[Perform-talk] First Blind Army Commander

[Donna Hill]

Hi Friends,
Thought you might like this one. Below my name is the title, link, photo
captions and article.
Best,
Donna Hill and Hunter
***
Wounded Warrior: Blind Soldier Becomes Company Commander
By Tommy Gilligan
Special to American Forces Press Service

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57837

Photo captions:
West Point, N.Y., Feb. 2, 2010 – Soldier, infantryman, Airborne Ranger,
combat diver, mountain climber, skier, tri-athlete, surfer, husband and
father are just a few words to describe Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley.


Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley salutes 1st Sgt. Deon E. Dabrio after
returning the guidon during the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Unit change
of command ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., Feb.
1, 2010. Smiley is the first blind officer and second wounded warrior to
hold a position of command. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan

Article:
Yesterday, the title of company commander was added to Smiley’s
distinctive resume, as he became the first blind officer to lead a
company as he assumed command of the Warrior Transition Unit at the U.S.
Military Academy here.

Smiley was wounded and permanently lost his vision during his 2005
deployment to Iraq. He attributes his strength and drive during his
recovery to his family, faith and friends.

“It was my wife, my family and friends who were in my hospital room
singing songs and reading the Bible that gave me the strength during my
recovery,” said Smiley, a member of the USMA Class of 2003.

“It was all of this which allowed me to put one foot in front of the
other,” he continued, “and has allowed me to accomplish everything that
I have done to get to where I am today.”

Over the past six months, Smiley had been an instructor with the
academy’s Behavioral Sciences and Leadership department, teaching a
leadership course to third-year cadets.

Smiley’s “endurable spirit and character are traits that the cadets can
just relate to,” said West Point instructor Lt. Col. Eric Kail. “He has
overcome so much, through his attitude and desire to excel in life.
Scott is a great teacher.”

After receiving medical attention following his tour in Iraq, Smiley was
transferred to the Ft. Lewis, Wash., Warrior Transition Unit, where he
began his recovery and journey to return to active status.

"There were some very long dark days, physically and mentally, but I
just had to keep pushing on," Smiley said.

Smiley said he’d looked at what had happened to him in Iraq and made the
decision that he was not going down the same path as the character Gary
Sinise played in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. Sinese’s character of Army
Lt. Dan had been grievously wounded in Vietnam and was initially
portrayed as bitter and self-destructive.

"The decisions that Lt. Dan made after his injuries never came into my
mind. I wanted to take care of myself -- physically, mentally and
spiritually," Smiley said. "I just did not want to give up because of
something that negatively happened to me."

Smiley transitioned back to active duty, working at the U.S. Army
Accessions Command at Ft. Monroe, Va. After being there for some time,
Smiley's commander told him he had been selected to go to graduate school.

"I thought he was kidding me. I was absolutely shocked," Smiley
recalled. "Then, they are going to let me go teach -- that was awesome.”

Smiley attended Duke University where he received his Masters of
Business Administration. While there, he cultivated a friendship during
the summer of 2007 with legendary Duke University basketball coach Mike
Krzyzewski, a 1969 graduate of the Military Academy.

This was just before the men's basketball world championships and
Olympics, Smiley recalled, noting his brigade commander had approached
him and asked if he’d like to speak to the premier U.S. men’s basketball
squad.

“Why would the national basketball team want me to talk to them?" Smiley
said he wondered to himself at the time.

"The first time I met him, he spoke to the Olympic team in Las Vegas. We
were trying to teach the team about selfless service," Krzyzewski said.
"They not only heard what Scott had to say, but they truly felt what he
had to say.

"When I think of Scotty, I think of ultimate service, especially
selfless service," Krzyzewski added.

After completing his master’s degree, Smiley returned to start a new
chapter of his life at West Point, where his military career began in
the summer of 1999.

Smiley's former commander at Accessions Command and present U.S. Army
Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, shared his thoughts on the
occasion.

"Scott brings a whole new dimension to soldiering and leadership,” said
Van Antwerp, a 1972 graduate of the Military Academy. “When you are
around him, you can't help but want to do your best -- without
complaining -- because he gives his best every day."

About Smiley being the second Wounded Warrior to hold a command
position, Van Antwerp said, "Scotty will be a great commander. He will
lead from the front like he has always done. I am proud of him and proud
of our Army for giving him this opportunity."

Krzyzewski seconded Van Antwerp’s pride and confidence in Smiley.

"He may not have the eyes to see, but he sees more things than most
leaders could ever see," he said of Smiley’s leadership abilities.

At West Point, Smiley now takes command of a company that he personally
understands.

"I know what they are going through. I understand the dynamics of the
company, how it works and areas of concern that need to be improved,"
Smiley said.

With only half of his command based on West Point’s grounds, Smiley will
travel from the rocky shorelines of Maine to the rolling hills of
Pennsylvania to ensure his troops are being taken care of and doing what
they need to do to recover.

"It is now my responsibility to inspire them and to continue to help
them get the job done," Smiley said.

(Tommy Gilligan is the assistant editor for The U.S. Military Academy’s
“Pointer View”)

	




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