Captain Dan Murphy

Captain Murphy’s military service began in 1988 when he enlisted in the 1-188th Air Defense Artillery.  He received a direct commission in 2005 as a Second Lieutenant. 

Murphy served as the Detachment Commander for the 1/129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment during its deployment to U.S. Central Command from April 2006 to June 2007. 

Currently, Murphy serves as the Commander of the 116th Public Affairs Detachment and is the North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Officer. 

He is responsible for planning and executing public affairs strategies informing and educating the public about the Army and Air National Guard programs, activities and services and the vital role they play as components of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as being an invaluable asset for homeland defense and homeland security. 

He and his wife, Laura live in Bismarck, ND and, have two children.

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Spc. Drew Balstad

Spc. Balstad has been a print journalist in the North Dakota National Guard for over 6 years, first in the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, and then in the 116th Public Affairs Detachment.

He served on a deployment from April 2006 to June 2007 with U.S. Central Command.

Before being deployed to Kosovo, he was attending the University of North Dakota majoring in Communications.

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Maj. Gerald Bradley

Maj. Bradley has served in military field artillery for 20 years, a career he started as an enlisted soldier.

He is currently the executive officer for Task Force Mustang while on deployment to Kosovo.

He is from Inglewood, Calif. Where he lives with his wife and two children

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Sgt. Jorge Silva

Sgt. Silva has been in the military for 15 years, and started as an infantryman in the Marine Corps.

He has two previous deployments with the Marines, first during Desert Storm and again in Somalia, arriving only ten days after the events depicted in Black Hawk Down.

He ended his career in the Marines in 2003 after 13 years of service, and then decided to join the Army National Guard in 2007.

He lives in Mission hills, Calif. With his wife and their 5 children.