Before 9/11, many people weren’t joining the military out of a sense of duty or patriotism. They joined for a chance to travel and see the world, or to get tuition money for school. Some officers joined military colleges for the chance to play football, and Gregory Gadson was one of them. He wanted to play college football, and West Point gave him that opportunity. So he took it. But then the 9/11 attacks happened, and Gadson’s life was changed forever.
He was stationed in Hawaii on 9/11, and like the rest of the nation, was glued to the television as the horror played out. Three years later, he deployed to Iraq. He led his soldiers to a memorial service for two soldiers who had been killed. On the way back, they were hit by a roadside bomb. Gadson was seriously wounded. Not only did he lose both of his legs, he had to fight off blood loss and infection. He survived, but would now have to live as a double amputee.
As Gadson recovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was visited by an old teammate of his, Mike Sullivan. He was a defensive coach for the New York Giants, and would later invite him to speak to the team when they were struggling. And his message for them was simple: set aside the hype and focus on the guy next to you. Watch out for him. He said that he was only alive because of the guy next to him.
Col. Gadson was named team co-captain. And that year, the Giants won the Super Bowl.
These days, Gadson thinks a lot about the future, and he believes this generation could be the next Greatest Generation.
“They’re awfully creative and awfully determined and awfully dedicated and loyal, and I don’t know that America really understands that,” he said. “One of my goals is to share that gospel, and to have employers and educators see this talent because it’s the leadership that can take us into the future.”