Iraq War veterans, Corps alumni to address Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Thursday

Four Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom will tell the corps about their experiences at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center auditorium.

The media are invited to attend.

The four will be on a “gunfighters” panel as part of the corps’ Leaders in Action lecture series. They also will give a short talk on their experiences in Iraq and how their corps of cadets experience prepared them for life after college.

The four alumni are Doug Clark '90, USMC; Mark Sherkey '95, USA; Tim Price '01, USA; and Jeremy Kerfoot '01, USA.

Sherkey’s experience is notable because in Iraq he headed up Operation Provide Classroom Comfort that refurbished several schools for 1,600 students. The project also was promoted by several stateside groups who sent school supplies to help improve educational opportunities for the students.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets has been producing military and corporate leaders since the university was founded in 1872. It is one of just two remaining military corps within a large, primarily civilian university. The corps holds its members to the highest standards of loyalty, honor, integrity, and self-discipline. In return, cadets achieve high academic success and a long-lasting camaraderie with fellow members.

This story was written by Richard L. Lovegrove.