When enduring bad times, it’s OK to embrace the suck

Cutline: Lake Holcombe junior Caitlyn Kolter performed TAPS to close out the day’s recognitions. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Some at Lake Holcombe School know him as Mr. Sanderson, while others simply address him as Shane. At the school’s Veterans Day program Nov. 11, as the guest speaker, the district teacher went by Specialist First Class Shane Sanderson, recipient of the Purple Heart.

The events especially were vivid to Sanderson, who began by reading a letter written by his commander 12 years ago to the day, with a recap of when Sanderson was wounded Nov. 9, 2009.

While most people were home asleep or just waking up, five members of the 166th Engineer Company were hard at work that day in 2009, helping another unit at a remote combat outpost in Afghanistan. Suddenly, without warning, two enemy 107mm rockets exploded at the soldiers’ feet, with four of the soldiers within 10 feet of the detonation.

The kill radius of those weapons is 195 feet. Despite the impossible odds, every soldier injured that day lived to tell the tale. As for Sanderson, he endured shrapnel wounds to his legs and was flown to Germany, for additional medical care, and was then transported to the U.S. for follow-up care.

His commander at the time summed up how everyone felt about staying alive during the attack.

I would characterize the circumstances as miraculous, wrote the commander.

Sanderson enlisted in the Army in 1987, after growing up in Ladysmith. He served his country for 23 years, with tours that included Iraq and Afghanistan.

“When I grew up, it was at the tail end of Vietnam, and these are the gentleman that I really idolized when I was your age,” said Sanderson to his students. “I get goosebumps when I hear them talk about their sacrifices and believe me, they’re probably much worse than mine.”

In the more than two decades Sanderson served, he was able to jump out of airplanes, rappel out of helicopters, travel to places and meet people he otherwise wouldn’t have. However, it wasn’t all fun and games.

“There were times, when it – and forgive my language – sucked,” he said. “But, over time, you learn to embrace the suck.”

Sanderson started a new job in the civilian sector in 2006, and moved back to Wisconsin, where he was excited for his new life, but ended up regretting it. Instead of slowly transitioning from soldier to civilian, Sanderson was thrown right back into normal life.

“All the sudden, I was expected to be someone I hadn’t been in a very long time,” he said, adding that he was later deployed as a recall soldier. “This happened to be a blessing in disguise.”

Sanderson says he wanted to start over and his wish was granted, when he was supposed to be sent home in December, after maxxing out his months in a combat zone. “One last mission” turned into another, then another, until that fateful day in Afghanistan.

“Instead of going home in less than a month to finally be with my family for Christmas, I spent the next six months undergoing surgeries, and physical and occupational rehabilitation,” said Sanderson. Sanderson was discharged and retired from the Army in May of 2010. This time, he was not thrust right back into main stream life. Although he says people are overall very supportive and compassionate of veterans, unless they’ve been there, they just don’t understand.

So, Sanderson began doing masonry and construction work, coached little league and softball, taught Bible school, and volunteered here and there, since he enjoyed giving back.

Then, in 2011, he was hired as a cross country coach at Flambeau. That district also needed a paraprofessional, and Sanderson was hired at the last minute and later, was asked to become a teacher. He agreed to do so, going back to school and obtaining a teaching license.

“I found my passion in education,” he said. “The rest is history. That’s how I got here today. I’m a teacher and I’m every bit as proud of that service as I am of my military service.”

In his time in the Army, Sanderson says two things stuck with him, which he encouraged students to take to heart.

“First, things don’t stay bad forever,” he said. “You learn endurance. Second, you can accomplish anything, especially when you have no other choice.”

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="241"] A few members of the kindergarten class led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="242"] Dalton Kent, 2018 Lake Holcombe graduate, attended the Veterans Day program, shaking hands with kindergartner Roman Hover. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="242"] Army veteran Michael Wetzel (left) stood at a salute Nov. 11, alongside his daughter, Amanda Hansen, for the Lake Holcombe School Veterans Day program. Not all veterans in attendance chose to sit up front in seats of honor, but the school later asked them to stand, to express appreciation for their service. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]