Pelican Dispatch - Spring 2010 - Keep Trees

creativity; so for me to be creative, I have to seek Him,”
said Dawson.
“My mother loved learning, and our house is like a
library. She has books from around the world, and I grew
up reading those books. I have read several books on
poetry, and I enjoy studying them,” he says.
“I’m currently reading a book called “From ‘Nam with
Love,” written by Lloyd A. King. He won the 2006 Gold
Medal Award for best book of poetry from the Military
Writers Society of America. Although he has a different
style than I do, his poetry has inspired me to continue
writing through the tough times.”
When convoys leave on Sundays, Dawson’s spiritual
fi tness class substitutes for church and starts the mission
on a positive note.
The Soldiers say they have grown accustomed
to Dawson’s pre-convoy spiritual fi tness prayers, his
joyful attitude and all the goodies he hands out that he
receives from AnySoldier.com.
“He is almost like a Santa Claus to us,” said 1st Lt.
Matthew J. Leblanc, 1083rd’s senior platoon leader. “His passages
deal with strength, will and courage, and to receive his
prayers before we leave gets us closer to God. His rhyming
style ingrains in us and we get it.”
Following in his father’s footsteps, Dawson was a seminary
student at the Louisiana Baptist University in Shreveport,
La., but had to leave for his tour of duty in Iraq. Dawson also
Spc. Shanesel Dawson, a Shreveport, La., native with the 1083rd Transportation Company out of Minden,
La., went to every room handing out care packages and Christmas cheer on Christmas Day to boost
Soldiers’ morale during the holidays.
volunteered to serve for his third consecutive tour with the
256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team after the 1083rd demobilizes.
Once the 256th IBCT is demobilized in 2011, he said
he will return to the seminary.
“It’s nothing that comes easy for me, but it’s not for me; it’s
for the Soldiers,” says Dawson on spending most of his free
time constructing his spiritual fi tness lessons.
Continued on page 17
Spc. Shanesel Dawson prays
with Soldiers at a pre-convoy
departure after he recites a
poem he wrote that is tailormade
for each mission.
Spring 2010 / Louisiana National Guard 5