Sergeant Major Vladimir Jakovenko 

He immigrated legally,and contributed to our country! 🇺🇸

Late 70s, I was at Bragg with 7th Group and got selected for Scuba School. Had to attend several weeks of pre scuba ran by 5th Group and who do I run into the first day, SGM Jakovenko. I think he may have been an E7 or E8 at the time. Every after noon we had a long distance swim out at one of the lakes on Bragg. The first Friday SGT Jakovenko walked up to me as we were prepping our gear and said “I see you and your swim buddy are Team 1. Well today, you will be Team Last”. These were surface swims, BCM, Fins and Mask and were around 1500m. We started and just before we reached the turn around buoy, I glanced backward and there was SGT Jakovenko doing the breast stroke and basically dragging our slowest swimmer. The wave he was pushing made him look like a battle ship pushing through the ocean. Scared the hell out of my swim buddy and I. I think the return was our fastest time ever; there was no way we were going to let him catch us. Well deserved honor for him. I’m hoping my times/dates are close to accurate. Just turned 68 and this was a long time ago.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AMEN JOB WELL DONE BLESSINGS

Proud Ukrainian American warrior!

Congratulations, SGM! That was well deserved. We kids from Guam will not forget how you took good care of us with your teaching, mentoring, and all seriousness in guiding us towards our choice of profession.

Now that’s a proud American citizen..legal immigrant becomes a citizen. God bless him and his family and thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Balls of steel!

HOOAH Brother

TRUE Hero!

Serious bad ass right there

In the 70's, us young guys had no clue as to the giants that walked amongst us. Jock was one of those giants. DOL

Shout out to 5th Group. On a funny note, all the Brigades had a part of Old Abe for example "Heart of the Eagle". At a Division ceremony as the Brigades were sounding off.....BALLS OF THE EAGLE had everyone in stitches. I absolutely Love the 101st with all my heart. Praying that we have our own section up in Heaven

WOW THE RAID ON SON TAY I READ THE BOOK WHILE AT FT BRAGG N.C 1976 I HAVE ONLY READ COMPLETLY MAYBE 10 BOOKS MY ENTIRE LIFE THE OF THE BOOK RELATED TO THIS HEROIC EVENT IS CALLED THE RAID

I love and miss Jake and Sandy!

I got to meet Big Jake , He taught us knife fighting and hand to hand combat . I watch him bend a 40 penny nail double in one hand , an American Hero and a professional at Warfare .

Real Life Badass! DOL

Congratulations SGM.

Off topic, but I'm liking these new uniforms a lot. Really hope the Army doesn't change them - again.

Glory to Ukraine and God Bless America

Congrats young man on this

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🫡🫡🫡!!!!

🥷💣

No JAkovenko - need read YAkovenko

The new uniform is very ugly!!

Sadly, he fought the wrong wars

De oppresso liber. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