A postcard in a magazine. A decision made on a whim. And a life-changing journey that would take her from an uncertain high school senior to an Army medical professional serving others halfway around the world.
For Mindy Barker, joining the U.S. Army wasn't part of a carefully laid-out plan. In fact, it surprised just about everyone – including her parents. But looking back on that decision decades later, Mindy calls it the best decision she ever made.
Mindy, a U.S. Army veteran and cashier with Heidelberg University's Parkhurst Dining team, shared her story and message of gratitude during Heidelberg's annual Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday morning at the Tangeman Veterans Memorial. Organized and hosted by Heidelberg's Student Senate, the 11 a.m. ceremony brought together students, faculty, staff, community members and local veterans to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
The ceremony featured a keynote address by Mindy, along with music, the Presentation of Colors and a traditional Volley of Three by the United Veterans Council.
An unexpected path to service
When Mindy was a high school senior, college was the expected next step. But as fall arrived, so did uncertainty about those expectations.
“I was not ready!” she recalled.
Then, while flipping through an issue of Seventeen magazine, she noticed a postcard outlining the benefits of joining the Army. On a whim, she filled it out. Before long, she was talking with a recruiter, quickly making the decision to join.
“I signed up, much to the surprise of everyone, especially my parents,” she said.
Mindy soon joined 30 other members of the Women's Army Corps (WACs), many of whom were just as uncertain about what they had gotten themselves into. That feeling only intensified when they met their petite drill sergeant, whom Mindy remembers as perhaps the “biggest, baddest and scariest woman” they had ever encountered.
Her glare was something the recruits learned to avoid.
“We always hoped it wouldn't find us,” Mindy said with a smile.
But the sergeant's tough approach had a purpose. She knew how to push the quieter, more reserved women into leadership positions while encouraging the more confident and outspoken soldiers to step back and make room for others.
“Her job was to make us better soldiers, better people, and more confident for what the Army had in store for us,” Mindy said.
Those lessons stayed with her long after basic training.
A world of difference
Mindy's Army journey eventually took her to Tripler Army Medical Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she served as a labor and delivery medic.
“I loved it,” she said.
Her work put her in the middle of some of life's most meaningful moments. She recalled one experience in which she actually delivered a baby while the doctor prepared nearby. The baby's hospital bracelet listed Mindy as the person who had delivered the child – a memory she has never forgotten.
Looking back, Mindy said her time in the Army shaped her in ways that extended well beyond her medical training.
“Joining the service was the best decision I ever made. It made me a better person … more respectful, more tolerant.”
She also carries a lasting sense of pride in having contributed to something bigger than herself.
“I have a sense of pride that I was able to give back to my country in a small way,” she said.
And she offered a heartfelt message to fellow veterans: Their service matters. The time, commitment and heart they gave to their country are not forgotten, and their sacrifices deserve continued recognition and gratitude.
A tradition of remembrance
In his welcoming remarks, Heidelberg President Rob Huntington thanked the veterans in attendance, the United Veterans Council and the many individuals who helped bring the ceremony together.
He offered special appreciation to Dr. Greg Ramsdell, Director of the School of Music, who stepped in at the last minute to perform the National Anthem, and first-year student Rylee Simmons, who performed Lift Every Voice and Sing. Rob also recognized Heidelberg Chaplain Rev. Noah McCarn and Student Senate President Shannon Petrulis, who served as emcee.
Rob reflected on the history of Veterans Day, which originated as Armistice Day following the end of World War I. The armistice between the Allied nations and Germany took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, bringing an end to the fighting. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation officially changing the name to Veterans Day and expanding the observance to honor American veterans of all wars.
“That's why we stand here today … for the selfless sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make,” Rob said, recognizing their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
He noted that approximately 41 million Americans have served in the nation's military, with about 17 million still living today. Those veterans in attendance were invited to stand and receive the community's recognition and appreciation.
Rob also expressed Heidelberg's gratitude to the United Veterans Council, whose members once again played an important role in the ceremony. About 20 members participated, presenting the colors, holding flags, raising the American flag and conducting the traditional Volley of Three.
The volley, he explained, serves as a symbol that those who have died have been properly honored and cared for.
The campus and local community were invited to check out the newly opened Veterans Lounge in Campus Center. Parkhurst, which co-sponsored the ceremony along with Student Senate, treated veterans and their families to a free lunch in Hoernemann Refectory afterwards.
A birthday worth celebrating
Wednesday's ceremony held an additional significance for the Heidelberg community: Nov. 11 is also the University's Founders Day.
On this date in 1850, four men and one woman arrived to become Heidelberg's first students. This year marks the University's 176th birthday.
“Today, we celebrate our 176th birthday. Tomorrow will be the start of our 177th year of educating students who go out and make the world a better place,” Rob said. “It's good for all Student Princes to know that.”