David Ramirez, a solutions technical support manager for Toshiba America Business Solutions, is the second nominee for The Cannata Report’s 2026 Outstanding Veteran Award. This “Veterans Way” submission is a little different and an excellent way to tell the story of his service. We are delighted to begin with a brief autobiography:
Military Service Biography (1990–98)
I am David Anthony Ramirez, and I served in the U.S. Army and the California Army National Guard during a decade defined by major post-Cold War transitions and Gulf War recovery efforts. I entered active duty on October 2, 1990, while the United States began its ramp up to the liberation of Kuwait.
Active-Duty Service (1990–93): After completing my army basic training and a 10-week equipment records and parts specialist course, I was stationed in Ansbach, Germany, with the 91st Maintenance Company, a detachment of the 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery (Patriot missiles). During this period, I served as an equipment records and parts specialist (76C) in the company’s motor pool.
In addition to my technical role, I demonstrated my tactical skill, serving on an M-60 machine gun team and earning an expert qualification with the weapon. My service in Germany was punctuated by a significant deployment to Camp Darby/Livorno, Italy, during the winter of 1992. As part of a specialized task force supporting Operation Desert Farewell, I participated in the “piece-by-piece” reassembly and refurbishment of desert-worn combat equipment returning from the Persian Gulf.
Before concluding active-duty service, I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with HHC 13th Signal Battalion, part of the First Cavalry Division. I was honorably released from active duty in August 1993 to pursue further education at San Diego State University.
National Guard Service (1994–98): In February 1994, I continued my service by enlisting in the California Army National Guard. I was assigned to Company C (a.k.a. Charlie Med), 240th Support Battalion in Long Beach. I transitioned into the role of an automated logistical specialist (92A). I served with the unit until my honorable discharge in May 1998.
Ramirez served as an equipment records and parts specialist in his company’s motor pool.
Decorations and Qualifications
- Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- Expert Qualification: M-60 Machine Gun
- Marksmanship Badges: Rifle and Grenade
After reading Dave’s autobiography, I asked him three questions:
In terms of your military service, what do you believe it did for you as a person, and do you believe it added anything to strengthen your character?
DR: Today, as I look back, if there is something that needs to be done, I feel that I can do it. I make certain that I got it done. That is the biggest thing. We are talking about saving people from bad experiences, and my training contributed to what I am today.
Through the years of writing articles about veterans and their experiences, I have realized there is a widespread problem with the difficulty they face in finding a job after discharge. What was your experience?
DR: I left active duty as an early-out (I was supposed to be out in October 1993 and got out in August to attend school). After school, I tried to find a job and could not find anything—none of the military experience was helpful as a civilian. It was the ‘90s, and tech companies were stressing education, so I just kept my nose to the grindstone until I found something.
Ramirez has fond memories of his “little base” in Germany.
Was there any one point in your entire military service that caused you to step back and say to yourself, ‘I am so glad to have done this?’ Whether yes or no, tell us what the military did for you.
DR: During my time in the military, I was more like a tourist—I started training, graduated from training, and the Iraq war had just started. The rest of the time in the service was in Europe: Germany and Italy. We learned to express respect for the Germans we had to interface with, and it was a wonderful experience. Being assigned to a small base (approximately 200) made for an incredibly positive experience. From my little base, I was able to travel to Florence, and there was no way that I could have done that as a civilian.
