Motivation

Army Capt. Florent Groberg Receives Medal of Honor: ‘On His Very Worst Day, He Managed To Summon His Very Best’

~ Justin Brewington ~ Leave a comment
Photo credit: arrmy.mil
Photo credit: arrmy.mil

Today Army Capt. Florent Groberg was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama.
From the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website:

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress.

Here is Capt. Florent Groberg’s story in his own words:

“This medal is not about me, it’s about the four individuals that I lost. It’s about them.  It’s about their families.  It’s about true heroes who sacrificed their lives for this country.  That medal represents them.”

HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin

Age: 45

Hometown: Laramie, Wyoming

MOS: Armor Crewman (19K)

U.S. Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy

Age: 35

Hometown: West Point, New York

MOS: Field Artillery (13A)

U.S. Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray

Age: 38

Hometown: Conyers, Georgia

MOS: Air Liaison Officer (3LXX)

Mr. Ragaei Abdelfattah

Age: 43

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Occupation: USAID Foreign Service Officer

Florent followed the rules of engagement and courageously intercepted a suicide bomber by putting himself in harm’s way in an attempt to save his patrol.  When he knocked the bomber to the ground he detonated.

US Army:

As a result of his actions, Groberg sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum, and a mild traumatic brain injury. Groberg spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 through May 2015. He was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, July 23, 2015.

Groberg’s actions disrupted both bombers from detonating as planned, saving the majority of lives he was charged with protecting.

Florent’s courage, devotion to his team and humility are inspiring. Like Obama said, “That’s an American we can all be grateful for.”  Thank you Mr. Groberg, and all of those like you.

‘If Not Me, Then Who…’

~ Justin Brewington ~ Leave a comment
Travis Manion and Brendan Looney via nbcnews.com

A day after the Marine’s celebrated their 240th birthday, and on Veteran’s Day, the day we celebrate all those who have served in the US Armed Forces, it seems fitting to talk about Travis Manion and his best friend Brendan Looney.

Brothers Forever by Tom Sileo and Colonel Tom Manion, USMC (retired) tells the story of these two inspiring warriors.

Travis and Brendan first met at the Naval Academy.  Upon graduation, Travis elected to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined the Marines, Brendan joined the Navy and eventually became a SEAL.  Travis was deployed to Iraq where he was tasked with training Iraqi soldiers.  His family urged him to stay behind the scenes and let the Iraqis do the fighting but that wasn’t Travis’s style.  His brother-in-law even joked about injuring him so he wouldn’t have to deploy but Travis wanted to go.  He responded with, “if not me, then who?”  He knew there was a fight and his country/fellow comrades needed him.

Brothers Forever:

Even so close to going back to Iraq, Travis’s demeanor was calm.  He was doing exactly what he wanted with his life, and instead of complaining about spending the next twelve months in a war-ravaged city that could justifiably be labeled a hell hole, he felt fortunate for the chance to put all the hard work of the last eight years to good use.

Travis led from the front and had a reputation for being the first to run toward chaos.  He bravely trained and fought with the Iraqi soldiers, saving countless lives.  The Iraqis even nicknamed him “asad” Arabic for “lion.”  While deployed, Travis wrote a letter to his hometown newspaper The Intelligencer.  In his letter he wrote:

“I am not sure the average American sees the positives these servicemen and women accomplish or even understands the sacrifices of their efforts, however, whatever course of action our leadership decided upon, there are those in waiting ready to carry out the mission in support of our country and in defense of its people and their freedoms.”

Shortly after, Travis was killed in action.  On the mission that ended his life, Travis courageously offered to take the place of a teammate who didn’t want to go.  Travis died saving two downed marines, selflessly exposing himself to gunfire, and was ultimately hit by a sniper.

Devastated by the news, Brendan used Travis’s heroism as motivation to survive BUD/S and become a Navy SEAL.  He gave Travis’s mom, Janet, his hard earned Trident pin and told her “whenever things got rough, Travis was always there to keep me going.  I never stopped thinking about him.”

Recognizing tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed for anyone, Brendan decided he wanted to marry his girlfriend, Amy.  Within 48hrs of their wedding he would be deploying to the place Travis lost his life, Iraq.  He was there for approximately four months, home for a few months and then he deployed to Afghanistan for six months.  Before every mission Brendan made sure his wedding band was attached to his watch and that he was wearing his bracelet given to him, by Mrs. Manion, that read, “1ST LT. TRAVIS MANION, USMC SPARTAN, HERO, LEADER KIA IRAQI FREEDOM, 29 APR. ’07.  In his last few weeks of his deployment Brendan was killed in a helicopter crash.

