position in the infantry, not his original military occupational specialty. At 28, when he came back in, he was considered very old to the other marines of his rank (he also took a demotion from CPL to LCPL to come back in, and 28 is old for that rank), but he kept up and surpassed some of the younger marines, giving quite a few of them a run for their money!

He has done 2 tours in Iraq already since the end of 2003. He missed Christmas in 2003, the birth of our 3rd child in 2004, came back and then left again for Iraq and missed her 1st birthday too! He returned the second time 1 day after our 10 year wedding anniversary on September 30, 2005. He will be leaving for the third time this summer, and will probably miss another Christmas and anniversary. He has sacrificed a lot both personally and physically and would do anything for his "marine brothers" as well as anyone that needed him. We lost a close family friend 3 days before his return from Iraq. Upon his return, he got home and within hours of landing had to get on a plane and go to Chris' funeral detail in Idaho. He also lost several of his friends and comrades from his unit. We only hope and pray that the 3rd trip (if they pull him from ship duty) is as successful for him as his last 2. He is a true hometown hero in every way.

THANK YOU,
JULIE A HANKERSON
CPL USMC 93-97