Category: Classmate Updates

Donations to 2-32 FA

LTC Stu Goldsmith (A3) '89 has tracked down how to donate funds to Greg's former battalion (2-32 FAR) for their Family Readiness Group Fund.  Their new commander sends:

Mrs. Amber McCall is my Funds Manager and would be please to receive a donation for LTC Gadson.  He's a source of great pride to all PROUD AMERICANS.

LTC Michael Lawson
PATRIOT 6
TF 2-32 FA
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq

Stu sends:  I just spoke on the phone with Sarenna Lawson – she's a very nice person – and would be thrilled to receive any donations to the 2-32 FAR FRG Fund donated in Greg's name.  Evidently, 2-32 is in regular contact with Greg and plans to continue to involve him in their activities as they return home from Iraq later this year.  Since 2-32 FAR is still currently deployed to Iraq – you can imagine how much help some additional funds would be for organizing BN level FRG activities for the families and children of the service members of this unit.  Here is the information on how to donate:

  1. Make the check to "Friends of 2-32 FAR".
  2. In the note portion of the check write "For 2-32 FAR FRG Fund"
  3. Send check to:

    2-32 FAR FRG
    Care of Sarenna Lawson
    549 Lindsay Ave.
    Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 73503

Shane Kimbrough (D1) at AUSA Convention

Shane Kimbrough and Kim and Greg Gadson.Shane Kimbrough (D1) '89 attended the AUSA Convention in October and ran into Kim and Greg Gadson.  Shane is currently in the space program with NASA and is scheduled to fly on Endeavour for STS-126 in September, 2008.  He is scheduled to do two spacewalks, fly the space shuttle and space station robotic arms, deploy a satellite, and numerous other things as part of the crew. 

Randy Desoto (G3) Has New Book

Randy Desoto (G3) has authored a new book titled We Hold These Truths.  The description on Amazon.com is:

Two central beliefs in the Declaration of Independence have greatly shaped the United States and formed it into a country that is a beacon of liberty throughout the world. The first influential belief is that there is a providential God Who presides over the affairs of this world, and the second is that God has granted man inalienable rights. Leaders like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Franklin Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower have appealed to these beliefs during some of the nation's most trying and defining moments, including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II. Unfortunately, these founding and sustaining visions are in danger of being lost today. This book delves into the issues that surround these beliefs, states the disastrous effects that losing these beliefs would bring, and presents solutions for a nation that is in peril due to a lack of vision.

Randy also pens an occasional column for The Conservative Voice web site, the latest of which is a good review of the movie Charlie Wilson's War.

LTC Greg Gadson (I2) Sparks NFL Team

The Army Times had an article on Greg Gadson (I2) '89.  Greg spoke to the NY Giants the night before their Sept. 27th game with the Redskins.  Mike Sullivan (B4) '89 is the Giants recievers coach.

“One of the things I told the team is I love football,” Gadson said Monday from Fort Belvoir, Va. “It has been a big part of my life, and it still is from the standpoint of how I am fighting through what I am going through now and how I lived in the Army. I don’t want anyone to misconstrue that football is like combat, but I told the team that it’s the same type of emotional investment. If you put yourself in anything, these kinds of things demand your all.”

Giants WR Plaxico Burress gave Greg the ball after Burress caught the winning touchdown pass in the 4th quarter.   Greg's Caring Bridge site is up if you'd like to keep track of his progress and leave a message.

Chriss Chavez (B2) Profiled for Outstanding Volunteer Efforts

Chriss Chavez (B2) '89 was recently profiled by Tulsa World after receiving the Jamie Oaxaca Award from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for her inspiring story and tireless volunteer efforts.  Great job, Chriss!

A logistics and materials planner for the Automotive Components Holdings glass plant in Tulsa, Chavez has dedicated much of her free time to inspiring other Hispanics to embrace education and better their lot in life.

The award noted Chavez's volunteer efforts in establishing SHPE chapters in Tulsa and Nashville, Tenn., as well as helping Hispanic secondary students seek math-related careers. She will be honored during a ceremony next month in Philadelphia.  

That ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 3rd, in Philadelphia.   

Tom Deierlein (C1) Featured on MSNBC.com

MSNBC.com has an extensive 5-part series on Tom Deierlein (C1) '89 titled "Charity Begins At War."

“We really enjoyed those kind of opportunities because you drove through these neighborhoods day after day after day,” Deierlein said. “There’s a lot of innocent, decent people that just are there and are suffering. So even if you could alleviate that suffering a little bit, it really did make you feel good.”

Check it out at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19441074/ .