United States Marine Corps Sergeant Samuel Ruiz was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. SGT Ruiz enlisted in the Marine Corps on November 25, 2015, and he has served in the 2nd Marine Division in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Miramar, California, and the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command in Camp Pendleton, California. He currently serves with Echo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Syracuse, New York.
hometown hero
Hometown Hero: Rear Admiral John Okon
United States Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) John Okon was born and raised in “the 315,” having grown up in Camillus, and he has bled orange his whole life. John attended the last game in both Manley Field House and Archibald Stadium, as well as the first game in the Carrier Dome. During high school, he worked for Syracuse University parking cars in the west lots of the Carrier Dome and at Manley Field House. John says while the money was good, it was the free ticket to see his ‘Orange’ that was the most valuable benefit!
Hometown Hero: Raul Rosique, Jr.
United States Navy veteran Raul Rosique was born in Delano, California, and raised in Richgrove, California. Raul shipped out to boot camp a few months after his high school graduation at age 18 in 2014. Raul’s enlistment was for five years, and he was set to be attached to a Nuclear Submarine as a Logistic Specialist. After completing logistical training in Mississippi and Submarine training in Connecticut, he received orders to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which luckily ended up being his only duty station.
Hometown Hero: Richard M. Jones
United States Army Staff Sergeant (Retired) and three-time Syracuse University alum, Richard M. Jones, was born and raised in Utica, New York. Rich comes from a military family and his passion for service was inspired by their service. His paternal grandfather was a member of the 29th Infantry Division, one of the first soldiers to land at Omaha Beach.
Hometown Hero: Mike and Colleen Drum
Mike Drum’s and Colleen Shuster’s amazing journey to Syracuse University began with both serving in the United States Marine Corps. Mike was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, and he enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve as an Infantry Rifleman in July 2010 following his high school graduation.
Hometown Hero: Jack Pullano
The United States Air Force Veteran Jack Pullano was born in Amherst, New York, and he was raised in Hopkinton, New York. Three weeks after graduating high school in 2017, Jack enlisted in the United States Air Force serving on active duty for four years. After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and Fuels tech school in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jack received orders to Kadena, Air Base, located in Okinawa Japan. While stationed at Kadena, he was a Fuels Journeyman with the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron and a member of the only Pacific Air Force’s Special Operations Forward Area Refueling Point Team under the 353rd Special Operations Group.
Hometown Hero – Pei Ren
Syracuse University Army ROTC Cadet and U.S. Army veteran Pei Ren was born in New York City and grew up in Macon, Georgia. Cadet Ren enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2015 and served on active duty from 2016 to 2019 as a 35N (November), Signal Intelligence Analyst.
Hometown Hero – Anthony Ruscitto
United States Marine Corps Anthony Joseph Ruscitto was born in Syracuse, New York and graduated from Bishop Grimes high school in 2013. Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2013 at the age of 17 and would serve a total of five years on active duty. He completed Marine Corps Recruit Training and earned the title of United States Marine at Parris Island, South Carolina in February of 2014. He then completed Marine and Naval Aircrew flight training as a CH-53E Helicopter Crew Chief at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina in 2015.
Hometown Hero: Ryan Yon
Carolina. In August 2017, he enlisted in the United States Army after reading the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. A passage from the book inspired Ryan to enlist which reads: “Deep in his heart, every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and something to rescue.” Ryan finished the book on his break, immediately drove to the recruiter’s office and enlisted, and told his supervisor he will be leaving and never coming back.
Hometown Hero: Nadia Morris-Mitchell
United States Navy veteran, currently serving New York State Air National Guardsman, and Syracuse University undergraduate student veteran Nadia Morris-Mitchell hails from Syracuse, New York. She enlisted in the United States Navy in 2004 as a heavy equipment operator, Seabee. Also in 2004, Nadia married her high school sweetheart, Cody Stasko.