Meet Baptist Team Member Veterans Who Served
Honoring Veterans and Team Members
Veterans Day honors military veterans (meaning all persons who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces) every Nov. 11. This day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. We encourage all Baptist team members to show gratitude and give thanks to our military. Thank you to those who have served and continue to serve our country, community and beyond.
Meet Baptist Veterans
We highlight several team members who shared some of their military journeys with us.
Laurel Neff, then and now
“I served in the U.S. Army for a combined 31 and a half years. I joined at 17 years old, went to the military academy and attended medical school while serving. For 23 years I was active duty. My last and best job was as commander of the 16th Hospital Center out of Fort Liberty, North Carolina. I retired as a colonel and served in many positions as a family physician and member of the Army Medical Corps. One of my most memorable moments was taking a family medicine resident with me as part of a small group of specialists to Cambodia on a medical assistance visit. We saw a beautiful part of the country and had the opportunity to visit a memorial of those killed from genocides in the 1970s in that region. I loved being able to serve those who served. There is no greater patient than the one who has chosen to volunteer during a time of war.”
— Laurel Neff, D.O., MBA, FAAFP, Baptist Medical Group Family Medicine & Walk-In Care – Pace
U.S. Army, Colonel, Family Physician, served 31.5 years
Arther Jordan
“I served as sergeant major, a highly respected and crucial member of the U.S. Marine Corps responsible for providing advice and leadership. I was active for 25 years. I once had the opportunity to lead 50 Junior Marines fully loaded with equipment to deploy to battle. In the end, we did not go into battle, and we all returned home safely. I had the opportunity to deploy with Marines from all over the world, assembled in Virginia with a destination in England to train with the Royal Marines for one month. I was also a Marine drill instructor for two years and eight months and served with Marine Security Forces for three years in the Panama Canal.”
— Arther Jordan, Baptist Hospital, Social Worker
U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant Major, served 25 years
Nathan Buss
“I was in the U.S. Navy for four years. I had the rank of gunner’s mate 2nd class petty officer, E-5. Some of my memorable deployments include being sent twice to the Northern Arabian Gulf, being at the Horn of Africa in areas of operation and participating in Hurricane Katrina relief. I was awarded the Iraqi Freedom Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and other distinctions. I enjoyed traveling to Seychelle, the smallest country in East Africa, and visiting in Malta, an island country located in the Mediterranean Sea the most, but I was able to visit several other incredible ports. I was also a member of the Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure Team that did maritime interdiction off the Horn of Africa (Somali pirate hunting). I also participated in a training exercise with the Kenyan Navy to train them to perform maritime interdiction in that area.”
— Nathaniel “Nathan” Buss, R.N., Baptist Behavioral Health
U.S. Navy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer, E-5, served 4 years
Jasmine Caraballo, then and now
“I served 13 years in the U.S. Air Force, finishing out my time at Eglin Air Force Base. As a supply journeyman, I managed different maintenance shops such as an electro-environmental shop and flight service center. I lived in Italy and Arizona, traveled to Spain, Germany, Austria and Hawaii. I was a coach for Special Olympics in Garmisch, Germany which was a dream offer to be asked to attend. I am currently studying to be a mental health therapist so I can be a part of defeating the suicide epidemic in the military and our service members at home. There’s nothing like the friendships you find in the military. I miss it every day.”
— Jasmine Caraballo, Baptist Patient Access Services, Cooperate Scheduler
U.S. Air Force, Supply Journeyman, served 13 years
Manny Tafolla
“I served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 15 years. I was a sergeant and worked as a light armored vehicle mechanic. I visited 19 countries abroad and countless American cities while on active duty. While traveling abroad, Palma de Mallorca, Spain was the most beautiful to me. In the United States, North Carolina became home. I use skills learned in the military every day as a social worker on the front lines here in the emergency room. The Marine Corps core values of honor, courage and commitment translate well and align fully with The Baptist Way and our values here.”
— Manny Tafolla, LCSW, Patient Navigator, Baptist Behavioral Health
U.S. Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant, served 15 years
Marcelo Gerjoi
“I served 13 years in the U.S. Army Reserves. I enlisted in my 30s to practice medicine. My final rank was captain, and I served as a physician assistant. I had a stateside deployment to Texas, where I was a part of the COVID task force, and I had a deployment to Kuwait. Serving has been such a rewarding experience.”
— Marcelo Gerjoi, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Trauma
U.S. Army Reserves, Captain, Army Physician Assistant, served 13 years
Baptist Wishes to Thank You
At Baptist Health Care, we honor and salute every individual
who has served in all branches of our military,
especially the veterans who are part of our Baptist family.
We are grateful for the sacrifices you and your families have made.
We thank you for standing watch to protect our freedom.
We honor your bravery in answering the noble call to serve.
Your courage inspires us every day.
Your contributions to our nation are immeasurable.
This Veterans Day, we honor you.
Thank you for your service.
