-
SGT Greene's fight for US Army All American, Shon Coleman
June 16, 2010
When deployed overseas, it is easy for soldiers to feel isolated and uncomfortable by surroundings that they aren't generally used to being around. This is especially true for the citizen warriors of the Army Reserve and National Guard components. We are asked at any given moment to drop our regular lives and put on the uniform of our great nation. This means leaving our jobs, schools, families, friends, cities, all the things that we love and provide us with support and comfort. Luckily, because of training us reservists are able to adapt and overcome these type of situations, however, it is always tough to drop those things and leave them behind while on missions. To me, it is important to at least carry a little bit of home along with me while I am gone. I am a student at Auburn University, my dad works there, and my family lives there. When I put on this uniform, I not only represent my country but my family and school as well. I make sure that I carry something related to Auburn with me at all times. This deployment, I had a very unique opportunity to share that passion for my home with my fellow soldiers and the allied nations which we are serving alongside through flying an Auburn flag in various road marches hosted by the foreign contingents here. Each road march was dedicated to something that had to do with my home and Auburn University. However, one march in particular took on an extra special meaning when I was able to reach thousands of miles across the world and touch a young man's life along with others through their hard-nosed fight against cancer.
Shon Coleman is a 6'7 285 lb high school football star from the state of Mississippi. He was rated as the top overall prospect in his state for collegiate football, and he had numerous offers to play at the next level. Shon played in the 10th anniversary of the Army All American game -- an all star game hosted by the Army for the top high school athletes in the country. After a long and thorough recruiting process, Shon decided to join what we call the "Auburn Family" by signing an letter of intent to play football at Auburn University. In the coming months though, Shon would receive news that would put those plans on hold. Shon was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and would have to undergo treatment, to include chemotherapy and weekly spinal taps in order to combat his disease.
As I was browsing the internet while off-duty, I came across this news. I had been familiar with Shon's name, his recruitment, and was looking forward to having him become a brother as a member of my "Auburn Family", but had never met him personally. There was another road march hosted by the Danish Army coming up, and I knew I would be flying the Auburn Flag, so I knew it was meant to be dedicated in his honor. I wanted to fly the flag in support of his courage and his willingness to endure through this battle. I also had a patch designed for Shon to wear on my uniform and send to him after the march. This was more than a 17 year old kid should ever have to worry about, and I hoped to honor him in the process. When I got to thinking about it though, I knew I could do more. I began researching ways to raise money for the hospital that he was receiving treatment from -- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. St. Jude provides financial support for patients as well as advanced research and technology in the fight against cancer. My hope was to raise maybe $1,000.00 or something of that nature. I found a way to set up a Tribute Fund through the St Jude website and created the fund in his name. I contacted his mother and set the fund up so that it sent Shon an e-mail everytime a donation was made. I posted the link to Auburn message boards, my personal facebook, and twitter. Within 12 hrs I had raised over $2,000.00 for St. Jude. Within a matter of just a few days was over $7,000.00. After e-mailing Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com, he took time out of his schedule to write an article about the fund and with that brought in a few thousand more dollars. The story went nationwide and garnered support of not just fans of Auburn University, but schools as far west as Southen California to North Carolina in the east. Because of all the support, I was motivated to continue the fund beyond the road march and right now it sits just shy of $16,000.00. Shon's cancer has gone into remission and he will be hoping to be able to enroll in classes and begin workouts with the football team in the summer of 2011.
Each Road March is an average of 25 km or 16 miles.
This is just one of the many impacts I have been able to make as a member of the Army Reserve. I am very proud to wear the stars and stripes on my shoulder and when my country calls me to duty I will step up without hesitation. Even if that means leaving the things I know and love behind. Those things will follow with you in your heart and the opportunity to honor those things will be presented to you overseas. As a reservist, I have had the unique opportunity to take what I have learned in my army career and apply it to my civilian life. In turn, I have learned that I can also apply what I know and love in my civilian life to my Army career, and in cases like this one make all the difference in the world for people state-side as well as making a difference for the civilians living in my current area of operation as well as the soldiers deployed beside me.
***If you would like to contribute to the Shon Coleman Tribute Fund please visit the website to make a quick and easy donation. Every penny counts.
http://stj.convio.net/goto/wareagleshon
submitted by Sergeant Josiah Greene on Jun 16 2010
Comments
-
Comment removed at author's request.
removed
Mar 8, 2012 11:33 PM