MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: A Life of Service

Greg Dodson lives in Tennessee with his wife, Mona. He is a US Army Veteran who has logged 3,862 jumps from airplanes! He received a diagnosis of ALS in 2019, though his symptoms were apparent much earlier. He is very involved in his local community and loves to give back.

Greg’s photo featured on the Tennessee State website

My name is Greg and I am living with ALS. My wife, “who has put up with me for 45 years”, and I live in beautiful Tennessee. In 2019, I was diagnosed with non-familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and certain aspects of my life changed. I found that my ability to continue with a lot of the activities that I had enjoyed throughout my life became increasingly difficult to continue. I had been an avid golfer, playing several times per week with friends and coaching adults with disabilities on a Special Olympics team. Other hobbies included woodworking in my home shop, riding motorcycles, and making repairs to my home and vehicles. While living with ALS has changed my ability to participate in some of these hobbies, it hasn’t changed my desire to find joy and meaning in serving others.

A commitment to serving

Greg at an event in Nashville

As a small child I knew that I wanted to join the military, to follow in my father’s footsteps and beyond. I joined the military at the age of seventeen, with the goal of being the best soldier I could be. I enlisted as Infantry in the U.S Army, with a goal of becoming Airborne and Ranger qualified, in the fall of 1979 and headed for Ft. Jackson, SC., for reception.  I spent two weeks receiving my uniforms, haircut, shots, and pulling guard duty while I waited for my Basic Training cycle to start at Ft. Benning, Ga. When I got to Georgia, I did my basic training, advanced infantry training and basic airborne training before moving on to  78 days of Ranger school. The Army Rangers is one of the most elite branches in the U.S. military and it was a proud accomplishment and honor to serve as a Ranger.

When I left Ft. Benning for the first time, I had orders to report to Ft. Bragg, NC… and my adventure began. During my time in the service, I learned many lessons, the most valuable being that desire alone is not enough to achieve your goals. Along with that desire, you have to make a personal commitment to achieving your goals and make a plan to accomplish them. You must be willing to do the work, be open to input from others, and be willing to be flexible as your situation changes.

Civilian Service

After leaving the military in 1990 I looked for other ways to serve. I earned my Associate degree in Fire Science and became a Firefighter. I also trained as an Emergency Medical Technician, working with a Volunteer Fire Department and received a  Bachelors’ degree in Emergency Management. In 2019, I ended my civilian employment working as a County  Veteran Service Officer (VSO) assisting veterans in applying for benefits from the Veterans Administration.

Making my mark at the VFW

Greg on the Tennessee Senate floor

After retiring from the Army, I became active with several veteran service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion, to help other veterans and the community.

I have been a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars for decades and have held many positions, as a member-at-large, as a post member, and in several leadership positions at Post, District, and State levels. Currently, I am serving as State (Department) Surgeon. In this position, my role is to stay up to date with all aspects related to health care as it relates to veterans, ensuring that information pertaining to changes, updates, and services are made available to veterans. This can be achieved through in-person meetings in a one-on-one setting, in a group meeting, or in a virtual group meeting online. We also distribute information in the form of a monthly newsletter and online blog posts.

I also have been appointed on behalf of the VFW as a board member for TNVET, a group made up of multiple veteran groups who lobby the government on behalf of veterans and their dependents. Currently I am working on establishing a Veterans with ALS support group program within the VA system.

Life with ALS

Greg and his family

When I was diagnosed with ALS in 2019, my life took on a new direction. I found myself retired with an abundance of free time, searching for something to occupy my days. I knew that I wanted to help others who were dealing with ALS. I started reaching out to others with ALS to offer support, advice, and assistance within my abilities. I joined the ALS association and became an advocate, speaking with both state and federal lawmakers to rally support for funding research and increasing assistance for individuals. I became an MDA Ambassador. Helping to raise awareness and support for research in this role is something I am looking forward to and proud to be part of. The work the MDA does is invaluable.

I believe that we are more than just ourselves, we are mankind. As such, individually we should, and need to, approach neurological disorders of all types as a societal issue and attack it collectively in force. One voice can be heard, but a cacophony of voices can bring down a wall.

I have always been interested in keeping up with legislation being introduced by both state and federal lawmakers. I now pay even more attention to what is being introduced, discussed, and passed. I work in conjunction with others advocates to advance the fight forward to find treatments and cures for all neurological disorders.

Hope for the future

Greg and his wife

I know that I am one piece in this large puzzle that is life. But it is my sincere hope that with my small contribution, combined with everyone else’s, we will not only win the battles – but we will win the war and wipe neuromuscular disease in all of its forms from existence.

Fighting the good fight together, we will win.