EMMITSBURG,
MD. -– For one local man, recently deployed to serve
a tour of duty in Afghanistan, the decision to serve his country
was not a difficult decision, nor was it one he has backed
down on, even after 14 years of service.
TSgt.
Todd Wivell, a lifelong resident of Emmitsburg, joined the
United Sates Air Force in 1994, following in the footsteps
of his father and uncle, who both served in the Air Force
during the Vietnam War. For Wivell, his decision to join
the force came about, in most part, due to one woman.
“My
grandmother Elsie Wivell, who passed away last year, was
extremely patriotic and instilled in me the pride of being
free and being an American,” Wivell said. “I
wanted to join those who were already defending that freedom
and felt like joining the USAF was a great way to do it.”
Over
the last 14 years, Wivell has been on active duty, filling
many different roles, first as a security forces specialist
and most recently in public affairs. Currently, Wivell is
stationed at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, where
his wife and four children live as well.
With
his deployment to Afghanistan, Wivell faces what any soldier
does, worries about himself and those he’s leaving
behind, yet he has found a way to deal with the stress of
deployment.
“I
have talked it over with my family extensively and ensure
them I will do everything I can to be safe while I am away.
They all know that they are in my thought and prayers and
I look forward to seeing them again soon,” Wivell
said.
And
even though Wivell’s service has taken him thousands
of miles away from Emmitsburg, he said, it will always be
home.
“Emmitsburg is my home and will always mean something
to me,” Wivell said. “Being from Emmitsburg
and its good people who made me the person I am today.”
Anyone
wishing to correspond with Wivell may do so:
Todd Wivell
HQ ISAF
US NSE
APO AE 09356
