SGT (Honorary) Gaven Cox is Promoted to SSG (Honorary) at Ft. Hood

OK, I cannot get enough of Gaven and his bravery and Army career (honorary).  He has definitely become my most favorite Soldier. 

From the Ft. Hood Sentinel I found a story about Gaven's next step in his Army career.  Apparently he did such a great job at Ft. Sam Houston that he was sent immediately to Ft. Hood to help out there.  GOOD JOB Gaven!  We are so proud of you for the great contributions you have made to the Army!  You are an inspiration in every possible way.

Continued prayers for Gaven's recovery and for good health for many many years to come.

Many, many thanks to the wonderful Soldiers at Ft. Hood for making SSG Cox so welcome.  HOORAH!

And now for another fantastic photo before the story:

SSG (Honorary) Gaven Cox

Young Soldier earns his stripes
By Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma, 1st Cav. Div. PAO

In a recent demonstration, dangerous mock terrorists infiltrated a heavily-guarded Central Texas base and there was only one person who could get the job done. Who knew the safety of the 1st Cavalry Division would be left in the hands of a 5-year-old?

Through the Make-A-Wish foundation, Staff Sgt. Gaven Cox took a break from his battle with cancer to “Soldier up” with his team members assigned to Troop C, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, for the top secret ‘find and destroy’ mission March 20.

Alongside his fellow comrades with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, he saddled up with the division’s horse detachment, flew a virtual Apache helicopter combat flight over the Iraqi capital, and maneuvered on a Black Hawk – all before lunch time.

Gaven and his personal flight crew with Company C, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, took flight in search of the make-believed insurgents, which was the first half of his mission.

“The pilot actually did some pretty hard banks,” Sgt. David Raines, a cavalry scout, said, who rode with the soon to be 6-year-old. “I’ve done about 20 different rides in combat and none of them were ever like that.”

Gaven’s mother Melissa Heminger told reporters that her son, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2007, has been a Soldier since he was three and has proven it more and more each day the last couple of months.

“I look at him everyday and he’s fighting it,” Melissa said. “I know that there are days it’s hard for him to just walk to the bathroom, but he just keeps going strong and keeps smiling. The things that children can overcome are amazing.”

“Gaven’s courageous story pretty much mirrors what were fighting for,” 1st Lt. Christopher Hall, the officer in charge the Make-A-Wish project, said. “We go through a lot, but Gaven also has been through a lot. It shows what we’re doing overseas, what we do everyday is worth while when you see the kind of strength in a kid like that - five years old and fighting as hard as we are.”

Later in the afternoon, as part of Gaven’s mission, he traveled to the Engagement Skills Trainer where he used an arrangement of military weapons to take out the animated enemies. He got six confirmed kills.

When asked what his favorite part of the whole day was Gaven said, “Riding in the humvee.”

With the mission completed and a handful of Soldiers standing at attention Gaven, who originally wished for some McDonalds, smiled as he was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant – it only took him about a week.