Dana native SMSgt. Curtis just returned from an Afghanistan deployment where she served in the senior enlisted contracting position. She was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her contributions to the fight.
In addition, she was one of twelve Airmen selected from the 50,000+ Kaiserslautern Military Community to meet and shake hands with President Obama during his recent visit to Germany. She was truly honored by both forms of recognition and is extremely proud to be an Air Force Contracting professional. “ Meeting our Commander-In-Chief was such an honor,” said SMSgt. Curtis. “It was very special for me because he is from
my home state of Illinois. He was of course very personable and had a definite charismatic aura. Although you could tell he was tired due to his strenuous Middle East and European schedule, he did not want to skip meeting the wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center, nor did he cut our time short before boarding Air Force One to his next stop in France. He really portrayed a genuine appreciation for the military and what we do.”
Donita was raised on a farm 1 ½
outside of Dana and is daughter of Tjark E. Rients, now currently residing
in Flanagan, and the late Mary A. Rients. She is a 1981 graduated from MDR HS,
and joined the Air Force in August 1983.