There are so many role models out there in the world today but many are not worthy of “hero” status. Some are ball players, whether it is basketball, baseball, football and so on. Some people have heroes such as police officers, fire fighters or even super heroes. Today, we have another kind of hero, one who puts their lives on the line for those of us here in the United States of America . They are the American Soldiers. Fighting in this war in Iraq and Afghanistan , they risk everything, loved ones, their own lives, and for what? The Red, White and Blue.

Sergeant Bradley C. Thomas is one of them. He is from right here in Forsyth County . Graduating from South Forsyth High School in 1999, this hometown football standout has chosen to defend our great country so those of us back home can be free. Sergeant Thomas was a standout student in the classrooms, on the football field and in life. His parents got divorced during high school and he has been faced with many challenges over the years. He attended Appalachian State University till 2001 and played for the now three-time defending National Football Subdivision Champions on a walk-on football scholarship. After breaking an ankle in the spring of 2001, he was faced many difficult decisions in his life and school.

Sergeant Thomas enlisted into the United States Army in June of 2005. He attended basic combat training at Ft Jackson, South Carolina for 9 weeks and was then sent on to Ft Gordon, Georgia to receive his advanced individual training as a Network Systems-Switching Operator Maintainer. While assigned to the 57th Signal Battalion, 3rd Signal Brigade out of Ft Hood, Texas , he was on tour in Northern Iraq where he worked on a Military Transition Team on FOB Fortitude and lived with the 4th Brigade Iraqi Army helping guide them to better prepare themselves for this war we are fighting daily. While assigned within the Technical Control Facility Helpdesk on FOB Diamondback, Sergeant Thomas helps base-lining computers, working with routers and building computers.

The 57th Signal Battalion helps provide communications to all of Mosul and Northern Iraq . Sergeant Thomas and his unit returned from their deployment sometime in November 2007, after almost 15 months overseas. His awards are as such to date; Combat Action Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal x 3, Army Good Conduct Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War Terrorism Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. He is currently working on finishing college with a Bachelors’ in Criminal Justice and then pursue a Master of Science in Information Technology (Homeland Security Management) (ITECHSM-MS). Currently he is in school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Criminal Investigations to become a Special Agent within the Army.

As we reflect back on things in life, it is these soldiers, these men and women who chose to defend and protect our way of life. They are true heroes in this world. Heroes they are, always and forever….