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Offers Galore Help Marine Single Dad In Corps Of Cadets

Aggies and others wanted to know more about the cadet, who looked older than the other cadets in the photo, and why was he holding the sleepy lad in a prime spot at Kyle Field.
By Lane Stephenson, Texas A&M Marketing & Communications November 10, 2015

Sgt. Kevin Ivey, 28, and his 6-year-old son, Calvin
Sgt. Kevin Ivey, 28, and his 6-year-old son, Calvin

(Texas A&M Corps of Cadets)

 

It’s a captivating photo, but the big picture it reveals is a portrait of a Marine adjusting heroically to civilian life in college as a single dad, of exemplary police assistance and of outpourings of Aggie offers to help a young man who sought no help other than what Texas A&M provides all veterans.

It began with a social media posting by Gen. Joe Ramirez Jr., commandant of Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets, of a photo of a cadet holding a weary child at an Aggie football game. The photo went viral.

Interest spread, with Aggies and others wanting to know more about the cadet, who looked older than the other cadets in the photo, and why was he holding the sleepy lad in a prime spot at Kyle Field.

Turns out the man is definitely older than the other cadets because he spent eight years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman, with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. It also turns out the boy is his son, and he’s a single dad.

Shortly thereafter, KHOU-TV in Houston got on the story, and its heart-warming piece went viral. It even resulted in a remotely conducted interview on a talk show in Israel.

It’s about Sgt. Kevin Ivey, 28, and his 6-year-old son, Calvin.

How they got to Aggieland and what happened on their arrival makes the story even more compelling.

Ivey’s mid-summer arrival on campus, with Calvin in tow, got off to an inauspicious start. Running low on funds, they slept the first two nights in their truck in a dorm parking lot. In the wee hours of the second night, they attracted the attention of two members of the University Police Department.

The officers warily approached the truck in semi darkness and proceeded to wake Ivey and asked him to exit the vehicle. Thinking he was in big trouble, he complied.

After hearing Ivey’s explanation, the officers informed their sergeant on duty, and the three of them dipped into their pockets and gave him enough money to check into a local motel. They subsequently helped him move into an apartment.

“It’s been quite overwhelming,” Ivey says, “hearing from people I’ve never met and who don’t know me but are offering all sorts of support for Calvin and me—and I’m most appreciative.”

He says he is particularly grateful for the support the university police officers gave him and his son.

When Ivey, who calls Pasadena home, elected to leave the Marine Corps and go to college, his commanding officer, Maj. John Hunt, an Aggie, Class of ’99 and a former member of the Corps of Cadets, encouraged him to go to Texas A&M. He took that advice and is currently enrolled in university studies and agricultural leadership, in addition to being in the Corps of Cadets – a decision he made to help maintain the military as a part of his life.

Gen. Ramirez (right) chats with Kevin Ivey and his son
Gen. Ramirez (right) chats with Kevin Ivey and his son

(Texas A&M Marketing & Communications)

“Texas A&M has always taken great pride in its rich military history and tradition, and in providing educational opportunities for this nation’s veterans,” Gen. Ramirez says. “Kevin Ivey is a prime example of the young men and women who have honorably served our country in uniform, have left the service, and have chosen to pursue their college degrees at Texas A&M.”

“His picture truly touched me – both as the Commandant and as a father – and I posted it to highlight the caliber of the men and women who make up our Corps of Cadets today, including our combat veterans that are members of D Company in the Corps. I had no idea the story would take as many turns as it did, especially with respect to the three university police officers who so selflessly took it upon themselves to take care of Kevin and his son, Calvin, but I am not surprised at the outpouring of support and offers to help from Aggies around the world. This truly showcases what all Aggies already know: that Aggies are a special group of people, bound by a special experience at an exceptional place called Aggieland, and that Aggies take care of Aggies – no matter where they are and no matter what the circumstances. This whole story and the resulting outpouring of support make me even prouder to be an Aggie and a veteran.”

Public attempts have been made to identify the police officers who aided Ivey and his son, but they insist they remain anonymous. Other than being members of the university’s police department, all that is known about them is that they, too, formerly served in the military—one of them in the Marine Corps—and at least one of them is a Texas A&M graduate and a former member of the Corps of Cadets.

“I’m proud of the manner in which our officers reacted and thank them for aiding Mr. Ivey and his son in such a commendable manner,” states UPD Chief Mike Ragan. “We are highly fortunate to have a whole staff of officers who are capable of acting in a compassionate manner when the situation warrants—as it certainly did in this instance. I join with the multitude of Aggies and others who are most appreciative of Mr. Ivey for his service to our county—and certainly wish him and his son well during their stay in Aggieland and afterwards.”

Hundreds of offers have poured in from Aggies and others to assist Ivey and his son. One graduate says he will buy Ivey his Corps boots, which seniors proudly wear, and another plans to pay for his Aggie ring.

All those offers to help are in addition to that provided by Texas A&M, which was recently cited as the top university in the nation for serving veterans.

“The amount of support for Cadet Ivey has been nothing less than incredible,” notes Col. Jerry Smith (USMC-Ret.), director of the Veteran Resource & Support Center. “Most of these generous supporters are Aggies; their actions are a testimony to our Aggie Spirit and it’s great to see the support directed to one of our student veterans who truly lives our Aggie core values. Cadet Ivey is the embodiment of selfless service.”

What lies ahead for Ivey after earning his degree? He says he’s not prepared to say at this point—just taking it one step at a time for him and his son–but he’s not ruling out returning to the Marine Corps after graduation: “I’d love to go back into the Marine Corps.”

 

Media contact: tamunews@tamu.edu.

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