Finding waypoints: a warrior's journey toward peace and purpose - terese schlachter

He had been through hell--his own and the devils--and had emerged free of hate, free of encumbrance.

If the person who had laid the bomb that took his legs were standing before him, Greg knew he would lay down his own weapon in forgiveness.

The waypoints were becoming clearer.

He would recover his body as well as his soul.

In military jargon, the word waypoints refers to guideposts on a map used to direct soldiers in or out of a location like a rendezvous point.

For Colonel Greg Gadson-- a battalion commander and former West Point football player-- who lost both legs as a result of an IED attack in Iraq in 2007, these waypoints were to change drastically, and inform his future life through his long, painful recovery and emergence as a spiritual guide and assistant coach to the NY Giants during their own trials of fire in the 2007 season that took them from last place to a Super Bowl championship in 2008.

Soon after, Gadson also starred in a major motion picture (Battleship) and since then has become a motivational speaker for thousands of individuals, both civilian and military, and leader for veterans programs and outdoor experiential healing expeditions.

This honest and deeply personal story of transformation from battlefield leader to speaker and life coach, will inspire readers to consider their own waypoints towards their own lifes betterment and the lives of those around them.