Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Md. Army Guard member reflects on support his unit gave him By  Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg
                Maryland National Guard
 ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On the day Sgt. 1st Class Quintin C. Steele was promoted to his current rank, he took time to speak on the overwhelming support his unit provided him at a time when it was needed most. Steele, an intelligence specialist with the 110th Information Operations Battalion, joined the Maryland National Guard in 2011 after serving in the U.S. Army since 2003. The day Hurricane Michael made landfall would become a moment Steele would always remember when his unit became his family. A Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, the storm affected thousands in the state's panhandle region – including Steele's mother and 9-year-old niece who lived in nearby Panama City. The storm left them trapped in their house with power and phone lines down. Steele's mother, Joyce L. Davidson, described what she experienced as the worst storm she's ever seen. "Trees were snapping every 10 seconds or so, and we felt like it would be the last thing we'd hear, said Davidson. It looked like a war zone afterwards." Meanwhile in Maryland, Steele was beside himself in anguish. Initially, I couldn't do anything but panic, said Steele. It took days to finally get some indication that my family was even alive... it was driving me crazy." Army Lt. Col. Stephen P. Gerber, a senior intelligence officer, said he noticed the stress Steele was under, even if he was reticent to ask for help. Even though I was going through so much at the time it was tough for me to ask for help, said Steele. I'm still a senior non-commissioned officer, after all." Gerber stepped in and asked for that help on Steele's behalf.
  Unit members and volunteers rapidly responded, raising hundreds of dollars within hours and donating clothes for the family and toys for his niece. I've never been prouder to serve in the Maryland Guard, Steele said during his promotion ceremony. The support kept pouring in and I couldn't have been more grateful to have my Guard family." Steele's brother, Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua J. Keefer, with the Arizona Army National Guard, also spent hours trying to reach anyone who could go check on the family. The fire department couldn't reach the house because of the destruction from the hurricane, Keefer said." The National Guard was the first to clear the area near Davidson's home. Guard members also made sure the family was safe and healthy. They provided us with military rations when we were out of food, Davidson said." After dozens of calls went straight to voicemail, Steele was finally able to connect with his mother's neighbors, who communicated back to him that his family was alive and well. When the family finally reached Steele, Keefer immediately began helping his mother work through the emergency relief programs she could apply for to reconstruct their damaged home. Just as our water supply ran out, the streets finally seemed driveable, and we were finally able to leave, Davison said. It took three days for the National Guard to clear the streets near my house and I will forever appreciate and support them." Davidson was exhausted when she finally reached her son in Maryland. She recalled having a difficult time driving since her eyeglasses were lost in the storm. "We used some of the raised funds on an optometrist to get much needed glasses for the return drive, said Davidson." Steele said he intends to keep serving with the Maryland Army Guard, but one day he'll no longer be in uniform. When that day comes, he plans to still find ways to support those who supported him in his time of need. After I eventually hang it up with the Guard, I still plan on supporting the military as a civilian employee, said Steele." Steele joined because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, wanting to serve his country after seeing so many volunteers come together to help people impacted by the destruction of those attacks on the homeland.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 2 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil