Wish Stories
Justin’s Army Adventure
Age 10
Be in the Army and Drive Tactical Equipment
The U.S. Army this week enlisted and trained one of its youngest recruits, then put the fate of the free world in his hands, as well as a few large tactical vehicles. In just two days of service, 10-year old Justin became a sergeant and now ranks among the most decorated soldiers of our time after retrieving a top-secret laser device stolen by al terrorists whom infiltrated Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Justin, you see, wants nothing more than to step into the combat boots of his older brother, Private Raymond Bryce, 20, stationed with 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.
Justin’s age and life-threatening illness bar him from military service, but the Make-A-Wish Foundation discovered the boy’s dream and asked the Pentagon to recruit him. Justin wants to be a hardcore sergeant and tactical vehicle driver. “I want to drive something with six wheels,” said the freckled-faced boy, holding out his arms. “A big truck.”
Make-A-Wish fulfills the wishes of children fighting life-threatening illnesses to enrich their lives with hope, strength, and joy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted the offices of the Secretary of Defense and Sergeant Major of the Army, as well as the Military District of Washington for help with Justin’s special request. The Pentagon’s Defense Protective Service and Fort Belvoir command were also instrumental to the mission.
“They managed to pull this together in under a week. These people came up with something absolutely wonderful and fulfilled Justin’s dream in such an incredible way,” said Jared Cohen, Make-A-Wish chief operating officer.
Justin arrived at the Pentagon with his family one afternoon, where he spoke to a recruiter, signed on the line, and Lt. Gen. John Craddock from the Pentagon gave him the oath of enlistment. He was promoted on the spot to sergeant. “I get a ‘motion? What’s a ‘motion?” Justin asked.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld greeted the sergeant and made sure he received orders. “We’re proud you picked the Army,” said Rumsfeld.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation outfitted Justin with battle dress uniform, boots, beret and identification tags. After several trips to the punch and cake table, Justin met Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley, who gave him a challenge coin and some solid advice on soldiering. Several Old Guard members whisked Justin and his family on carts through Pentagon corridors, stopping at the Hall of Heroes. Justin read out loud the names of America’s largest conflicts, his beret sometimes falling over his eyes.
Justin arrived outside the Pentagon promptly at 8 a.m. the following morning and rode in a Humvee with the 144th Military Police Company. Justin checked badges at the Pentagon’s south entrance, and assured tight security at the metal detectors. He also earned a military police brassard and a framed set of handcuffs as an honorary MP.
A cushy limousine carried the family to Fort Belvoir, where Justin trained for his mission. Justin tested night vision goggles and laser scope on an indoor range simulator. Justin was then hustled to a secured briefing room where he was given details of, Task Force Bryce. He sat attentively in front of screens detailing where the stolen laser device was hidden. A heavy collection of honorary unit insignia sparkled on his chest, his mother’s eyes glistened with tears.
Surrounded by a force of armed and camouflaged soldiers, Justin had the choice of two vehicles to command on the mission — an M113 armored personnel carrier or a wheeled Stryker personnel transport. Donning helmet and flak jacket, Justin poked through the commander’s hatch of the M113 and ordered the vehicle to “move out, fast!”
Soldiers jogged alongside the vehicle and provided cover as the special unit rumbled down the road.
The boy who often spends hours pushing around toy tanks, jeeps and soldier figures, took delight in barking orders to his brothers Raymond and Eric, 11, and sister Kaitlin, 7. “He’s a sergeant now. Sergeants get mad,” shrugged Eric.
Justin stormed an office building and retrieved the laser device, a feat that earned him several decorations, including the Army Meritorious Service Medal. “I like to do things that freak my mom out,” said Justin, who barred his parents from participating in the dangerous mission. “This is a lot of fun!”
Justin’s request to Make-A-Wish included the wish to taste Army chow. He ate at Fort Belvoir’s dining facility with garrison commander Col. Thomas W. Williams. After a hardy lunch, the technical rescue team on Fort Belvoir taught Justin to maneuver through dirt in a Bobcat skid loader, then bash down a column of large rocks with a Deere backhoe.
Part of Justin’s initial wish was to board a ship. Coastguardsmen at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Station in Baltimore took Justin and his family on a utility boat, here he helped escort a cruise ship out of the harbor.
“You’re a very special kid for them to do all this just for you,” said Justin’s father Chuck to the contented, but fatigued, son as the boat powered back to shore. “I never dreamed it would be like this.”
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