SFC Troy McManus

SFC Troy McManus sat down with me for Heroes I Know. Forty-eight minutes. Soldier attention. Reporting for duty.

1990. Fresh out of high school. Thirty days later he left for basic. Fort Jackson. Then Bliss. 16 Romeo. Vulcan gunner. First duty station Korea. Alpha Battery, 5-5 ADA. Sergeant Skadberg. Mustard stain from Panama. Cool cat.

Living the airborne dream. Corporal. E-5 board. He walked in and reported without stuttering. Bravo Battery, 3-4. First air defenders from the 82nd assigned to Iraq. Second Brigade. The Falcons. They already had guys in Afghanistan. They were the first to go.

Second time around, Stinger. 14 Sierra. Bumped up quick. Gunnery with now-retired Sergeant Major Hockenberry as team sergeant. Sergeant Rosa. The lieutenant. They said knock it out of the sky. Coffee cup his wife made. 82nd. Master jump wings. A picture of him on the back. Thank you, Troy. That is why we hit record. Get the story on tape before we are too old or too sick to tell it.