FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – A Freehold Township resident who is a marketing professional on Wall Street and a member of the U.S. Army Reserves will travel to Verdun, France, this month to represent his historic brigade and commemorate the sacrifices made 100 years ago by Americans who fought in World War I.
David Clemenko is a staff sergeant with the 77th Sustainment Brigade out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in south central New Jersey. He will travel to France for five days of events and activities that will include a march up to and over Montfaucon and a ceremony at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.
Clemenko said the trip to France will honor more than 4 million service personnel who fought in World War I, including more than 80,000 Army Reserve soldiers who were placed into newly organized units and deployed to war zones around the world.
“I wear the Statue of Liberty patch on my uniform, but I did not appreciate the incredible history that was behind it. Having the opportunity to travel to the location that began the 77th Division’s place in history is amazing.
“I will walk in the footsteps of heroes I dream to emulate. I will walk the battlefields, stand where they were, imagine their view when they were surrounded, envision the smell of death and despair, and wonder how they achieved success with so much adversity. How did they push through and how did they stay motivated?
“We won World War I because of the dedication, perseverance and selfless service of thousands and thousands of Americans, French, British and allied forces … 100 years later, their values still provide a path for all service members to follow,” Clemenko said.
Information provided by Clemenko states that the Army Reserve “recognizes the historical significance and educational opportunities of the centennial of American involvement in World War I.
“Partnering with government and non-government groups and civic organizations in the United States and overseas, the Army Reserve will … honor those who served in the Great War and raise awareness and understanding of the lasting historical impact the war had on the modernization of the Army and its Reserve forces.”
By the time the Armistice ending World War I was signed on Nov. 11, 1918, 4.8 million American men had served in the armed forces during the war, including 3.7 million in the Army. Nearly, 90,000 of those were Reserve officers, one-third of whom were medical doctors.
More than 80,000 enlisted Army Reserve soldiers served, of which 15,000 were assigned to medical units. The individual Army Reserve soldiers were placed into newly organized units, were trained and then deployed to the war zone, according to the information provided.
The Army Reserve has three primary goals: provide trained and ready combat units to the Army and the Joint Force; retain and sustain the support of families, employers and communities; and shape and grow the future force, according to the information provided.