Since Adrian Hinton was a little girl, she had a dream of becoming a member of the armed services. Specifically, she wanted to be a rifleman.
During a career fair at the Canadian Valley Technology Center in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Hinton, 19, met a recruiter with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, SGT Heather Davis.
Initially, there was excitement in the air as they discussed the benefits of being in the military. But upon discussion of eligibility, there was one problem: Adrian has high-functioning autism with a terminal heart condition, which prevents her from joining the military. Once SGT Davis found out, she couldn’t just let Adrian walk away. She wanted to give her something special.
Davis worked with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, to give Adrian a day in the life of an Oklahoma Soldier.
“I wanted to make something happen for her – put some boots on her for a day, give her a memory to live with,” SGT Davis said.
SGT Davis invited Adrian to the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman on Jan. 6 to spend the day with the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Adrian watched Soldiers work and saw the equipment they use. She sat in various military vehicles, met military leaders and received a tour of a Black Hawk helicopter by the crew.
“My experience with SGT Davis was amazing and a dream come true,” Adrian said. “If I could say anything, I would say: ‘I think I found my second family.’”
Adrian had been scheduled for heart surgery the week of her visit, but doctors delayed the procedure, saying it was not needed at that time.
As the visit revealed, Adrian holds an incomparable amount of patriotism and love for her country. She may not be able to join the Army, but her love for her country made her an honorary Soldier for the day.
“To me, this country is not just about land, but the people who are in it,” Adrian said. “I would fight for all of you. If I happened to die because of my heart while in the field, that would be OK because I tried and that’s all that matters. I would have died for something I believe in, and I believe in my country.”
BY SGT Bradley Cooney, Oklahoma National Guard
