United States Transportation Command

FORT EUSTIS, Va. (USTCNS)--- When terrorists attacked America on Sept. 11, little did Joseph Micelotta, a Capt. in the Army Reserve, know how it would impact 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.

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

“I wanted to ensure that the warfighter was 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 the air base.

Now, Micelotta has received an additional commendation. He was 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 have been nominated for awards before, but I have 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 imagine,” 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 is a good man and it is 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.

MTMC Reservist named Soldier of the Year by Virginia AUSA chapter

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