Veteran Salute: supplying worldwide and at home
TOPEKA (KSNT) - Born in Great Bend Kansas, Sgt. Gary Hurley would go on to supply fellow service members all across the globe for his decade-plus of service.
“Being a Supply Tech, it was actually a calling for me," Hurley said. "It has been it for me since the day I chose that.”
Nearly two decades after his time in the service ended, Hurley's commitment to the Supply Tech role is still in full force, albeit in a different manner nowadays.
Working as a Supply Tech at the Colmery O'Neil Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Topeka, he learned a lot of the skills he relies on nowadays through his service in the same position he held with the Army.
“It was critical, even down to the smallest tool that they needed to take care of that tank," Hurley said. "If something’s wrong, if it's something simple and easy they’d have the tools to actually fix it. If I was there with them, I’d be right down there getting dirty with them.”
Across Korea, North Carolina, Iraq and beyond - Hurley toured all over the world with different units and battalions all within that supply role.
“The first Cav division, we went over to Iraq," Hurley said. "We were tasked to be at the Baghdad International Airport. We were right close to one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces.”
Even in his final placement overseas just months before exiting the service, Hurley took every opportunity to improve and grow.
“Not only was I learning how they did their supply work over there," he said, "I was also trying to teach them a little bit about how Americans did it. It really brought an overwhelming sense of pride not only for me, but for the Iraqis.”
His service to fellow veterans continues outside of his job as well. Hurley is proud to be an American Legionnaire, a part of the same post that O'Neil and Colmery were a part of. Both members were memorialized in the Topeka VA's full name, and Colmery was instrumental in veteran education post-service, drafting up the GI bill.
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