For those who do not know me from my days at Fremont Public Schools please allow me to introduce myself as the son of Denise McDaniel and a 1997 graduate of Fremont High School.

Since graduating from Fremont in 1997 I have repeatedly been impressed and grateful for the quality education and life skills Fremont Public Schools and the Fremont Community provided me as a foundation to build and grow from later on in my career.  While studying at the military academy immediately following high school, I found many of the courses I took over my freshman and sophomore years to be review and supplementary to the courses and education received at Fremont.  I found this to be a true testament to the quality and dedication of your teachers and staff, that at a top ranked engineering school, I found courses reviewing and building upon what I already learned from Fremont, while the majority of my peers struggled through new material. 

Another example that I will not soon forget is while serving in the hot desert heat of Iraq during the 2003 ground war.  After over 1 month of +100 degree weather, 24 hour combat operations, no showers, and no hot food, my unit’s first mail delivery finally made it to us just south of Baghdad.  The packages weren’t from my family or friends, but from the Fremont Community, elementary school classes, the Rotary Club, local churches, the Fremont Football Team.  In a period when my men’s morale was dropping, Fremont reached out and lifted us up.  These are just a couple examples that are always forefront on my mind when I think about home.

As you finish up this school year and start planning for the next, I would like you to keep me in mind if I can in any way impact or provide some service to help continue your goals to educate Fremont youth.  Graduation address, speaking to students, etc… I would welcome an opportunity to give something back to FPS.  I have enclosed a couple documents to give you a brief overview of my experience thus far, I would be willing to speak on any subject relating to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Army, Fremont Experiences/Opinions, West Point, or Engineering.

Respectfully,

CPT Gerrod McDaniel

Cost and Technical Support Branch

Huntington Engineer District

United States Army Corps of Engineers

5/24/2006