Pfc Anthony D`Agostino

               01:36 HRS. 6 Nov 1982.Dwight David Eisenhower hospital, Fort Gordon, Georgia. Pfc  

       Steven   D`Agostino welcomes into the world his son, Anthony Domenic D`Agostino.

               The movie “ET” had just came out, and Tony just born,  he looked just like ET. Tony is named for his fathers Grandfather, Antonio Monti who was an immigrant from Italy and worked high steal construction and as a crane operator in and around Waterbury Ct. 

When Tony was still in diapers, I was putting a engine in a GMC pickup truck. I had the engine block hanging from a tree and I had to put the truck under the engine. So I propped Tony up in the driver’s seat and put his two little hands on the steering wheel and told him to hold it straight while I pushed the truck. We both lined that truck up perfect.

One day I pulled into the driveway at the house with the motorcycle, and here comes Tony running towards me and he just grabbed the exhaust pipe. He couldn’t have been more than 3 years old. We were lucky I got his hand off there quick enough, plus the heat shield help too.

Monster trucks were just coming on the scene, so I took Tony to see the monster trucks. After we had seen “Big Foot”: now remember this was the first time they had been out there, this was all brand new, a friend of mine that owned a Ford Dealership in Waterbury called to invite us up to see the new “Big Foot” monster Truck. We had a great day.

Tony got his first mini bike around the age of 8. and he was sitting on it before I could take it off the pickup truck.  Then a few months later we also had a go cart. From this point on if it had a motor Tony wanted to drive it, tear it down, rebuild it and drive it some more.  Any time I did anything to any of the vehicles he was lying there by my side asking questions and anxious to help.

 Whether it was jet skies at the ocean, snow mobiles in Vermont, dirt bike

riding or mudding with the four by fours, Tony was there to drive or to help fix it.

In 2001, as a result of the actions of 9/11, the attack on this country by terrorist, Tony wanted to join the Army and follow in his father’s foot steps. I tried my best to talk him out of it but he was determined to join the Army.

 Tony did his basic training at Fort Benning Georgia, and A.I.T. at Fort Gordon Georgia as a Tropo operator 213 signal BN. Tony came full circle and he was now serving in the US Army at the same base he was born at. 

Tony’s first duty station was at Fort Hood, Texas. He was deployed to Iraq, March of 2003.

Tony had graduated from Kaynor Tech High School in Waterbury, Ct. as an apprentice electrician. Because he had the electrical skill prior to his enlistment he was assigned to Fallajah international airport to help in getting the lights and air conditioning working. On one occasion on route from camp to the airport Tony came along a dead lined vehicle. Tony was able to fix the vehicle and get it on its way.

He later received a commendation for his efforts as this vehicle was a vital link in establishing communications back to the states.

2 Nov 2003. As of a result of outstanding performance on duty, Tony boarded a Chinook helicopter for Kuwait for some R&R. His 21^st birthday would have been 6 Nov 2003.  Due to enemy

fire, an RPG fired and hit the Chinook causing it to crash. Tony didn’t survive the crash. I did have the honor to meet one of the soldiers that was on the Chinook with Tony at Fort Hood, Texas at Tony’s

memorial service. Anyone who served with Tony,had nothing but great things to say about their friend, “DAGA”.

They say that when you bury a child, you bury the future. Tony’s future was a bright one. He dreamed of going to West Point one day.

Freedom is not free. All gave some and some gave all. This is why I started the “Support Our Troops Ride”. We should honor our Veterans and all men and women in uniform while they are still with us, not just when they are gone.

2 Aug 2009 will be our 5^th annual “Support Our Troop Ride”. The ride’s schedule is an easy one to remember, because it is the first Sunday of August each year. 

 Steven D`Agostino

Founder; Support our Troops Ride