"Everything is happening all at once," said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Herb Schmeling, volunteer extraordinaire. "It is both humbling and slightly embarrassing. I am used to being behind the scenes, making things happen for other people."

It all started when retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmie Spencer, director of Noncommissioned Officers and Soldier Programs for AUSA, informed Schmeling that he would receive the Bainbridge Award. The award is given annually to a noncommissioned officer who has selflessly served both the Army and the surrounding community.

Although Spencer didn't get to vote, he sat in on the awards committee and said that Schmeling was head and shoulders above the other nominees.

"His contributions are just so significant that the vote was unanimous," said Spencer.

When Schmeling finally had become used to the idea, he learned that he was the recipient of the 2010 USO World Volunteer of the Year award as well.

"I was most surprised to get the USO award since I didn't know I was nominated," said Schmeling. "That one came as a total shock."

Schmeling's nomination, which first resulted in his winning at the regional level in February, came from the executive director of the USO for the Puget Sound Area, retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Don Leingang.

"I nominated Herb because I have never met anyone in my 24-year military career who is as dedicated to our military service members or their families.  There is nothing that Herb would not do if asked, and many times he does things without being asked because it is the right thing to do," said Leingang.

Though Schmeling is indeed the award recipient, he is quick to point out that the recognition should be for his wife, who supports his 100 percent devotion to volunteerism.

On a local level, Schmeling will be honored at the USO Puget Sound Area's Gala Celebration on Oct. 1 at the Museum of Flight before flying to Washington, D.C., the following week to officially accept the award. The Fort Lewis AUSA chapter is funding his trip back to Washington, D.C., in late October so he can attend AUSA's annual meeting, where he will receive the Bainbridge Award.

"Herb has an energy that you don't normally see in people our age," laughed retired Master Sgt. Alex Silva, who retired Schmeling in 2001 and is the current Retirement Services officer for JBLM. "He needs to direct it somewhere, and he found his calling with volunteering."

Schmeling routinely volunteers 60 to 80 hours a month, including his work with holiday food drives, where he's helped to serve holiday meals to more than 400 local military families, and being part of the USOPSA's "Army of Gratitude," which includes more than 300 area volunteers who donate their time at the organization's Sea-Tac Airport and JBLM centers.

"When this is done, I'm going back to what I do - volunteering," said Schmeling with a shrug. "I read this quote that said ‘volunteers are ordinary people that do ordinary things for extraordinary people,' and I couldn't agree with it more."