Happy 246th birthday, U.S. Marine Corps

VICENZA, Italy - National Hispanic Heritage Month offers a time to celebrate the cultures, histories and achievements of Hispanic Americans across the United States and within the military. U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Elisban Bazan, a maintenance manager with the 79th Theater Sustainment Command-Forward, currenting assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), shares his story of immigrating to the United States and becoming a mentor in the Army.

Every year, retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ed Furnish says he gets to celebrate two birthdays—one in September and one in October. The first is his actual birthday; the second is the anniversary of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) —an organization that holds a special meaning in his life since he was stationed here in 1959, when he arrived as a 17-year-old from a small farm in Indiana. Now 82 years old, Furnish was the oldest attendee at SETAF-AF’s 69th anniversary and had the honor of cutting the birthday cake alongside the youngest Soldier, Pvt. Corey Herbert Jr., at the celebration. They were joined by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general of SETAF-AF.

VICENZA, Italy – A soldier gently places his finger against a detonation switch. As quick as a lightning strike, a spark speeds down the firing wire. Less than a second later, an explosion ripples through the air, leaving behind only smoke and fragments where moments earlier lay the threat of an unexploded ordnance (UXO).