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
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.
Hometown Hero: Eileen Collins, ’78
Collins was the second woman ever accepted to the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Upon graduation in 1990, NASA selected her for the astronaut program. At NASA, she famously became the first woman astronaut to both pilot (1995) and then command (1999) a Space Shuttle mission.
Hometown Hero: James N. Lyons, ’03
James was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas. He served as a tank platoon leader and deployed with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On September 27, 2006, First Lieutenant James N. Lyons was shot and killed in southern Baghdad, Iraq while his unit was attacking insurgents that had attacked a key strategic facility. At the time of his death, James was Syracuse University’s first known and youngest casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, among others.
Hometown Hero: Kristin Hughes
United States Army Sergeant First Class and Syracuse Police Officer Kristin Hughes hails from Syracuse, New York. Kristin attended Bishop Grimes High School where she played soccer and graduated in 2012. She later became the Bishop Grimes girls assistant head soccer coach in 2017 for one year.
Hometown Hero: Phil Benedict
United States Air Force Veteran and Syracuse University Employee Phil Benedict is from Pompey New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in spring of 1977 as an Aircraft Aerospace Technician. During his active-duty service, Phil was stationed in Royal Air Force (RAF) Upper Heyford, England and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, followed by continued service in the Air Force Reserves, Air National Guard, and the Navy Reserves.
Hometown Hero – U.S. Army LTCs Dwayne and Alison Murray
United States Army LTC’s Dwayne and Alison Murray’s journey to Syracuse University began in the late 1990s arriving from White Plains, New York and Severna Park, Maryland, respectively.
Hometown Hero: Charlie Poag
United States Marine Corps veteran and Syracuse University senior Charlie Poag enlisted in the Marine Corps in the summer of 2001 and completed boot camp two weeks prior to the tragic events of 9/11.
Hometown Hero: Jay Knight
United States Army Captain (Promotable) Jay Knight hails from Huntsville, Alabama. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 2000 at the University of Alabama – Birmingham and enlisted into the United States Army in 2005 as an 11 Bravo – Infantryman.