tbutts@vicksburgpost.com

After years of health obstacles, Vicksburg native Daniel Justice has won the Soldier of the Year award with no problem.

“I’m standing there with the other soldier. My eyes bugged when they said my name,” said Justice, 27. “It’s rewarding to see all this paid off.”

After three days of mental and physical drills, Justice claimed the Soldier of the Year title over six others from around the globe at Fort Huachuca in Tucson, Ariz., June 19.

Justice, an information systems specialist, won the award under the Network Enterprise Technology Command of the U.S. Army 9th Signal Command.

He is stationed in Mannheim, Germany, with the 5th Signal Command, and has been in the Army for four years. He is a 2000 graduate of Warren Central High School.

But the first battle Justice won was the one for his life. After struggling with ear and respiratory problems that turned into asthma, he almost died, soon after being born five weeks early, said his mother, Sandra Bernier.

“No matter how sick he was, he never gave into it,” she said. “He’s always been tough-minded.”

Justice also struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder, which caused his grades to rise and fall.

“Schooling didn’t work for him,” Bernier said. “He needed direction.”

That’s where the Army came in.

To join, Justice had to get waivers from doctors to show he had overcome asthma and did not rely on medication. After being cleared, Justice faced new troubles — alcoholism and depression, he said.

“My NCOs (non-commissioned officers) were the reason I got treatment for it,” he said.

Justice became motivated to train for the competition.

“I do it to be a better soldier,” he said. “Training with senior soldiers, receiving all their experience and knowledge, is like passing a banner.”

Justice’s senior NCOs helped him prepare by holding mock boards and quizzing him. One would even stop him in the hall to do sit-ups.

“I had good leaders. I wouldn’t be here today, where I am, without those leaders,” he said.

Justice’s father, Wavel Justice of Vicksburg, said, “You can’t be prouder when your children do something so outstanding.”

Justice and fellow 5th Signal Command soldier, Staff Sgt. Brian Hong, who was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, will head to the U.S. Forces Command competition in Fort Hood, Texas, July 26-31. The next step is the Army-wide competition later this year.

“I want to see what I got. I want to carry it through,” Justice said.