WOUNDED WARRIORS

While most of the WWs in the Mentor Program are enlisted soldiers and Marines, those warriors who are West Pointers are of special interest. 

Ryan Hollin – Class of 2002 – lost one leg in an IED attach and, working with his Mentor, made a career decision to accept medical retirement.  He joined Proctor and Gambles’ executive intern program and is now the material manager for Tide product.

Alto McCallum – Class of 2002 – was severely wounded in one leg.  He was serving in his second combat tour, this one in the 1^st ID in Afghanistan helping the Afghan army build and plan fire support for forward operating bases, when he was wounded.  While at WRAMC, he and his mentor developed the plan for Alton’s future – to remain on active duty.  He will join his wife in Wisconsin, where she is starting medical school at the University of Wisconsin.  Alton is joining the Recruiting Command.  When asked what he found most valuable about the Mentor program, he said: “It kept me focused on my future.”

Greg Gadston – Class of 1989 – sustained multiple arm and leg wounds in an IED attack.  He was serving as a 1^st ID Field Artillery Battalion Commander in the dangerous Yamouck region of Bagdad.  As a result of his injury, he lost both legs above the knees.  Greg’s undaunted spirit and grit is inspirational.  He was walking on his C-legs – those high tech computer driven prosthetics only months after he was wounded.  He has been selected for Senior Service College and wants to stay in the Army. 

MENTORS

By now, it is clear what the Mentor program means to WWs who chose to participate.  What does it mean to the Mentors?  Cy Shearer ’61 put it best at a recent Mentor training session: “I get far more than I give from my association with these Soldiers and Marines.”  For Lee Miller ’58 and his three colleagues who started this program, the personal satisfaction in knowing that something so fundamentally good is helping so many in need is deservedly very high.  The vision that these four had to start this program is remarkable – Lee Miller, Pete Brintmall, John Herrin, and Bob Tredway.

Marine Who Lost a Leg in Iraq Attains His Goal to Join His Unit in Afghanistan

By Rick Rogers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
March 28, 2008

The bomb exploded as Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Pofahl turned around to talk with Cpl. Garrett Jones during a foot patrol in Karmah, Iraq.   Despite being thrown forward, Pofahl quickly pushed himself off the ground and rushed toward the site of the screams. There, in a ditch, a badly hurt Jones gasped for breath.  Pofahl helped pull Jones out and then tied a tourniquet around his left leg, which was mostly gone from the knee down.  I wasn't sure if he was going to live or how fast he would recover,” Pofahl said, recalling the July 23 ambush. “All of us in the unit thought he would leave the military."