Retired Col. Greg Gadson said he would always be a Soldier. And, obviously, the troops of his former battalion, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are special to him.
Field artillery troops from across Fort Riley attended the annual St. Barbara's Ball in Junction City on Jan. 15, which was hosted by leaders of the "Proud Americans" battalion. St. Barbara is recognized as the patron saint of artillerymen.
"It is just really special," Gadson said. "It's humbling to be around Soldiers."
Gadson was serving as the battalion commander of 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt., in 2007 when, after returning from a memorial service for two Soldiers assigned to the brigade, when a roadside bomb exploded under his vehicle. Gadson lost his legs, and went on to to serve as director of the Army Wounded Warrior Program and then commander of the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He also played a supporting role in the 2012 movie "Battleship."
"I have actually heard a lot about Col. Gadson," said Spc. Michael Servin, a Phoenix, Arizona, native assigned as a medic to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt. "I have dreamt about meeting him actually. … You hear about all the great things he is doing, but you don't ever think you will have the opportunity to meet such a great man and I had the opportunity to meet him tonight."
Gadson's legacy definitely lives on in the battalion, Servin said, and meeting him was a great experience.
Gadson's presence was also significant in that, as the Proud Americans prepare to inactivate their battalion, it was a way to bring the unit's history together, from start to finish, in one night.
"It has been awesome for him to take time out of his very busy schedule to come and honor us as the guest speaker," said Lt. Col. Timothy G. Blackwell, commander of the 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt.
Gadson was the first commander of 2nd Bn., 32nd FA Regt., after 4th IBCT activated in 2006 at Fort Riley, and Blackwell said it was special that the battalion hosted this year's St. Barbara's Ball and could have him back as the final guest speaker.
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