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Visions of 9/11 inspire Soldier

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Peter C. Jun
  • 319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Sgt. Ashley Plymale, of the 322nd Logistical Support Battalion at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, was 15-years-old and sitting in her orthodontist's chair watching TV as two planes slammed into the World Trade Centers.

"I remember trying to get all my male friends and male cousins to join the military for months after 9/11," said Plymale, her voice lowered. "One day, I was sitting at my Aunt Patty's house and asking why my male friends were not signing up when my aunt asked why I wouldn't join up. She was right, so I joined the Army."

Now Plymale serves as a wheeled vehicle mechanic, an Army occupation civilians usually don't expect a female Soldier to perform. In fact, she worked on the 25-ton Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck during her Afghanistan deployment, but now repairs mostly humvees. A smile crossed her face when recalling the first time this Alabama native realized she loved fixing things.

When I was 13 years old, my neighbor had a 1965 Roadster that didn't run," said Plymale. "My sister and I each paid fifty dollars for it and had to push it across the street to our house. Thirteen years old and I got it running. That is why I signed up into the Army as a wheeled mechanic."

Her grandfather served 22 years in the Air Force and retired as a master sergeant. He instilled military pride in Plymale during the many fishing trips they had together, relating to his experiences in the Vietnam War.

"My grandfather piqued my interest in the military, since he always talked passionately with pride about this country," said Plymale.

That pride extends to other members of Plymale's family. One uncle retired from the Navy, and her cousin has been in the Army for 17 years. Plymale is now trying to convince another cousin to join the Army. Plymale plans to follow in her grandfather's footsteps by putting in 20 years and retiring from the military.

Plymale's talked about what it is like to now live in New York City, just a few miles from where the site is being rebuilt. Yet she will not go down to the site until Freedom Tower, Memorial park and other buildings have been built.

"When I talk to the people of New York who were there that day, I can still see the raw emotions on their faces. This country's wounds are still healing from that day," said Plymale.

Plymale's pride and patriotism causes her to focus and do her job well. In a serious tone, she explains doing her job well helps keep Soldiers alive even though Soldiers driving a vehicle stateside may not always be aware of that. It is during deployments, when Soldiers have to drive around Iraq or Afghanistan, that they come up to mechanics and thank us, said Plymale.