PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It was an absolute pleasure to recently interview Andrea Esposito, who served 15 years in the Army and retired with the rank of staff sergeant. She was welcoming, outgoing and provided an excellent overview on her extraordinary military service as we met at Soldier On.

 

Her career is impressive as she had to overcome a great many obstacles in her life and used those experiences to excel as a leader in the Army. 

 

Esposito grew up in North Haven, Conn., and enlisted in May 1985. Her basic training was at the famed Fort Dix in New Jersey, where she was in one of the first female companies at Fort Dix.

 

"I used humor and laughter to get through some difficult times," she said. "I laughed a lot ... sometimes it got me into trouble." 

 

She recalled a moment during basic training when she felt really down, homesick and terribly depressed. "I went to a local church," she said. "I truly felt comfortable and safe, really felt I belonged there."

 

Her first assignment was at U.S. Army Garrison Daegu in Korea. 

 

"There weren't a lot of women serving in Korea at the time, it was interesting," she said. "The town was very poor but our

base was great.

 

She was assigned to a Signal Corps attached to the "missile guys." We coordinated the grid for where the Persian missiles were to be fired," Esposito remembered.

 

I asked about entertainment while she was overseas and she brightened. 

 

"We had USO shows. I saw Cyndi Lauper, she put on a great show" she recalled. She said the holidays were hard but they tried to make it special and shared a wonderful memory; "My company had befriended a local orphanage and at Christmas I got two other soldiers to help me buy presents and we brought them to the kids." 

 

Her military service also took her to Germany as well as Fort Hood in Texas during the second Gulf War. 

 

"I was on a security detail to protect the families on base," she said. "I never forget the way they came out at night to give us food and snacks."

 

Esposito recalled how proud she was being a noncommissioned officer. 

 

"It was good for me," she said. "I spent hours at night shining my boots, made sure the creases in my uniform were perfect. ... "I was a little soft at times but if my soldiers screwed up I got my military on — I demanded respect, that was a big thing. I was easy to work for and my soldiers would do anything for me." 

 

She recalled a Sgt. 1st Class Dickerson as being a wonderful mentor: "he had the same kind of personality as me and gave respect back." 

 

Her thoughts on service and being a veteran? "I loved it. I saw different parts of the world, went to a bunch of

schools. ... I am the person I am today because of the Army. You just have that pride as a veteran."

 

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Andrea Esposito, thank you for your service to our great country.