1SG (R) Frederick Antonio Cuffie

1SG (R) Frederick Antonio Cuffie sat down with me for Heroes Live.

Cuff Dog. That is what he is known by. Hartsville, South Carolina. Blink and you miss it. Near Darlington and Florence. Born June 1973.

Grew up poor. Love and family meant more than money. He learned work young. Lawnmower. Milk jug of gasoline. Weed eater. Hedges. Roofs. Plowing fields. He is no stranger to hard work.

High school he ran track and played in the band. Six years marching. Trombone. Wind ensemble. High hurdles. Intermediate hurdles. Leg of the relay. A hundred and forty-five pounds soaking wet. He could not win them all. He won a couple. That is who you want. The ones who will compete.

Middle of the road grades. Class clown. Back of the bus on band trips keeping the party going. Mom was there most of the time. She passed in 2004. Dad lived in Connecticut. Still going at seventy-five. Two sisters. Family reunions on his dad's side. South Carolina. Georgia. Even a cruise. Nobody fighting. His dad is a twin. Seven of them. Oldest ninety-three.

He took care of soldiers. One of them needed money in his pocket. Paperwork was done. Not the soldier's fault. Cuffie told finance somebody was going to do something that day. They cut a partial payment. That kid left air defense. Sent an email to the commander. He had made lieutenant in the Chemical Corps. He wanted to thank them for not giving up on him.

After the Army he travels. Oldest daughter went to The Citadel. Biology. Forensics now in Quantico. She did not want the military. Youngest was graduating high school in California. He flew out to chaperone the prom. He said he did not want to put knuckles on anybody.

He closed with a first sergeant safety brief. Don't beat the dog. Don't beat the cat. Don't beat the wife. Don't drink and drive. Call me. Have a good weekend. See you Monday. That is why we hit record. Get the story on tape before we are too old or too sick to tell it.