BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 23, 2009 – Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 2nd Lt. Thomas Lenz, United States Army, who earned a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 2008 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the Virginia Tech versus North Carolina State football game
The corps Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by ISP Sports and sponsored by the University Bookstore, honors Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who are currently deployed. Recipients of this honor are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during the radio broadcast of Virginia Tech football games, on the corps website, on the corps alumni website, and in the Corps Review magazine.
Lenz is currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Caldwell in Diyala, Iraq, as a member of Alpha Troop, First of the 14th Cavalry Regiment, United States Army. He notes that he feels connected by being at FOB Caldwell since the first cadet student at Virginia Tech in 1872 was named Addison Caldwell. Lenz is from Culpeper, Va., and this is his first combat deployment. He says he sends love and wishes of good hope to everyone back home.
Lenz is a Class of 2008 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and was the 2008 Earle D. Gregory Award winner. This award in memory of Earle Davis Gregory, Class of 1923, is presented each year to the member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets who best exemplifies the distinguished leadership, courage, dedication to duty, and service so characteristic of Earle D. Gregory.
The corps precision rifle drill team, the Gregory Guard, took its name to honor Earle D. Gregory, one of seven alumni of Virginia Tech to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Gregory received the Medal of Honor for actions as an Army Sergeant on Oct., 18, 1918, during the Meuse Argonne Offensive in World War I. He then entered Virginia Tech and during his senior year in the corps served as a company commander and president of the corps of cadets.
Read about previous Hokie Heroes from the 2009-10 season.