Love and war: It’s not your father’s Army, according to soldiers’ talk at Morristown library

By Robyn Quinn

Soldiers have lots of names for sergeants. Cupid is not likely to be among them.

But a sergeant working with Capt. Michael Miranda in the Military Police during a tour in Afghanistan earned the nickname.  The sergeant introduced the Morristown High School graduate to another Morris County resident, Capt. Danielle Burro, who happened to be stationed with an M.P. unit in Iraq.

The introduction came when the sergeant transferred to Danielle’s platoon. (They were the only two Yankees that the sergeant, a South Carolinian, “could stand”!)

Thanks to Skype, emails and phone calls, romance blossomed between Michael and Danielle–6,000 miles from their Jersey homes where they had lived just 15 minutes apart without ever crossing paths. They are engaged.

Michael, who has mustered out of the Army, and Captain Burro shared their perspectives on Army life at the Morristown & Township Library on Oct. 20 in a presentation titled Modern Soldiers: Reflections on Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti.

Danielle has a degree in criminal justice from St. John’s University. Awards for her service in Iraq and Haiti include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Parachutist Badge.

Michael has a B.A. in history from Rutgers University. He left the military in 2009 and now attends the Wake Forest University School of Law. During his military service he received two Bronze Stars, four Army Achievement medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.

Here are some of the topics they covered at the library.

So what is it like to be in the military in today’s world?

As Michael explained it, “The military has become a professional training organization. They gear you toward becoming a leader and manager.”

It can take up to a year of training before deployment. It includes weapons training, field training and anti-terrorism tactics. “The training sets you up for success,” Captain Burro said.

How does the modern Army differ from the Army in the past?

In the Vietnam era, personnel came and left a unit at different times. It was not consistent. Today, units are deployed together to do a particular mission. Training is specialized for that mission. This type of deployment is better for morale and gives the unit cohesion, according to Michael and Danielle.

Modern Warfare is “asymmetric”; the tactics used are not the same as those of the enemy. Today, the enemy doesn’t wear a uniform. Michael noted that “looking into a market place, you don’t know who the enemy is and who is just an innocent civilian.”

The role and responsibility of today’s platoon leader is much different from that of platoon leaders in the past. Modern platoon leaders make decisions regarding the platoon’s actions. They have a better grasp of the situation than generals who are miles from the action.

At 21, Danielle Burro was in charge of soldiers twice her age. At 24, Michael was responsible for  20 soldiers and $9 million worth of equipment

“It was huge responsibility to put upon a young person’s shoulders,” he said.

When soldiers returned from Vietnam, there was no celebration or ceremony to acknowledge what they had done.

I know this first-hand. As a teenager I remember seeing a taxi pull up to our house with my brother sitting in the back seat. We had no idea he was coming home. No one was at there to greet him when he came back. He finished his assignment and was sent home. That was it.

When a unit returns today there is a ceremony. The plane pulls up to a hangar. Inside, family and members of the military welcome soldiers back and acknowledge what they have achieved.

“Build Roads, Build Trust”

Another difference in today’s conflicts is that troops need to “win over the civilians.”  The military strives to create an environment where control can be transitioned to Iraq and Afghanistan police and civilians after the U.S. pulls out.

This was evident when President Obama announced on Friday that U.S. troops would be leaving Iraq. It’s a tough line that must be walked. On one hand, the soldier builds relationships with the people. On the other hand, he or she must be wary of every situation. Even a stray dog could be a potential bomb.

Humanitarian Assistance

After Danielle returned from Iraq, she was home for 10 months. Then her platoon was deployed to Haiti one day after the earthquake struck the island. Her unit was expected to stay for three weeks. Three weeks became five months. The platoon arrived with no equipment. For the first few days, soldiers slept on the ground with nothing. Finally, their duffle bags arrived, which they used as pillows. After days without a shower, they made one from a locker by taking off the door and cutting a hole in the top for a jug of water.

The unit was tasked with disbursing tents and 50-pound bags of rice. Women were given tickets and instructions to come to a designated spot to pick up rice for their families. The distribution went smoothly. But women who did not have men to help carry the rice were mugged along the road on their way home. The platoon worked with the people to get them food and to set up tents for them.

How can we show our support for the men and women in the military service?

Danielle and Michael suggested several ways. It could be as simple as listening to a soldier’s or veteran’s stories. “Adopt a platoon” is non-profit that helps ship notes, cards, letters and care packages to boost morale of the troops. State Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.) showed his support by coming to the presentation to personally thank Danielle and Michael.