OUR DAUGHTER, THE SUPERHERO Brad Hosmer and Nancy Gardner, and their daughter Shannon, talk about the concern they felt when she decided to join the Army, and their pride at her strength and sense of duty.
rad Hosmer and Nancy Gardner know that their daughter, Shannon, is a strong woman, capable of making good decisions. But in their hearts, she'll always be their little girl. So when Shannon announced that she was joining the Army, her parents were surprised and a little concerned.
“I kind of knew their reaction would be a little, like, 'Are you crazy? What are you thinking?'”
—Shannon Lee Hosmer Davis
Like the parents of many Soldiers, Brad and Nancy were worried about deployment. "Personally, I didn't really want her to go," says Brad. But Shannon's understanding of the commitment she was making, and her desire to serve and make a difference in the world, impressed and reassured them.
“Her exact words were, 'I want to serve my country.'”
Brad and Nancy were anxious as Shannon completed her Basic Combat Training and soon after received her orders for deployment.
Brad kept in close contact with Shannon during her time overseas through letters, phone calls, and daily e-mails. The incredible pride he and Nancy felt was overwhelming.
The entire family is impressed by Shannon's sense of duty, her courage, and her strength as a Soldier and an individual. Brad says, "Her brother thinks the world of her. She's just his superhero. [I'm] that way too."
“Superman himself could land next to me and I'd say, 'Excuse me, sir. You're blocking the view of my daughter.'”
