Oahu Soldier, truck gunner known for ‘keeping his cool’

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan— U.S. Army Spc. Samuel Denn, a short, soft-spoken gunner for 3rd Platoon Zormat, 92nd Military Police Company, is known for his ability to keep his cool and his high standard of completing every task he is assigned.

U.S. Army Cpl. Brandon Allen White, a team leader for 3rd Platoon Zormat, 92nd Military Police Company, from Conrow, Texas, is Denn’s immediate supervisor. He knows Denn for “His hard work and attitude and the Warrior Ethos that the Army talks about—he lives them every day.”

“He always goes the extra mile to ensure the mission gets done correctly and according to the standards,” White said of Denn.

Denn is a 21-year-old from Oahu Island, Hawaii. His mother, Cordelia Armstrong, and 12-year-old sister, Ashley Armstrong, both live in Kapolei, which is on the same island. Following the example of his uncle, Hawaiian National Guardsman Staff Sergeant Hondo Ho, Denn joined the Army on active duty at 19. His first duty station was with the 92nd Military Police Company at Baumholder, Germany.

Since June of last year, Denn has been working as gunner at Paktya province in southeastern Afghanistan, where he has had a number of adventures. Not long after arriving in theater, he participated in a mission that involved living out of trucks for two weeks with limited supplies.  The troops on that mission spent most of the time rotating through guard duty, while the temperature remained in the mid 90s. 

“We just helped each other stay up during shifts and just roughed it out,” Denn said of the experience.

Denn injured his hand after spending seven days outside of the wire and had to leave to get it taken care of.  U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Prather, a squad leader for 3rd Platoon Zormat, 92nd Military Police Company said Denn was reluctant to leave his battle buddies even then.

Much of Denn’s deployment has been spent at Combat Outpost Zormat or the nearby Zormat District Center, where he has provided security and helped train members of the Afghan Uniformed Police, but Denn has also seen his share of firefights, where he really shows his reputation for staying calm under pressure.

Denn was once on a convoy from Gardez when small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire erupted from the tree line and did not stop for fifteen minutes. White said he was impressed with Denn’s ability to remain calm in such intense situations.

“The gunner is the lifeline of the truck,” White said. “Without someone like Denn there with a cool head it could affect truck safety.” 

Denn’s leaders also recognize his motivation to improve himself both inside the Army and out. He has enrolled in college classes and has cross-trained on mortars and the CROWS II turret system in the Armored Security Vehicles.

“He’s a good Soldier,” Prather said. “He came here as a private first class. He didn’t know a whole lot about equipment and techniques and that stuff, and now he excels at it.” 

White added, “A lot of soldiers don’t get the credit they deserve; Denn is one of those soldiers.”

Denn said he hasn’t decided whether he is going to reenlist or not. As his deployment winds to an end, he said he looks forward to getting back to his family and friends. 

“I’ll probably miss the excitement of running missions,” he said. “I figure I’m making a difference out here.”