European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday March 26 2007 stars and stripes o Page 3 name Tracy Mcvay age 31 title Mother of three location Andersen air Force base Guam Tracy you were recently awarded a medal by vice president Dick Cheney right yes Chris Greiman and i rescued two swimmers that were caught in a Strong tide at Karague Beach Here on Guam most of us probably will never save another persons life How does it feel at first All i thought was that i had just helped someone out then when we had the rehearsal for the vice presidents arrival they read the citation Over the loud speakers and i thought to myself wow that was amazing that someone would do that then it hit me it was me they were talking about i realized then that i had actually saved someone it is an amazing feeling that something i did really made a difference to someone did you rely on any first Aid or red Cross training when i was a lifeguard i was taught that you need to remain Calm and focus on what to do next that is what helped me out there i just kept my mind on what i needed to do to get the Guy and me Back to the Beach safely what were the Waters like when you went in saying that the Waters were rough Doest begin to explain How bad it re ally was the Waves were Quick and hard and then there was a current Tak ing you from the Beach to the Edge of the reef where the Waves were slam Ming you into the Sharp reef you had Only a split second to catch an ounce of air before you were sucked into another wave and slammed into the reef again did you have second thoughts about going into those perilous Waters the response was automatic there was no time for second thoughts it All happened so quickly when we were heading out to the swimmers Chris and i focused on where the swimmers were and How Many there were once i got pulled into the same wave As the swimmers it was just a matter of keeping focused on what needed to be done to get Back to Shore what does the award mean to you the medal itself is definitely one of my prize possessions i am honoured and appreciative of everything it stands for As for How it was presented to me the efforts that went into such a wonderful event warms my heart i dont know How Many people went above and beyond on my behalf but i am grateful to All of them for a once in a lifetime experience seems like you dont let your Small build slow you Down my father taught me growing up that size is not a determining Factor when faced with a Challenge its determination and knowhow you could say that i dont let my size slow me Down or you could even say that i use my size to my advantage have you received a lot of notice around Andersen air Force base since the Rescue yes especially right after it happened not too Many of my friends were at the Beach that Day so the phone did not Stop ringing for a few Days then it was Nice that things went Back to Normal until the whole vice president visit in one sentence what is your philosophy on life always remember where you have been and where you Are going stay True to yourself and those around you and cherish every moment whether it be Good or bad what do you do in your spare time i have three Beautiful children Clayton Liam and Makayla and a Hus band Michael Remote to Korea spare time is a thing of the past know someone whose accomplishments talents Job Hobby Volunteer work awards or Good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of Fame How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the Ordinary even dare we say oddball Call Paul Newell at stars and stripes with the persons name and Contact information at Dan 2293158 or email him at donation revolutionary for amerasian school by Chiyomi Sumida stars and stripes Gino wan Okinawa a Cou ple of close friends of the Okinawa amerasian school pitched in wednesday to boost the school into the 21st Century american legion Post 28 and sunny net an internet service provider donated a new computer system to the school which of fers bilingual and Bicu Tural Edu cation to biracial children Many of the students Are Japa nes americans who cant attend department of defense dependents schools and feel out of place in the japanese school sys tem the current enrolment at the school is 70 students Ages 5 to 15 the new computer system is revolutionary for our school said principal Michael fad teachers no longer need to run Back and Forth Between a classroom and the office with a floppy disc fad said now each and every classroom has in ternet Access and newly installed overhead projectors enabling teachers to instantly share Down loaded information with their Stu dents because Many of the students Are raised by single mothers the school run by a nonprofit organization charges minimal tuition fad said therefore he said we rely on kindness and donations to sur Vive Okinawa us military Community has been a Strong supporter of the school since it opened in 1998 school officials said the school started in an old two Story House in a crowded residential area in Gino wan the poor conditions prompted the american legion become the schools guardian said Ernie Ernst vice commander of Post 28 it made us sad he said As he delivered the equipment wednes Day the legion continued to sup port the school after it moved to a new facility owned by the City of photos by Chiyomi and stripes Sakura Sunagawa left and Naoyuki Komatsu both third graders at Okinawa amerasian school show off new computer equipment donated to the school on wednesday by american legion Post 28 and sunny net an internet service provider Gino wan and built with funds from the National government Ernst a retired Marine corps master gunnery sergeant said he is Happy to see the school now is Well equipped with modern technology its a wonderful change and i am glad to know they have this kind of environment he said we will continue to support the school As Long As we Are capable Stanley Taylor president of sunny net and also a retired Mas Ter gunnery sergeant sends his two children to the school i like the idea of giving Chil Dren English and japanese Educa Tion he said however he was not satisfied with the schools old computer system and pledged to remedy the situation while they have Good Quality teachers the computer system was inadequate he said it is very important for kids to be exposed with information technology at an Early age email Chiyomi Sumida at Stanley Taylor left the president of sunny net internet service provider and Ernie Ernst vice commander of the american legion Post 28 on Okinawa visit the Okinawa amerasian school in Gino wan Okinawa on wednesday with a donation they made to equip the school with modern computer technology