Travis and Brendan were two heroes who loved their country, their families and courageously laid down their lives for what they deemed a higher purpose.  On Memorial Day in 2011, President Obama spoke about Travis and Brendan at Arlington National Cemetery:

“Heartbroken, yet filled with pride, the Manions and Looneys knew only [one] way to honor their sons’ friendship – they moved Travis from his cemetery in Pennsylvania and buried them side by side here at Arlington.  ‘Warriors for freedom’ reads the epitaph written by Travis’s father, ‘brothers forever.’”

We can honor their lives by the way in which we live.  As Brendan often said, “if you make the most of what you are doing, there is no way to regret what you are doing.”  Every day we can work to be the best partner, employee, parent, teacher etc. we can be.  No regrets.

Check out the Travis Manion Foundation created to honor his legacy.

Running With Purpose

~ Justin Brewington ~ Leave a comment
Photo Credit: ESPN
Photo Credit: ESPN

Kayla Montgomery is one of the best distance runners in the country despite being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was 14.  ESPN featured Kayla on an episode of E:60.

At the time of her diagnosis she was playing soccer, the sport she loved, but doctors told her she would have to give it up.  Kayla was angry, she cried a lot and she wanted to be alone.  Her mother who cared for MS patients and had witnessed the disease first hand was devastated.  The family could have collapsed under the weight of their despair, and no one would have blamed them, but instead they rallied behind Kayla as she chose to focus her energy on running.   She wanted to make the best out of all the days she had remaining. When Kayla first started running she was average at best, but she ended up working her way onto her high school varsity team.  Next, she became the fastest member, then she started training full time with the boys’ team and ultimately became one of the fasted runners in North Carolina.  However, because of the MS she wasn’t able to do it alone.  Her coach would literally catch her in his arms at the end of every race, and work to cool her down, in order to restore feeling to her legs.  As a result of the MS, Kayla’s legs go numb while running because her temperature rises (causing her symptoms to flare) and she is unable to stop on her own.

So why does she do it? “It makes me happy, makes me feel normal and whole.  When I’m running I feel like I’m battling and I’m safe from myself.  As long as I’m running everything is fine.”

Kayla’s last race as a HS student was for the State Championship.  Unfortunately she fell in the first 100 meters, but amazingly she got back up and won the race.  The race was indicative of Kayla’s battle with MS.   It doesn’t matter how many times she gets knocked down, she picks herself up and keeps fighting.

“When or if I’m not able to run at some point down the road then at least I can look back and know that when I could, I gave it my all.”

According to Kayla’s Instagram she is a member of the Lipscomb University track and field team in Nashville Tennessee.

A Great American Hero

~ Justin Brewington ~ Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Pat Tillman Foundation
Photo Credit: Pat Tillman Foundation

Here are two takeaways from Pat Tillman’s life and tragic death:

  1. Give thanks every day to the brave men, women and animals who are serving, have served or have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
  2. Live courageously and stand up for whatever you believe in.

You can check out Pat’s story in the book Where Men Win Glory written by John Krakauer.

Pat Tillman was a great American hero who left a multi-million dollar contract in the NFL to enlist in the US Army.  He didn’t go for religious faith or politics and his reasons were somewhat unclear, but it appeared to be a combination of: moral obligation, sense of duty, standing up to the bad guys and protecting people.  Whatever his reason(s), Pat bravely served his country, sacrificed everything and ultimately gave his life.  Pat worked hard to make it in the NFL and he worked hard in the Army to become an elite Ranger.  When he died, Pat was running toward danger in an effort to protect his brother and fellow comrades.  He lived like a hero and he died a hero.

In the event he didn’t make it back, Pat left a letter for his wife.  Marie shared with TODAY, that in the letter he wrote, “Through the years I’ve asked a great deal of you, therefore it should surprise you little that I have another favor to ask. I ask that you live.”

Check out the Pat Tillman Foundation that was created to honor his legacy.

‘We’ll Finish Together’

~ Justin Brewington ~ Leave a comment

While thinking about the concept of inspiration, one of the first memories that comes to mind is Derek Redmond at the 1992 Olympics.  It is one of the most inspiring moments in sports history.  For those unfamiliar with his story, Derek was a British sprinter who suffered a devastating injury during the 400 meter semi-final (one he was favored to win) but instead of being carried off, he limped around the track and completed the race.  Despite having torn his hamstring and being in both physical and mental anguish, Derek had the fortitude to get up and finish.  As he was hobbling around the track in pure agony, his father ran past security and held onto his son as they crossed the finish line together. In a moment of pure hopelessness, Derek had the courage, dedication and spirit to press on.

It is an event in time that is impossible to relive without being completely moved emotionally.  In fact, it was such a monumental event that the Olympics, Visa and Nike all took notice.

Olympics “Celebrate Humanity” video:

Visa’s “Go World” Ad:

Nike “Courage Commercial” including Redmond among many other stars:

Although his running career was over, according to Yahoo! Sport, Derek went on to play basketball, rugby, race motorcycles and is now, fittingly, a motivational speaker.