Oklahoman Named Army National Guard's Soldier of the Year

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Years of service and hard work have landed Sgt. Larry Isbell the title of Army National Guard's Soldier of The Year.

Isbell was honored in Washington, D.C., Sunday night for winning the Best Warrior competition. He beat out applicants from across the nation for the title. There are local and regional competitions before the nationals.

The 28-year-old went through both physical and mental strength competitions.

"Country is everything that I do, country is heart, country is soul. I don't put it before family, but I put it before anything else," Isbell said.

Isbell serves out of the National Guard Armory in Guthrie.

Family members said they couldn't be more proud of Isbell and said he has also been named the U.S. Army's Soldier of the Year.

"I'm so thrilled for him, you can't even image. He just wants to be the best soldier there is," said Kimberly Stapp, Isbell's aunt.

Isbell will head to Afghanistan for his second tour of duty next year.