Veterans share experiences with Genoa Scouts

GENOA – Growing up near an Army base, the daughter of a retired airman, Debbie Cravatta wants to teach the Scouts she leads about patriotism. Cravatta invited several area veterans to a joint meeting of Cub Scout Pack 117 and Kaskaskia Girl Scouts on Thursday evening in the meeting room at Resource Bank.

“We can’t do enough for our veterans,” Cravatta said.

Her Scouts were urged to bring things she can use to fill a care package for a service member deployed to Afghanistan. They also wrote thank you cards to DeKalb County veterans.

Before they got busy writing, the Scouts heard a little bit about military service from Cravatta’s husband, Chad, Emerald Sanders, Brent Bacon, Brad Davidson and Justin Lee. Each had a story about their reasons for joining and their jobs in the service.

Chad Cravatta served five years in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. As an artillery soldier, he also jumped from airplanes.

“We shot big bullets,” he said, showing a 105 mm Howitzer shell.

Most jumps were from just 800 feet.

“In 15 to 20 seconds after your ’chute opens, you’re on the ground. You hit like a sack of potatoes and it hurts,” he said.

Sanders, a senior at Genoa-Kingston High School, went to basic training at Fort Sill, Okla., last summer.

“Basic is nine weeks of ‘go here, do this, you didn’t do it right, do it again,’ ” Sanders said. “Sometimes it’s hard being back in school after having some military training.”

After high school graduation, she will go for advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to become a truck driver. She said she plans to attend college after completing her service contract.

Bacon, Davidson and Lee all served with the Marine Corps.

“I had several reasons for joining,” Bacon said.

Ranking at the top of the list was the first time he held his grandfather’s sword when he was just 7.

“And Sept. 11, 2001, sealed the deal for me,” Bacon said. “Military service instills a strong work ethic – dedication, courage, valor – the list goes on and on.”

When asked if he would join up again, after a moment of thought, Davidson said he would.

“It was a great opportunity to learn how other people live in other parts of the world,” he said.

“It was a good experience, and I would encourage anyone to join,” Lee said.

“Just pick the [military] branch that suits you,” Bacon said. “There is a job for everyone.”