Letter from Thomas Crosby, Heartland Alum & First Graduate from West Point

Thomas Crosby, a 2003 high school graduate of Heartland Community School has gone on to attend and graduate from West Point Military Academy with numerous accolades and accomplishments.  The following is a letter written by Crosby and his successes:

Over the past nine years since graduation, The Army presented me with amazing opportunities I never dreamed I would ever do or accomplish.

Immediately following graduation, I left Henderson for Basic Training at Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.  Nine weeks of training in the hot plains of Oklahoma and then off I went to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio where I found myself pursuing the most rewarding career field imaginable.  I became a combat medic.  Since then, I completed two tours of duty in Iraq as a medic in which I was blessed by the grace of God to save wounded soldiers and send them home to their families.  Not once did I fear mistakes for I knew He was with me.

Then, nearing the end of my second tour, an opportunity far greater than expected presented itself: the opportunity to continue my career at West Point, the site of the United States Military Academy.  I leapt at the chance.

Shortly after returning to America, I found myself moving to New York to begin a new chapter.  When I arrived, West Point just received the title of ‘Best College in America’ voted by Forbes Magazine.  Since, it has remained in the top three all four years competing with institutions like Princeton, MIT, and Harvard.  My time at West Point, though difficult, opened my eyes to tremendous experiences.  I have shaken George Bush’s hand and been thanked by him for my service, received speeches from President Obama, sat in on an exclusive lecture from Henry Kissinger, been briefed by the commanding general of Operation Desert Storm (Gen. Fred Franks), been briefed by Gen. McChrystal, had a class of 12 taught by Madeline Albright, had many speeches and classes with commanding generals of army divisions, met numerous foreign dignitaries, held the flag at Yankee stadium, also at the New York Giants stadium and then stood on the sideline for the remainder of the game, spent three weeks working for the Army Surgeon general and even sat in on a briefing to the secretary of defense all while earning a degree and working toward a commission in the United State Army.

These are merely a simple few of the opportunities I have embraced since coming to West Point.  Each cadet upon their time here must hold a leadership position within the Corps of Cadets and currently I am serving as a Battalion Commander placing me in charge of the daily lives of nearly 400 fellow cadets.  From this position, I am tasked with ensure unit cohesion, academic success of all my subordinates, physical development and accountability of all those in my charge.  Only two other positions hold more responsibility, those being the Regimental Commanders in that each regiment consists of three Battalions and the Brigade Commander or First Captain, who is in charge of the entire Corps which is comprised of four regiments.  The position I hold is tremendously challenging and rewarding.

Looking to the future, I will commission in service to the infantry branch and attend ranger school, a school for the training of one of the Army’s elite fighting units.  Upon successful completion of that school, I will attend airborne school learning to jump out of an airplane then finally, I will station at Ft. Bragg North Carolina and become a platoon leader in one of the armies most historical and prestigious units: the 82nd Airborne division.

My career as an Army officer will carry long into the future because I love what I do and I love the opportunities I have been provided.  I want to thank all those back home who have supported me especially my parents, Mike and Bridget Yoder as well as my baby sister, Jennifer and my brother Jeremiah.  God bless and I love you all and thank you for letting me serve you all in the defense of this great nation.  God bless America.

There are no words to put on paper or in an article to describe the the gratitude or the pride in our country after reading a letter from one of the very best we have who is serving for you, me and our great nation.  When we bow our heads to pray, remember to thank God He has created great men and women, Thomas Crosby being one, that put their life on the line for all of us.

Wishing there was a stronger way to acknowledge you, Thomas Crosby.  Simply: God bless you and thank you for your service.