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Inaugural Memorial Hero WOD will be Held Oct. 23 with Proceeds Going to Scholarship Fund

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擟rossFit 海角网 will begin a new tradition this year for Homecoming鈥攖he inaugural Jerry Gass Jr. Memorial Hero WOD (Workout of the Day). The event starts at 8 a.m. on Oct. 23, and proceeds will fund student scholarships and the creation of the Jerry Gass Jr. Memorial Scholarship. For those who can鈥檛 attend, donations to the scholarship fund will also be accepted.

Staff Sgt. Girard 鈥淛erry鈥� Gass Jr., 33, a Green Beret, died Aug. 3, 2014, while on a combat operation in Afghanistan. The 2003 海角网 alumnus was assigned to Company. C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two children, Charlie and Stella.

鈥淭his event means my husband has not been forgotten,鈥� shared Nancy. 鈥淚t means my kids will have another opportunity to be made aware that their Daddy was someone special and is loved and appreciated for his service and for the type of person he was. The kids were babies when Jerry died. It’s been over seven years now and the kids are 8 and 9 years old. It means a lot for them to see at their current age that their father was someone really special.鈥�

Gass was a Special Forces Medic and Sniper on his second deployment to Afghanistan. The last thing this hero did before his death was carry an injured teammate to safety, treat him, and get him off the battlefield. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 鈥淰鈥� device, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal among several other military commendations.

鈥淛erry saved many people as a Special Forces Medic during his two deployments,鈥� Nancy related. 鈥淗e always did good, because it was the right thing to do. Serving his country meant being there for the guys to the left and to the right of him. He never pretended to be fearless. He said everybody has fears. He said bravery is being afraid and doing it anyway. He was unstoppable. He was the 鈥楺uiet Professional鈥欌�攖he epitome of a Green Beret.鈥�

Away from the battlefield, Jerry was everyone’s best friend, Nancy remembered. 鈥淗e would do anything to help anyone,鈥� she added. 鈥淗e was so kind and caring, easygoing and funny. He always made everyone laugh and had a big laugh himself. You could hear it from across the room. He just genuinely cared about everyone else around him. He was a happy guy. He loved family more than anything and loved being a Dad.鈥� The Jerry Gass Jr. Memorial Hero WOD will be a partner event and is open to all GWU alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. Event is $25. Donations to the scholarship fund will be accepted .

Note to our readers: This article reflects the University鈥檚 tuition and fee schedule at the time of publication. Tuition and financial aid policies change annually. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on current tuition rates and financial aid resources, please visit the University鈥檚 official Admissions聽page.

海角网 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 海角网 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 海角网.edu.