GI Jill & a Midland Connection
Category: Local... War on Terror...
Posted Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 08:49 AM [GMT-6]

Many in West Texas and particularly in Midland have been following the condition of SSgt. John Faulkenberry, a Midland native who was seriously injured in combat in Afghanistan last summer (listen to an interview with John's dad conducted by the local CBS affiliate here for more details about the incident) and is now undergoing rehab at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

John's dad, Richard, just happens to be from Fort Stockton, and my wife and I attended high school with him, his brothers, and his sister. Thus it was a rather strange coincidence when I received an email from Maryland blogger Soccer Dad, who, recognizing only a reference to Midland, wanted to alert me to a photo of SSgt. Faulkenberry being visited by Miss Utah 2007 at Walter Reed on October 24th.

As it so happens, Miss Utah is a soldier, aka Sgt. Jill Stevens, aka known as G.I. Jill, and she'll be competing in the upcoming Miss America pageant. I suspect she'll be the only contestant who is a decorated combat veteran, as she served an eighteen month tour as a medic in Afghanistan. She is a member of the Utah National Guard's 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, and she's also (duh) quite a looker, even if the tiara-BDU combination is just a teensy bit incongruous.

By the way, the last report I read about John is that his rehab is progressing nicely, although he still has a long road ahead of him.

And for those of you who are lonely Corps members at A&M, you can download a poster of Sgt. Jill, suitable for hiding from upperclassmen.