BOSTON — Bonita Oteri served her country for 17 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of major. 

 

In a military career that was built on the foundation of character, integrity, respect and humility, she served from 1979 to 1996. As a cadet at Northeastern University, her ROTC basic training was done at Fort Bragg, N.C. 

 

"It was a big culture shock as a Yankee going to the South ... truly made me appreciate my home in Massachusetts," she recalled.

 

Her first assignment took her to Ansbach, Germany, with the 1st Armored Division, where one of her assignments was platoon leader on the Army Intelligence Division Staff. 

 

"It was the Cold War Era and we were protecting against Eastern Block incursion," she said. 

 

She was also on the Division G-2 Staff. 

 

When asked about what makes a strong leader, Oteri offered this: "It takes empathy and compassion as well as an understanding of cultures (she speaks a variety of languages). ... I told my mom at a young age that I'd never sell my soul, and I never did." 

 

I asked Oteri about mentors during her service. 

 

"I was company commander at Fort Devens, Lt. Col. Matt Harrison ... he was a West Pointer that went through Vietnam. I had a 40th birthday party for him and he said, 'I'm happy to be able to make it to my 40th.' I read years later that some of his West Point friends, died in his ams in Vietnam. 

 

"Also, Lt. Col. Brian Raymond — a Massachusetts guy — always did the right thing when it came to leadership. He did the right thing even when the above leadership didn't. He was a hot ticket."

 

How were the holidays? "During my 17 years of service, I was able to come home all but twice, I was in Korea once and Romania the other," she recalled.

 

I asked Oteri about her service: "I'm very Sicilian. I can be hard when I have to. I believe God put me there to have an ear to listen and help soldiers in very small ways. It was the way my mom and dad brought me up." 

 

She shared this powerful story on the loss of a friend. 

 

"I had a good friend, Capt. Keith Lucas. He wanted to be a helicopter pilot in the worst way, wanted to fly more than anything," Oteri said. "He was on a mission during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in October of '83. His helicopter was shot down and he was mortally wounded but landed the Black Hawk safely, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers onboard.

 

"He died later, becoming the unit's first combat casualty. I can still see him smiling. He was so squared away," she remembered.

 

Her thoughts on service? 

 

"Felt it was an opportunity and a blessing. My grandparents were immigrants and sacrificed, my mom and dad worked extremely hard their whole to make a better one for me," she said.

 

In a bit of a different twist, after she retired from the Army, Oteri took up the art of belly dancing, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a professional belly dancer. 

 

"I worked at a Moroccan restaurant for 16 years, I did multi-ethnic events and international festivals. I also taught Middle Eastern dance in schools," she said.

 

Maj. Bonita Oteri, thank you for your service to our great country.