Warrior of the Week: Anthony Hartigan

Kind. Helpful. Modest. Loving.

Those are some of the words that have been used to describe this week’s Warrior of the Week: Army Sergeant Anthony Hartigan.

Currently commuting to work at Fort Dix from his new home in Manahawkin, Forked River’s 25-year-old Sgt. Hartigan serves the country in the Army reserves.

Barbara Bailey, his future mother-in-law, said that she nominated Sgt. Hartigan as a “warrior” because of the pride she has in his accomplishments.

Sgt. Hartigan has been in the military for six years, and volunteered for deployment in Afghanistan.

In 2011, he was deployed to Afghanistan and served one year at a forward operating base.

While there, Sgt. Hartigan earned his combat patch and was in charge of teaching Afghan soldiers to maintain and care for military vehicles, said Bailey.

He took the time to learn Dari so he could successfully communicate with the Afghan soldiers, said Bailey.

“No one deserves recognition more than he does,” said Bailey. “He’s the nicest, kindest human being that you could imagine.”

Sgt. Hartigan earned numerous accommodations and medals including the Army Achievement medal, NATO Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Reserve Achievement Medal, said Bailey.

He is now home but continues to serve in the Army Reserves and work full-time as a mechanic in Lakewood.

“Anthony is such a hard-working man, but you never see him brag about himself,” said Bailey.

Sgt. Hartigan likes to work on cars in his free time, as well as focus on his health.

He entered and won his first power-lifting competition in Newark at the end of January, said Bailey.

He recently committed to an additional three years of service.

“I am very proud of him and am so grateful that my daughter is going to marry such a wonderful young man,” said Bailey.