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Joseph De Anda Sr., a member of the California National Guard unit based in Lodi, shows his compass at his grandmother's apartment in Galt. De Anda was part of a seven-man team who defeated a rival guard unit in a competition last week at Camp Roberts. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
Lodi man helps win Army National Guard contest
A Lodi Army National Guard member who grew up in Lodi is part of a seven-man artillery team named the "Top Gun of the Battalion" in a competition against a Southern California team.
Private 1st Class Joseph De Anda Sr., 46, received three Army coins for his efforts as his squad, known as Alpha, beat a Southern California National Guard team more than a week ago at Camp Roberts, near Paso Robles. De Anda's team scored 697 points out of a possible 700 more than a week ago to be named Top Gun.
A very excited De Anda, visiting his grandmother in Galt on Sunday, excitedly talked about three special coins he earned, one a "Freedom Defenders for Excellence" coin and two for "excellence in performance."
As a National Guardsman, De Anda serves one weekend a month on guard duty and two weeks of training during the year. It was during the two-week training period this month that he competed against the rival team.
De Anda's duty was to be "powder monkey," where he handed his teammates fuses and gunpowder for a gun he described as an M-119 that hadn't been fired in California in more than 50 years. His teammates in last week's competition came from Stockton, Sacramento and Walnut Creek, as well as Lodi.
De Anda's group, trained to use Howitzers in Iraq, had to learn how to use the M-119, a new weapon for them. Despite the group's inexperience with the gun, De Anda's squad was named "Top Gun" because they used the new weapon more quickly and safely than the their opponents.
"We were really the underdogs," De Anda said.
Joseph De Anda Sr., a member of the California National Guard artillery unit from Lodi, displays a green "enlisted excellence ribbon," two red battle coins for excellence in performance and a round, blue "Freedom Defenders for Excellence" coin. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
The unit was led by Sgts. 1st Class Chris Somera and Thomas Lane, of Lodi, and Staff Sgt. Ernesto Buena Vista, of Stockton.
De Anda's unit was deployed in Iraq for nine months, returning home on April 23, 2008. And he's waiting for word that he's headed for Afghanistan, where he expects to serve a year.
De Anda was born in San Francisco. He moved to Galt when he was 12 and to Lodi at age 13. He attended Woodbridge Middle School and graduated from Lodi High School in 1981. He enlisted in the U.S. Army two years later, and was in and out of the Army five times before deciding to make it a career.
De Anda said he's glad he joined the Army. He re-enlisted for six more years in 2008 and will be due for retirement in 2014.
Meanwhile, De Anda spent Father's Day visiting his wife, Tami, and three children, knowing it will be a long time before they see him again.
"I was getting $1,002 every Friday (while stationed in Iraq)," De Anda said. "You can't get that working in Lodi."
As for why he opted for a trip to Afghanistan, De Anda pointed to the American flag on his shoulder and said, "That keeps me going."
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Galtguy wrote on Jun 29, 2009 11:03 AM:
Sorry bout the Army crack, reread your post and you're Navy. My apologies.
Go Navy! But still stop the whinning ok? "
Galtguy wrote on Jun 29, 2009 10:54 AM:
You amaze me as well. What makes you think I wasn't in the military? What makes you think I don't have a son on the "Big E"? You are making assumptions, right.
Two things here -
1 - An E2 powdermonkey thats makes a take home pay of 52K a year is overpaid. Period end of story. It's a grunt position and has no transferrable skills to the private sector.
2 - It's VOLUNTEER. If you don't like what you're getting paid... get out! No one forced you to sign up. If you signed up for the money you signed up for the wrong reason.
Finally, stop your incesent whinning. Figures you're Army. Any hints as to what Branch I served? That's the point isn't it? You don't know. "
ThatGirl wrote on Jun 29, 2009 8:36 AM:
You amaze me. I just read the rest of the feed and you are ridiculous! I am stationed in FL and I barely make enough to survive right now so you really need to get your facts straight and think before you speak! I was making alot more money in San Diego but, my rent was twice the amount it is here or in Lodi and, I was barely making it! You also have to take in the "well-being" factor... If you were overseas in the middle of fire wouldn't you hope to atleast be able to know you are providing for your family and that you could go home and maybe take a break? If you don't do our job you don't understand and you never will until it is your son or daughter over there! Wouldn't you feel good know that they can afford a plane ticket home to see you after being in Iraq for a year? Lets be serious! Personally I feel like you are ignorant and would greatly appreciate it if you stopped posting comments that are degrading to military members... "
ThatGirl wrote on Jun 29, 2009 8:08 AM:
dogbark wrote on Jun 25, 2009 10:21 PM:
Galtguy wrote on Jun 24, 2009 5:36 AM:
Like I said I stand corrected concerning how much an E3 pay is.
