Wounded Warrior, Wife, Share
Experiences With Schweinfurt Community
(October 7, 2009) | 
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Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, who lost both legs in an IED attack in Iraq in 2007, shares a moment with fellow artilleryman, Capt. David Evetts, commander of Battery D, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, at the Ledward
Theater, Sept. 29, 2009. |
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SCHWEINFURT, Germany -- One hundred twenty-nine pints of
blood poured into Lt. Col. Greg Gadson's body in the single
night that Soldiers, doctors and a vast team of others
brought together by a roadside bomb fought together to save
his life.
"I am here today because my team saved my life. And I like
to say it twice. I am here today, sitting here on the stage,
or walking through the room, because my team saved my life,"
said Gadson, joined on the Ledward Theater stage by his
wife, Kim, for a talk with the Schweinfurt community
Tuesday.
Gadson, a four-year letterman as a football player at West
Point, talked at length about teams, especially the one
comprised of his Soldiers that night.
"They were, and are, exactly like you all in the crowd," he
said, made of Soldiers from all walks of life. "That team
worked
together every day and, on one special night,
they made a difference in saving my life." |
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"It was medical personnel. It was Soldiers, people doing
what they were trained to do, putting all their effort into
me being here. I'm living proof of the nation's commitment
of people in uniform's commitment that we're behind you," he
said.
Gadson was headed back to his headquarters in Iraq, May 7,
2007, after having attended a memorial service for two
fallen Soldiers earlier in the day, when his vehicle was
struck by an improvised exploding device.
"In a moment (my life) changed. And so I recognize how
fragile life is. So, like I said, tomorrow's not promised.
So let's make the most of every day," said Gadson, who lost
both legs above the knee.
Kim Gadson talked about the challenges they have faced along
with their two children, and urged the audience to build,
maintain and improve a network of friends to help in that
time of need.
"I know that each of you has a very similar Army family,
whether you are a servicemember or a civilian in the
community," she said, adding that professional help has been
an important part of their physical and emotional recovery.
"I would encourage you to get other assistance if you need
it," she said. "Your own trauma is very personal to you, and
you don't need to compare it with anybody else's trauma. But
sometimes you do need some help."
The Gadsons followed their presentation by taking questions
from audience members, several of whom were fellow wounded
warriors seeking some advice and guidance from someone who
has faced the challenge of getting better.
"Just remember it's your mission to get better. That's your
aim point," Lt. Col. Gadson said. "A lot of times, getting
better is not getting back to where you were before ... that
may be impossible. You've got to understand what the new
better is going to be, the new normal is going to be."
A critical junction during Gadson's physical recovery came
with overcoming a fear of falling.
"A lot of times we're afraid to try things because we're
afraid to fail," he said, explaining what he had to tell
himself to overcome his fear. "I'm not going to be afraid to
fall. I am going to fall. That is part of my existence." | |
Article and photo by Mark Heeter
USAG Schweinfurt
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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