106th Rescue Wing Hero Honored For Years Of Service

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — A hometown hero was honored Saturday for her years of dedicated service.

Lisha Jones Terry was spotlighted at a ceremony held at the Westhampton Beach Fire House and hosted by the Westhampton Free Library; the library has organized a monthly event to honor heroes in the community.

Growing up across the street from the 106th Rescue Wing, Terry said it was only natural that she’d one day wind up dedicating her life to the military.

Born in 1976, Terry attended Westhampton Beach High School, where she was captain of the track and cheerleading teams, medaling in state competitions. When it was time to graduate high school in 1995 she was visited by a Coast Guard recruiter and, on Oct. 8, 1996, Terry officially joined the U.S. Coast Guard Department of Transportation.

Upon graduating from training at Cape May in November, 1996, she was sent to St. Petersburg, FL, where she advanced to the rank of seaman first class in 1998 and soon after became a boarding team member at the Coast Guard’s small boat station in St. Petersburg after completing training in California.

She loved her new post, where she performed law enforcement and search as well as rescue duties; she also participated in trainings, such as man-overboard drills and marine firefighting.

That same year, Terry received a letter of commendation from the Coast Guard for responding when a single-engine plane with a pilot and passenger crashed short of a runway. With prior lifeguard experience, Terry swam out in rough waters to the plane and successfully rescued both.

In 1998, she was presented with the opportunity to fill a crew member opening at the USCG Shinnecock Station and happily moved back home. Aside from her other duties at Shinnecock, she often took over food service duties, cooking every meal. "Cooking for all' is a theme she has carried throughout her military career, the Library release said. Also, while at Shinnecock, she volunteered for the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association.

In September 1999, Terry left the Shinnecock station to enter the Health Dental Technical School where she became a dental technician. She was stationed at the Petaluma Medical Clinic Training Center, where she remained until shortly after 9/11.

Terry’s active duty with the Coast Guard came to an end in 2002. Not wanting to leave a life of service, she headed back home and joined the Coast Guard Reserves at Shinnecock. However, she missed working among medical professionals and serving patients, so she sought and found an opening at the 106th Air National Guard medical clinic as a dental assistant.

“I still preferred boats over planes, but the planes started growing on me,” she said.

During her time in the Air National Guard, Terry completed Airman Leadership School, trained and served in the 106th Honor Guard, was promoted to non-commissioned officer staff sergeant and then to technical sergeant, and took part in numerous trainings, including medical training in Spangdahlem, Germany. She was also part of the base's enlistment council.

When nearing her 19th year and becoming eligible for military retirement, she decided to make a change from medical to security forces for a better chance at deployment and other opportunities.

“I did not want to retire before serving my country overseas," she said.

Terry trained and, on July 3, 2015, got her wish — she was deployed with other members to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait.

Before landing on the “rock,” Terry trained in Ramstein, Germany for a month. While deployed, she conducted hundreds of battle drills and served as an area supervisor. For her service, she earned the Global War on Terrorism Medal in 2016.

Also, while serving oversees, she had the opportunity to share her love of jujitsu and teach a few classes and, of course, she cooked for many people in the chapel kitchen in her rare spare time.

Following her deployment, Terry earned her associates degree in criminal justice through the U.S. Air Force.

Today, Terry is still with the 106th and continues to train. She recently attended 7-Level School at the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. She is scheduled to be promoted to master sergeant in the near future and hopes to serve the unit as a first sergeant.

As a civilian, Terry volunteers with the VFW Post 5350 and serves on its golf committee. She is a member of the Westhampton American Legion Post 84, volunteers on the Westhampton St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and for the nonprofit Human Understanding and Growth Services.

“I’m always interested in helping in the community,” she said. “I love to share my time and talents wherever I can.”

In addition to her volunteerism, she is a licensed massage therapist with an urban farming business. She is a beekeeper, a mermaid and an environmentalist.

She is the mother of two children, Reed, 12 and Race, 10.

"Lisha is a dynamic lady who brings great energy and enthusiasm to everything she does. Her service to her country and community has been outstanding and she is an inspiration for us all," said Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer.