MTMC reservist named an AUSA Officer of the Year.

When terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, little did Joseph Micelotta, a captain in the Army Reserve, know how it would affect him.

Within three days, Micelotta, a staff analyst in the accounting division of the New York City Transit Authority, would be serving as a volunteer rescue worker at Ground Zero.

And within a month, Micelotta, a transportation movement officer with the 1179th Deployment Support Brigade, Fort Hamilton,, N.Y., would be working at Fort Hood, Texas, in support of a 1st Cavalry Division Task Force move to Kuwait.

"I wanted to ensure that the warfighters were ready to go," said Micelotta. "I inspected their cargo and made sure it was in good standing for the soldiers."

Later, mobilized to support the Military Traffic Management Command, Micelotta served four months of duty at the Prince Sultan Air Force Base, in Saudi Arabia.

His service in South West Asia drew two commendations: A letter from the task force commander and a second letter from an American Red Cross station manager for his volunteer work at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

Now, Micelotta has received an additional commendation. He has been named the Officer of the Year by the Virginia Peninsula-General Douglas MacArthur Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.

"I was in shock" said Micelotta, who works at the MTMC Operations Center, Fort Eustis, Va. "I've been nominated for awards before, but I've never won."

The award is presented annually to civilian and military employees who perform extraordinary events for their military organizations and civilian communities.

Looking back at the year's last 10 months, Micelotta said his volunteer work at the World Trade Center towers is most vivid in his memory. For several days after the attack, he moved debris and dug by hand to search for victims.

"I witnessed a lot in the military, but this was not like anything I could have imagined before," said the New York native. "It looked like a war zone."

Micelotta's volunteer efforts are a source of pride for Col. Daniel Ganci, his unit commander. Ganci lost his brother, New York City Fire Chief Peter Ganci, in the tragedy.

"It did not surprise me that he would be down there volunteering," said Ganci. "He's a good man and it's something I expected him to do."

Micelotta is a good choice for the award because of his desire to help others, said Lt. Col. William Paape, Detachment Commander, MTMC Operations Center.

"Micelotta truly represents the best of what America has to offer," said Paape. "He does a great job of representing MTMC and the U.S. Army."

By Dorea Fowlkes
Operations Center
MTMC Headquarters