We have all heard stories of the uncommon heroism by members of the VT community during the April 16 tragedy. One that resonates with me is that of Cadet Matthew La Porte, who I did not know personally but was a close friend to people important to me. The Corps tradition at VT is a foundational one, and La Porte's actions in attempting to save lives that day deserves special attention. If you do not know his story, I am here to share it, as best I can tell it. Please add your recollections in the comments if you have them.
The CT tells Matt's story in this nice article:
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/a-road-not-taken-the-story-of-april-...
He was a college kid, like the rest of us.
Perhaps La Porte might have opted for the later section of the class that starts at 12:20 p.m. La Porte loved to sleep. In fact, he preferred the comfy confines of his rack to the amazement of his hall mates and frustration of his superiors.
"You couldn't move him easily," said Cpt. Chris Andersen of Air Force ROTC Detachment 875. "Myself being a former drill instructor, there were multiple times where I needed to get him motivated."
It was usually to no avail, his hallmates attested. Waking him up to be on time for formation was often an exercise in futility.
And he would have made Wyatt Teller proud.
La Porte had already earned a reputation for being tardy - or even missing - from some of his commitments in the Corps. He had a free spirit that occasionally carried him on 3 a.m. Taco Bell runs, where he'd return with his arms full of burritos, and his lips pursed on a gigantic soft drink straw.
But La Porte set his mind to important things and was a success.
Cadet Josiah Donaldson is convinced to this day that La Porte could not feel pain. It was easy to believe considering the kind of grueling training he was subjected to while joining AFSOPT. La Porte and Donaldson became friends while they both "tapped," or rushed, to be members of AFSOPT in the fall of 2006. AFSOPT is considered one of the elite training groups cadets can join while at Tech. During a three week "tap" period, cadets submit themselves to a physical training regimen modeled after the Navy SEAL program. They wake up every morning at 5:30 a.m. and convene at different locations for physical training.
...
Eighteen cadets tapped AFSOPT that fall, all attempting to earn the honor of the Gray Beret signifying membership in to the elite squad. But those "just going for the Gray Berets don't usually make it," Donaldson said.
"They would see him running, and it was like nothing affected him," Nesbit said. "He could just keep going no matter what they doled out. And they were all like 'we have to keep up because how are we going to look if goofball La Porte over there makes it and we don't?'"
Only four, including La Porte and Donaldson, made it to AFSOPT that semester.
Matthew La Porte was killed on April 16 as he charged the shooter in an attempt to save lives. And not only did he attempt to save lives, but he did. For his heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Airman's medal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/heroism-of-air-fo...
Yet the citation, read by one of La Porte's Air Force ROTC's officers, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Gay, was reminiscent of those earned in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of telling a story from a distant battlefield, Gay spoke of a 20-year-old sophomore in his intermediate French class who, even after the professor told the class to hide in the back of the room, ran to the front to help other students barricade the door.
"When the shooter forced his way into the classroom, Cadet La Porte, in complete disregard for his own safety, unhesitatingly charged the shooter ... drawing heavy fire at close range and sustaining seven gunshot wounds," Gay read. "He sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save others."
While we normally do not advocate for personal causes on TKP, I believe an exception is warranted in this instance. An effort is being made by VT students to have the new Corps dormitory building named after Matthew La Porte. If you are so inclined, please add your name to the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/867/098/250/
May Matt rest in peace, as well as all the 32.
Go Hokies.
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