"That forged hardship that we went through [at West Point] and the common sacrifice, especially as athletes, especially as football players, that we went through has formed a lifelong bond" (video interview, 00:06:35.0).

Gregory Dimitri Gadson

Gregory Gadson at time of interview War: Peacekeeping forces--Bosnia and Hercegovina; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Afghan War, 2001-; Persian Gulf War, 1991 Branch: Army; Army; Army; Army Unit: Chief of Operations, Multinational Division North; 5th Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, III Corps; 82nd Airborne Division; 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment; 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery; 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division; 75th Field Artillery Brigade, 25th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division; 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment Service Location: Bosnia-Herzegovina; also: Alexandria, Virginia; Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; also: Afghanistan; also: Saudi Arabia Rank: Colonel

Gregory Gadson admits that he decided to attend West Point solely "to prove...that I could compete in college football at the highest level" (00:05:46.0). Nevertheless, commissioned in early 1990 as a 2nd Lt., Gadson found himself deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield. Gadson would experience four more combat deployments over the ensuing 16 years. In Iraq in 2007, Colonel Gadson was severely wounded by an I.E.D. He credits his faith in God and his West Point ties with saving his life. During his long recovery in 2007 and 2008, a West Point classmate recommended him to the New York Giants. After speaking to the team, he was invited back as the Honorary Team Captain and remained on the sidelines with the Giants through their Super Bowl wins in 2008 and again in 2012.