Salute to Service

 


Without the many brave men and women who have served our country, many of the freedoms we cherish today would not be possible. With Veterans Day on November 11, core will be featuring some of the former service members we have working at Road Machinery & Supplies Co. throughout the month. Thank you for serving our country and being a part of our team.

 

 

Steve Meyer Field Technician - Sioux City branch

 


What branch did you serve? 

US Army

 

How long did you serve? 

20 years

 

What was your role/rank/job? 

Motor Sergeant, 12 mechanics with different MOS under my direction. Rank was Sergeant First Class.

 

What are some memories from your time in the service? 

Met my wife in Germany in 1981, we got married in 1984 and started our family. I also worked with Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns 'n' Roses while stationed in Amberg, Germany the first time, and Nuremberg, Germany, the second time. When I was stationed in Germany (both times) I brought my Chevy Nova. Running the Autobahn with all the European cars was something! I also spent one year serving in Desert Storm in Iraq and Iran.

 

How did your experience help prepare you for your role at RMS? 

I was a mechanic by trade, and helped my father when I was younger. Then while in the military I was a mechanic, and serving gave me the opportunity to attend schooling to become a mechanic.

 

 

Mike Langer Shop Technician - Virginia branch

 


What branch did you serve? 
Marine Corps and Army


How long did you serve? 

Marine Corps – 4 Years

Army – 3 Years

Reserve – 1 Year

 

What was your role/rank/job?

Marine Corps – Corporal Combat Engineer

Army – Specialist Airborne Infantry

Reserve – Engineer

 

What is something you remember from your time in the service?

We did a parachute jump in the Everglades at night in heavy fog. Everyone had the wind knocked out of them because we couldn’t see the ground. It was an incredible experience. 

 

How did your experience help prepare you for your role at RMS? 

No job at RMS scares me.

 

 

 

Tom Burrows PSSR Manager - Savage Branch

 


What branch did you serve?

Navy

 

How long did you serve?

Five years with three years out to sea on deployment

 

What was your role/rank/job?

Petty Officer 2nd Class (E5) – Quartermaster – Navigation, Search & Rescue Swimmer

 

What is something you remember from your time in the service?

The clear night sky from 1,400 nautical miles from land is pretty hard to compete with, but all the visits to foreign countries add up to more than a lifetime favorite memories. Norway & Turkey were my favorite countries to visit.

 

How did your experience help prepare you for your role at RMS?

Embracing personal accountability and discipline are core tenets that help me greatly in this role. Experience in war-torn places like Somalia & Iraq and witnessing the reality of true poverty and evil offer a permanent gratitude for the opportunities and freedom we have just by being US citizens. This mindset lends well to facing adversity with positivity and optimism throughout the day. “The only easy day was yesterday” is a well-known Navy motivational saying I often refer to when facing a new day and new challenges. If we’re pushing ourselves to achieve new goals, the challenges we face will continue to grow and push back.

 

 

Robert Blake Office Manager/Accounts Payable/Receivable  - U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co.

 

What branch did you serve? 

Air Force

 

How long did you serve? 

21 years

 

What was your role/rank/job? 

I controlled all equipment on the base for maintenance and replacement/ TSgt / Vehicle Maintenance Control & Analysis Supervisor

 

What are some memories from your time in the service? 

I want to say all of it, I loved the camaraderie. Also, both of my children were born when I was serving.

 

How did your experience help prepare you for your role at RMS? 

I worked in the office creating documents and ordering supplies and parts for all of Vehicle Maintenance. I also provided information to help in purchasing of new equipment and vehicles, so a lot of analysis.

 

 

Justin Goodrich Cedar Rapids, Field Technician

 


What branch did you serve?  

United States Marine Corps

 

How long did you serve?  

6 years, Reservist

 

What was your role/rank/job? 

Rank: E4 - Corporal

 

Job: MOS - 3521, 3522 - Intermediate Automotive Mechanic

 

Role:

-3rd/4rth Echelon Maintenance on Motor Transport Trucks

-Train and Mentor Junior 3521/3522 Motor T. Mechanics

 

What are some of your favorite memories from your time in the service? 

- Probably hard to understand from the outside looking in, but what seemed like the worst times in the Corps made for some of best memories later on, along with lifelong friends.

 

- Training in Norway and seeing the Marine Corps preposition program and how much gear we have waiting in that part of the world.

 

- Tavern hopping and camaraderie events.

 

How did your experience help prepare you for your role at RMS? 

My time in my MOS schools wrenching at my unit and abroad was very helpful. I learned and gained a lot of knowledge that my DMACC Diesel Program couldn't teach. But it also helped prep me and make me a better sponge during my college time at DMACC and at RMS. 

 

It also helped in learning how to keep my bearings and deal with stressful situations. This to me is huge in the field when I am in front of customers when things sometimes don't go right.

 

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