Archives: Biographies

  Deborah Ann Ramsaur served as the secretary to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude. Deborah loved her job and loved being a member of the Department of Defense. On weekends, she would wear a “hooah!” T-shirt, proudly and affectionately displaying a word associated with soldiers.  Deborah’s husband, John, … Continued

  For as long as his parents can remember, Joseph John Pycior, Jr., wanted to be in the Navy. “In Carlstadt, they had an organization years ago called the Naval Brigade, for kids eight and nine years old and up,” says Arlene Pycior, his mom, who proudly remembers her son’s involvement in that brigade. “They … Continued

  Captain Punches was a native of Tower Hill, Illinois and held a B.S. from Missouri University in Civil Engineering, an M.S. in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and an M.S. from Salve Regina in International Relations. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1975, Captain Punches received orders to Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16) at NAS … Continued

  Friends keep calling to comfort Art Powell – and themselves. His identical twin, Scott, worked at the Pentagon, and they call wanting to hear Scott’s voice in Art’s.  “Some people just want to talk and hear that familiar tone and cadence,” said Art, 35.  Growing up, their parents didn’t dress them alike or give … Continued

  Lieutenant Darin Howard Pontell, a 26-year-old native of Columbia, Maryland, was finishing his 12-hour shift when terrorists attacked the Pentagon.  “Darin was ‘one of those people who you hope to run across in life,’ ” said his wife, Devora. “He was thoughtful and generous and wanted to make everyone around him happy. He would … Continued

  Major Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1986. In 1991 he graduated from Howard University as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps.  His military schools include Infantry Officer’s Basic and … Continued

  Jonas Martin Panik was a consummate Naval Officer, an outstanding intelligence professional, a true shipmate, a great friend, and a devoted and loving uncle, brother, son and husband. Jonas passed into the presence of God on September 11, 2001 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, as the result of a terrorist attack. He was … Continued

  Diana B. Padro, a staff accountant for the Office of the Secretary of the Army, Resource Services, Washington, Installation Accounting Division and, for a brief period, with the Headquarters of the National Guard, had lived in Woodbridge for nine years – the longest stretch of time our military family lived in one place. Our … Continued

  From very early childhood, there was no question about Noeth’s talent. He was “a painter.” Drawing and painting before he could talk, his first formal art training only began when, as a junior in high school, he enrolled in special classes at the world renowned Art Students League in New York City. Always intrigued … Continued

  Khang N. Nguyen grew up familiar with war. In South Vietnam, he and his family heard the frequent boom of shells and gunfire. Once a mortar shell fell on a house across the street from his home, killing their friends inside. In 1975, when communists took over the country, he and his family fled … Continued