However, while I understand it is dangerous duty, it's also a volunteer commitment. No one is making anyone go anywhere they don't want to go. So you're suggestion I go sign is without merit.
Scottie- Same answer to you. It's volunteer service. If they can't handle the financial comittment as well as the physical and mental comittments they should find something else to do. Thats why they call it VOLUNTEER. "
dogbark wrote on Jun 23, 2009 11:35 PM:
dogbark wrote on Jun 23, 2009 11:24 PM:
That is important, especially since the last administration had a penchant for sending National Guard units into harms way, since they were running out of fresh troops in that sand lot over there.
Also I'd always heard our unit was a backup for action in Korea, and guess what is heating up again folks.
If you think the Army is overpaid, pull a Schwartznegger; you go enlist, and do that job, but don't take the pay. "
scottie wrote on Jun 23, 2009 5:01 PM:
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/02/13/news/1_counterfeiting_090213.prt
http://www.navycs.com/09militarypaychart.html (Pay chart) "
scottie wrote on Jun 23, 2009 4:55 PM:
Also you have to remember that a lot of reservist and guard members are older and are more likely to have a decent paying job at home that they're not getting paid for when they're deployed, and they still have to support their family back at home. "
Galtguy wrote on Jun 23, 2009 4:10 PM:
BUT... also if that's true you military guys have been sandbagging the American Public! What happened to the whole argument about GI's being on Food Stamps, etc...? At 50K a year you don't qualify for food stamps!
Once again the American Public is getting the wool pulled over their eyes. First by teachers now by our GI's. Want proof? I quote PFC De Anda, "You can't get that working in Lodi" How right he is! "
scottie wrote on Jun 23, 2009 3:51 PM:
weezer wrote on Jun 23, 2009 3:19 PM:
Galtguy wrote on Jun 23, 2009 2:24 PM:
Without being a smart***, don't they teach Math in Basic?
According to your figures at MOST the GROSS pay would be is around $3750 a month. This is at MOST in GROSS $. Net on $3750 a month is around $2500 - $2800 a month. Which is $600 - $700 a week, far from $1002. Unless you were saying he would be getting the $1200 INSTEAD of the $750 as oppossed to in addition to the $750. Then my point is even more so, then it would be around $400 - $600 a week. Either way, he's not getting $1002 a week TAKE HOME.
But like none of us can understand is how he's an E3 after 20+ years! "
hometowndad wrote on Jun 23, 2009 12:45 PM:
And I agree with Galtguy-where is the back check and research with this reporter?! The readers of LNS need some explanations on why this convicted person is highlighted in this story?! "
ThatGirl wrote on Jun 23, 2009 12:34 PM:
ThatGirl wrote on Jun 23, 2009 12:33 PM:
Galtguy wrote on Jun 23, 2009 5:44 AM:
Further, does this reporter EVER check facts? To even remotely believe that a 46 Year old man could be in the Army for 26 years "off an on" (5 times no less) and still be an E2, but yet taking home 48K+ a year is totally naive. This story explains much in the way of why most people consider the media "out of touch" and completely lacking in common sense.
Your Move LNS. "
napa valley chef wrote on Jun 23, 2009 12:00 AM:
fishboy wrote on Jun 22, 2009 10:50 PM:
hometowndad wrote on Jun 22, 2009 9:51 PM:
weezer wrote on Jun 22, 2009 11:37 AM:
An Army National Guard member was among five Lodi residents arrested Thursday in connection with a counterfeit ring that passed nearly $500,000 in fake bills. The fraudulent $100 bills have been found in Iraq, where suspect Joseph DeAnda was deployed, as well as Lodi, Jackson, Mexico and several states, Lodi Police Detective Eric Bradley said. Investigators suspect much of the fake money was moved through casinos for real cash. "
Galtguy wrote on Jun 22, 2009 11:27 AM:
You know as well as I do that all the hazard duty, overseas pay in the world doesn't add up to an E-2 taking home 48K+ a year! No way! Further, how do explain "in and out" of the Army 5 times? How? What about being in "off and on" for some 26 years and only being a PFC?
Either something isn't being reported correctly or something's not right with this story. The BS meter is pegged! "
hometowndad wrote on Jun 22, 2009 9:13 AM:
SSG Jeremy wrote on Jun 22, 2009 8:15 AM:
Congrats you guys, nice way to represent. "
Galtguy wrote on Jun 22, 2009 5:39 AM:
I just have to wonder, enlisted in 1983, served off and on for this whole time, but yet a PFC? And $1002 every week? I know about combat pay, etc. but am I to believe a PFC makes a take home pay of 48K+?
Either something was left out of the story or there's a little something going on? "
Comments on this story are now closed.