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Minnesota Lynx Homegrown Heroes

  • Homegrown Hero: Specialist Raya McMurtrey-Horst (September 1st, 2019)

    Specialist Raya McMurtrey-Horst enlisted in the United States Army in 2013. She was assigned to the 114th Transportation Company and was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. There she was the lead driver for their convoy and received several awards including the Army Commendation Medal.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Sergeant Tami Riha (August 27th, 2019)

    Sergeant Tami Riha served with the Minnesota National Guard for 13 years as a wire system installer. She has been deployed two times with the 34th Infantry Redbulls to Iraq. Tami also served as a part of the Charlie Company and the 134th Signal Battalion out of Moorhead. She is now the Commander of the new South-Metro D.A.V. chapter in Apple Valley.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Petty Officer 2nd Class Patricia McNeese (August 25th, 2019)

    Petty Officer 2nd Class Patricia McNeese retried from the U.S. Navy after 30 years of dedicated service to our country. In 1998, she began her career at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training System Division, where she provided training solutions for a wide spectrum of military programs. During her service, she volunteered with activities such as the Combined Federal Campaign, Women’s Advisory Group and wrote a special report for the retention of women in engineering careers.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Sergeant First Class Carla Tappainer (August 22nd, 2019)

    Sergeant First Class Carla Tappainer served for 20 years as a trumpet player in the United States Army. Originally stationed in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division Band, Carla then served in the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, which is a part of the Presidential Honor Guard. During her 20 years of service, Carla had the honor of playing Taps at over 5,000 funerals for veterans and military personnel.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Captain Erin Borgschatz (August 16th, 2019)

    Retired Captain Erin Borgschatz was a member of the Army Reserve and the North Dakota Army National Guard. In 2007, she was deployed with the 303rd Military Police Company to Iraq where she oversaw three police transition teams and two Iraqi police training camps. She is currently an environmental geologist and proud mom to her son, Conor!

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  • Homegrown Hero: Sergeant Dajon Ferrell (August 9th, 2019)

    Sergeant Dajon Ferrell enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 2002 and served for 13 years. During her enlistment she served as a supply specialist, public affairs non-commissioned officer and was deployed to Croatia as military police in the support of the global war on terrorism. She is a Veterans Voices Award recipient for her continued service to the veteran community through her non-profit, Women Veteran Strong.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Sergeant Amanda Hooper (July 24th, 2019)

    Sergeant Amanda Hooper enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1999, where she spent eight years including one tour of duty to Iraq in 2003 – 2005. Amanda served in transportation with a railroad unit, and during her deployment she was a Fuel Hauler and Combat Medic. She now works as the Veteran and Military Inclusion Coordinator for the YMCA of the Twin Cities.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Airman First Class Eva Smith (July 17th, 2019)

    Airman First Class Eva Smith enlisted in the Air Force at 16 years old through the delayed enlistment program. In 1982, she entered basic training and was later based in Japan where she spent eight years overseas.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Petty Officer Third Class Amanda Williams (July 14th, 2019)

    Petty Officer Third Class Amanda Williams enlisted in the United States Navy in 2002 as a Hospital Corpsman and was a Plank Owner on the USS Ronald Reagan. Amanda later joined the Army National Guard where she was deployed with the 34th Infantry Division and received the Army Commendation Medal, among many other awards.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Lieutenant Anna Long (July 2nd, 2019)

    Minnesota Air National Guard Lieutenant Anna Long currently serves as the Commander of Public Affairs for the 133rd Airlift Wing. Throughout her military career she has participated in several military operations around the globe including stops in Croatia, Bosnia, Norway, Central America and Germany. She was also able to represent the United States at the European Military Press Association Conference while in Croatia.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Staff Sergeant Victoria Chamberlain (June 22nd, 2019)

    Staff Sergeant Victoria Chamberlain enlisted in the Air Force in 2013 as part of the Contingency Response Wing. In 2017, she helped mobilize hurricane relief personnel in Florida and Puerto Rico, followed by going on tour to Turkey for 15 months. She now works for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans as an employment Specialist helping to end veteran homelessness in Minnesota.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Special Candance Ballstadt (June 16th, 2019)

    Special Candance Ballstadt joined the Minnesota National Guard at the age of 17 as a Field Artillery Land Surveyor. In 2000. She was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas where she was a lifeguard, tax preparer, financial pay specialist, and administrative assistant. She continues to support her fellow veterans by being an active member of the DAV and the Department of Minnesota Women Veteran Committee.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Private First Class Ashley Riester Langaniere (June 14th, 2019)

    Private First Class Ashley Riester Langaniere is a third generation Army veteran who joined at the age of 17 to be an interrogator. She served from 2002 to 2006 and continues to fulfill her duty to serve by working for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as the Women Veteran and Gold Star Family Coordinator as well as the County Veteran Service Officer for Olmsted County.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Sergeant Sue Register (June 8th, 2019)

    Sergeant Sue Register joined the U.S. Air Force directly after high school. During her service, she received multiple honors including: Maintenance Person of the Month, Squadron and Base Airman of the Quarter, and Airman of the Year honors for the 8th Air Force and Strategic Air Command. Sue continues to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator at the Hasting Veterans Home and loves being a part of the Preston Cemetery Honor Guard.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Petty Officer Second Class Kate Carpenter (June 6th, 2019)

    Petty Officer Second Class Kati Carpenter joined the Navy at age 17. She is a 4th generation service member and has been deployed multiple times including in 2006 onboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier. After seven years of honorable service, she continues to give back to veterans as a Transportation Coordinator for the DAV of Minnesota.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Corporal Angela Distad (May 29th, 2019)

    Corporal Angela Distad enlisted in the United States Marine in 2007 as a loadmaster on the C130. She graduated at the top of her class in training and was stationed at Miramar Marine Corp Base in San Diego, California. While at Miramar, she assisted in aerial refueling and transporting cargo before medically retiring in 2012.

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  • Homegrown Hero: Special Kendra Vande Kamp (May 25th, 2019)

    Special Kendra Vande Kamp served in the Minnesota Army National Guard from 2011 to 2015. In 2013, Kendra was deployed with the 114th Transportation Unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Bahgram, Afghanistan. Recently, she has started a feature called “Female Veteran of the Week” to highlight and bring awareness to female veterans.

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