A 2001 Hilliard Davidson High School graduate has been selected to join one of the U.S. Army's most prestigious organizations.

Staff Sgt. Zachary Cianciosi, a senior medical noncommissioned officer (NCO), was inducted into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club (SAMC) on Oct. 24.

Cianciosi is currently deployed in Iraq, and was inducted into the club at Contingency Operating Site Marez along with seven other soldiers from the 130th Engineer Brigade.

Cianciosi told ThisWeek that being selected for the SAMC was a great honor for him.

"Being inducted into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club is a huge honor," he said. "He was arguably America's greatest war hero, and to be one of the select few to stand in his shadow is very humbling."

According to Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger, the SAMC is an organization dedicated to community service. The SAMC organizes fundraisers and other events to help the civilian and military communities. Induction into the club is a competitive process, according to Trollinger. Prospective inductees must be recommended by a senior NCO, pass a performance test and go before a selection board. If they make it that far, Trollinger said, they appear before a final selection board.

Cianciosi said he already has plans for SAMC activities when he returns to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii when his brigade re-deploys home next summer.

"The (SAMC) is about helping others, not only within the military, but the community as well," he said. "The club sponsors different events and fundraisers, speaks at military functions, creates programs for spouses and children of soldiers, as well as in the local community. My goal is to create a series of after school programs to help keep the kids active and out of trouble."

Cianciosi said that after growing up in Endicott, NY, he moved to Hilliard during his sophomore year of high school with his parents, Dennis and Tami Micha. While at Hilliard Davidson High School Cianciosi played two years of varsity soccer, and then went on to play soccer at Columbus State Community College before joining the Army.

"I joined the Army shortly after that season and have been to Korea in 2002; San Antonio TX in 2003, Iraq 2004-2005, Fort Bragg NC 2005-2008, and Scofield Barracks 2008 until now," he said.

Command Sgt. Major Dale Moran, 130th Engineer Brigade, ceremony guest speaker, said Cianciosi and the others inducted into the SAMC have answered a "Call to Duty."

"They answer the Call to Duty because they believe in the adage 'freedom isn't free' and that the freedoms that we so often take for granted are worth fighting for," Moran said.