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Tom Culver is being honored as this month’s Veteran of the Month. Culver is a veteran of the War in Afghanistan. Culver enlisted in the National Guard in May 1985 until 1995 and did his service through the Mitchell National Guard. After getting out of the National Guard, Tom took an 11-year break before re-enlisting in 2006. Culver decided to re-enlist after 9/11 because of the benefits offered and the state of the affairs of the country. Tom got married in 1982, was attending college and with a baby on the way in 1985, he decided that it would be best to enlist. While in high school, Culver had seriously contemplated joining the military but did not take that step until several years later. Culver did his basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, where he also did his advanced individual training (AIT) as an artillery cannon crewman. When he re-enlisted, his AIT was as a truck driver. In October 2007 through October 2008, Culver was deployed to Iraq. While overseas, he was a part of the convoy escort and was a part of the tactical operations center (TOC). During his deployment, he was stationed in a combat zone. The area where he was stationed had two bases that were seven miles apart and the TOC was between the two bases. He also ran the post of 180 people. Being deployed really made Tom appreciate what he had here back home in comparison to other people. While in Iraq he would see people in living in tents, trying to survive dust storms. The city of Baghdad was made of mud buildings. There was so much extreme poverty in comparison to the palaces of Saddam Hussein where even the fixtures were made of gold. While in the South Dakota National Guard, Culver received several awards, ribbons and medals. He received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal-3rd Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. The fall of 1986, Culver started student teaching and volunteering as a coach. Tom has spent 37 years in education. He spent 17 years teaching, nine years as a principal and 25 years as a superintendent. Not only has Culver spent most of his life as an educator, but he also spent many of those years as a coach. For 24 years, Tom was a football coach, he was the head track coach for four years and has even helped coach the boys’ basketball team. Culver was born in Omaha at the time his parents lived in western Iowa. In kindergarten, the family moved to Bridgewater where Tom spent kindergarten through fifth grade. In 1970 his family moved to Mitchell. He married his wife Theresa (Peterson) while he was at Dakota Wesleyan University majoring in social studies. They have one daughter Christena Voigt; Christena and Gregg have blessed the couple with five grandchildren. When not working or volunteering, Tom enjoys playing golf and lifting weights. Culver enjoys being involved and volunteering. He has been a member of many organizations including the SD Football Coaches Association (president and vice-president), SD High School Coaches Association, South Dakota School Superintendent School Association, South Dakota Athletic Directors Association, lifetime member of the Wagner Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), Avon American Legion since 2008, South Dakota High School Activities Association (president), Dante Catholic Church member, member of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the US (EANGUS) which lobbies for VA benefits for active service members. Thank you, Tom, for your service and for being the January Veteran of the Month.