Sergeant First Class Jeff W. Frasher

Brick location number

A-18-4

Branch of service

Army

Dates of service

March 1997 – still serving Active Duty

Location(s) of service and/or conflicts

Locations: Fort Drum New York, Schofield Barracks Hawaii, Fort Hood Texas, Camp Humphreys South Korea, and Fort Rucker Alabama. Conflicts: Bosnia 9/99 – 4/00; Iraq 7/06 – 10/07; Iraq 5/09 – 10/09; Afghanistan 9/10 – 10/11; Afghanistan 5/12 – 1/13

Medals earned

Army Commendation Medal (5); Army Achievement Medal (3); Army Good Conduct Medal (5); Iraq Campaign Medal – 3 Stars; Afghanistan Campaign Medal – 1 Star; National Defense Service Medal;
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; NATO Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal

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Reflections on this veteran's military service

Submitted by Sherri Harris

After basic and AIT, Jeff’s assignment was Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer Fort Drum, New York. Jeff went from surfing in California to shoveling snow in upstate New York, spent the Millennium on guard duty in war-torn Bosnia, witnessed the famous sandstorms of Iraq, and the bitter cold of Afghanistan. Jeff has sat on the steps of Saddam Hussein’s Presidential Palace in Tikrit, and felt the warm breezes of Hawaii while playing golf, had his own stool at the local pub in Korea, while being responsible for the repair and maintenance of the Army’s helicopters. Jeff’s favorite is the Chinook – in his words - it’s a work horse!

Jeff is currently a Helicopter Maintenance Instructor at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Alabama where he lives with his wife and three children of which two were born while he was serving in combat zones. Being the family member of an American soldier can be difficult but is rewarding.

Jeff loves southern Alabama – it’s almost California!

Jeff’s grandparents were original Lakewood homeowners, buying one of the “new” homes on Edgefield Street in 1954. Jeff’s parents bought and moved into the Edgefield house when Jeff was 18 months old. Jeff grew up in Lakewood, attending Woodruff Christian Elementary and graduated from Mayfair High School in 1988.

(Posted 2016)