April's Veteran Of The Month: Justin Sabo
Justin Sabo attended high school in Rosemount, and later Apple Valley at the School of Environmental Studies. He was awarded an Eagle Scout during that time. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August of 1997 (at the age of 18), attending Basic Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He signed on to be an infantryman, and was assigned to A Company, 1/502 Infantry, 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault), being stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.
Sabo served 4 years at Ft. Campbell, in every enlisted infantryman position to include rifleman, grenadier, automatic machine gunner, radio operator, team leader, and squad leader. He was promoted up to Sergeant from Private inside of 3 years, and attended Air Assault School (Honor Graduate), Division Recondo School (Honor Graduate), Primary Leadership Development Course (Honor Graduate), and earned an Expert Infantryman Badge.
Sabo deployed to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt on a 6 month peace keeping tour as a part of the Multinational Force of Observers (MFO). In August of 2001, he left active duty on a college drop and entered the Wisconsin Army National Guard, being assigned to Company, 1/128 Infantry (32 Infantry Brigade) out of River Falls, Wisconsin, having been promoted to Staff Sergeant, and taking on the position of Infantry Squad Leader. At the same time he started college at Alexandria Technical College for Law Enforcement. He attended the Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Courses in Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin, and Camp Robinson, Arkansas.
In June of 2004 his unit was deployed with C Company 1/128 Infantry on an 18 month tour of active duty, eventually ending up in Samarra, Iraq from October 2004 to November 2005. His platoon and another from his company were detached from the Battalion, and were sent to Patrol Base Casino (later re-named Olson after one of their KIA's) in the heart of the city of 220,000 Sunnis. In the middle of the city was a huge Golden Mosque (Shiite) (later bombed and destroyed by insurgents). They were told that if a Shiite could not make the pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia), as required by the Quran, then the next option was Samarra. They were attached to a Special Forces unit and conducted independent combat operations in and around the city. Halfway through the deployment, he was re-assigned to take over as Platoon Sergeant of an Infantry Platoon assigned to a Armor Company (C Company {CHAOS}
3/69 Armor, 3rd Infantry Division) that was conducting combat operations on Hwy 1 and the Samarra Bypass bridge / neighborhood. Sabo led combat operations on 10 hour nighttime patrols, every night, without relief, for approximately 6 months.
Upon return from deployment, with just shy of 9 years of service, Sabo was honorably discharged from the military. His company (Charlie) sustained two KIA's, and multiple Purple Heart awards, and every Infantryman was exposed to action that earned him the Combat Infantryman Badge. C Company 3/69 Armor personnel also were awarded multiple Purple Hearts during the period of time we worked underneath them.
He continued to work for the Anoka County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy Sheriff, and has since completed his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Colorado State (Magna Cum Laude). June will start his 10th year in Anoka County, and he currently serves as a Patrol Deputy, also serving on the S.W.A.T. team, Honor Guard, and in the capacity of Use of Force / Firearms / Taser Instructor. His past assignments include working as the Felony Warrants Deputy.
Sabo has either been recognized as the Honor Graduate, or placed on the Commandant's List of every military school he has attended.
Sabo lives in Northern Hennepin County with his wife and 2 dogs.
