In honor of Veteran’s Day, FCC would like to recognize two of our own Veterans and share some of their experiences with you.
Tomi Lemmon, Senior Accounting Manager, La Crosse
In 1977, at the age of 20 Tomi enlisted in the Army eager for adventure. After attending basic training in Alabama, an experience she credits as the hardest thing she’s ever done, she attended school in Florida to learn how to find, intercept and copy classified signals. This training required a top security clearance. She was then stationed in Augsburg, Germany where it was her job to monitor the communications of Eastern Bloc nations during the Cold War. While being away from her family for two and a half years was difficult for Tomi, she found comfort in her team. All in their early 20’s and excited to explore, their time off was spent traveling around Germany and Europe. Tomi and her teammates became very close and she is in touch with many of them still today.
Looking back on her experience in the Army, Tomi feels an immense amount of pride in having served her country. She also credits the Army for teaching her how to be a member of a team where you truly have each other’s back, and is grateful for the lifelong friendships that came from that team.
Thank you for your service Tomi.
Wendy Watkins, Employment Specialist, WRIC Community Support Program La Crosse
Wendy was a 19 year old teenager, living in a small farming town in Illinois when she decided to enlist in the Army in 1988. She had no real plan, but knew that there was a whole world out there to explore, with people to meet and the Army could provide her those opportunities. Placement testing recognized Wendy’s technological skills and she became a avionics technician. Working at the Army test pilot school, she worked on every type of helicopter’s radios, radar equipment, and electronics.
Wendy served from 1988-1995, and then re-enlisted in the Illinois National Guard in 1995-2000. When asked why she re-enlisted, Wendy shared she wasn’t ready to let go of her experience in the Army, and it helped pay for her college education. Through her time in the Army, Wendy was stationed in Kansas, Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois and South Korea. Her greatest take away from her experience was the value placed on leadership, and the training and education she received on being a leader.
Thank you for your service Wendy.
THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE!