Six MHS seniors have military duty in their future

MEEKER I Six students in Meeker High School’s 2014 senior class have already made up their minds that their future will involve the military and serving America through various branches of the Armed Forces.
The six future graduates headed toward military service of some kind after their graduation from MHS include Emilee Kohls, Kenny Kohls, Jordan Smith, JC Henderson, Torrie Gerloff and Kelly Denny.
Two-thirds of a set of triplets, Kenny Kohls and Emilee Kohls have already enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. The siblings will be departing after graduation, and they will report on July 7 to the Marine recruiting substation in Denver.
“(I want to) do my part, Kenny Kohls said, explaining why he joined the military. “It sounds cheesy but I always wanted to do something that would change the world.”
Emilee said that she joined the Marine Corps for the challenge.
Kenny will be in the infantry with the Marines whereas Emilee will be in motor transportation.
“It’s a whole new lifestyle,” Kenny explained when describing the training he has already started with the Marines.
He also said he is learning a lot more respect of others with the required “yes sirs” and “no ma’ams.”
The siblings actually began their training in June and do it as often as once a month.
JC Henderson said he has dreamed of flying above the stars since he was a child.
Henderson said applied for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He has yet to be accepted into the academy, where he would like to become a pilot, but he said he will be joining the military whether or not he gets in.
Torrie Gerloff also plans to enter an academy, with West Point being her first choice and the Naval Academy being her second.
Gerloff said she has been accepted to begin interviews with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett. If Gerloff does not get accepted into one of the two academies, she said she then plans to enter an ROTC program.
Jordan Smith aims to honor a family member with her enlistment into the United States Army.
Smith’s grandfather served in World War II and is the only other member of that family to join the military. Smith has had to wait five years to enter the Army, but she said she is just about to live that dream.
Kelly Denny has already joined the United States Army. Denny will be leaving Meeker on June 30 for Fort Sill, Okla.
Denny will be entering the Army with the intent of training to operate and maintain Patriot missiles.
“(I truly want) to protect our country with every last breath I have,” Denny said of why he joined the military.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, these six MHS seniors will be honored along with the attending veterans at the annual Meeker High School Veteran’s Day Assembly.
The assembly will be at Barone Middle School from 1:45 p.m. to the end of the school day. The assembly is open to the public.