Press Release
☷Fort Hood recognizes its top volunteers
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 03,2022
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Fort Hood Volunteer of the Year Andrea Kim , Carl R . Darnall Army Medical Center , poses holding flowers with the III Corps and Fort Hood command team , Lt . Gen . Pat White and Command Sgt . Maj . Cliff Burgoyne along with Kate Burgoyne during an awards ceremony at Fort Hood , Texas , April 21 . Kim is the spouse of 1st Sgt . Hyun Kim , first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Troops , CRDAMC . FORT HOOD , Texas - “The word ‘volunteer’ is defined as person who performs a service willingly , without the promise of credit or reward . The second part of that definition is truly what’s important – no promise of credit or reward , ” Col . Chad R . Foster , commander of U . S . Army Garrison – Fort Hood , told the crowd gathered here in the West Atrium of III Corps Headquarters . “The only thing you thought about was the need , and that really says it all . If that was as common as we’d like , I think the world would be a much better place . What you are doing is , indeed , making our world a much better place - making our community stronger and making Fort Hood stronger . ” The top three nominees for the III Corps and Fort Hood Volunteer of the Year were honored for their service and commitment , April 21 . Andrea Kim , a volunteer with Carl R . Darnall Army Medical Center , was named the Volunteer of the Year . “I’m really nervous , ” Kim said about the recognition . “I just helped plan the family fun events , like Easter , trunk - or - treat and breakfast with Santa . ” Andrea Kim ( right ) , along with her husband , 1st Sgt . Hyun Kim and their children , used a Tiger King theme for their contribution to the Carl R . Darnall Army Medical Center ' s Trunk or Treat event at Fort Hood , Texas , in 2021 . Andrea was named Fort Hood ' s top volunteer at a ceremony , April 21 . Kim is the spouse of 1st Sgt . Hyun Kim , first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Troops , CRDAMC . She said she enjoys volunteering , but also feels like , as the spouse of a senior enlisted Soldier , it’s her responsibility to provide that positive example to military spouses . “We try to make it ( volunteering ) as fun as possible , ” Kim said . “Honestly , it feels good to fill a need , but mostly , it’s just showing up and being willing to help . ” The other two top finalists were Dr . Bill Abright , who volunteers with the Directorate of Public Works; and Maria Penya , who volunteers with Fort Hood’s Santa’s Workshop . Penya was unable to make it to the ceremony , but Abright said he volunteers because he enjoys working with Soldiers and working to save the environment . Abright said he specializes in searching for zebra mussels , an invasive , fingernail - sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters . He also looks at wildlife and plant coverage to make sure things are growing properly . He also volunteers his time at the American Red Cross on Fort Hood . “I do it for fun and just enjoy it , ” Abright said . “I do all this stuff because it’s enjoyable . ” The other honorees include Kaley Hebrebrand , youth category; Caleb Myers , youth category; Haelyn Hendrix , youth category; Jordan Hendrix , youth category; the Church family , family category; Sgt . Dayna Fyffe , 1st Cavalry Division; Rebecca DeLoach , 1st Air Cavalry Brigade , 1st Cav . Div . ; Connie Martin , 2nd Brigade Combat Team; Staff Sgt . Lory Edwards , 1st Cavalry Division Artillery; Maj . Timothy Peters , 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade; Jessica Gamez , 3rd Cavalry Regiment; 1st Lt . Serena Taylor , 48th Chemical Brigade; Melissa Myers , 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; 1st Lt . Michelle Wager , 89th Military Police Brigade; Spc . Joseph Smith , Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers; Staff Sgt . Ayeisha Garza , 120th Infantry Brigade , Division West; Sgt . 1st Class Jeffrey White , Noncommissioned Officer Academy; Casey Black , Soldier Recovery Unit; Lucky Baker , Army Community Service; Spc . Christopher Tejada , Child and Youth Services; Capt . Anna Wilson , Directorate of Public Works; Angel Eagan , Fort Hood Area Military Family Member Scholarship Fund; Yovanna Browne , Fort Hood Area Thrift Shop; Brooklyn Harris , Fort Hood Spouses’ Club; Amanda Merena , Garrison Chapel Service; Charner White , United Service Organizations; Angel Pavey , multiple agencies; Sgt . 1st Class Alfredo Garcia , 1st Air Cavalry Brigade; and Sgt . Maj . Kenneth Dyer , Fort Hood Spouses’ Club . In all , 32 volunteers were nominated for volunteer of the year , but thousands of others help contribute to the total volunteer hours at Fort Hood . Diane Williams , program manager of the Fort Hood Volunteer Corps , said that , because of the constant movement of Soldiers and family members , the number of volunteers changes daily . “Currently , we have a little over 5 , 800 active volunteers registered , ” she added . To show a representation of those hours , they presented a giant check to Lt . Gen . Pat White and Command Sgt . Maj . Cliff Burgoyne , III Corps and Fort Hood command team , totaling 43 , 188 - 1/2 volunteer hours for the year . “This check represents the dollar value of the volunteer hours contributed during the year by all of our Fort Hood volunteers , ” Williams said . “It’s for $1 , 232 , 599 . 79 . ” Kim encouraged other people to share the joy of volunteering and said there are a lot of opportunities to volunteer at CRDAMC . “It’s more fun than you think it would be and people are so appreciative , ” Kim said . “It’s good to be around people who appreciate you . ”
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