Which HHS teacher has served in the Navy, assisted in delivering aid during the tragic event of 9/11, and still found time to coach basketball and advise one of Hawthorne High School’s most popular clubs? Christopher Ward, history teacher.

When asked what led him to join the Navy, Ward replied, “I always wanted to sail around the world.” This interest in sailing led Ward to serve for six years in the Navy, 1982-1987, and 1990-1991. Taking the position as a Data Systems Technician, Ward fixed computers on the ship. He said that while sailing through the western hemisphere, “it was exciting to see new places.” His favorite city Oslo, Norway.

While serving in the Navy, Ward did a lot more than sightseeing. He was involved in two major military operations.  Operation Desert Storm was a 1991 military operation that drove Iraqi invaders from Kuwait. Ward was stationed with the Military Sealift Command base in Savannah, Georgia. He explained, “Our responsibility was to transport all the equipment that was needed by the Armed Forces to complete the mission. The equipment was sent to Bahrain, a small island in the Middle East, and then released to the soldiers on the battlefield.”

In 1985, Ward was involved in the Lebanon hostage crisis, in which a Palestinian organization hijacked a plane and held hostages for up to “However,” Ward commented, “diplomatic mediation resolved the conflict.”

Even after he became a teacher, Ward’s drive to help others and serve his country is shown through his work with the SHARE Club (an acronym for Students of Hawthorne Acting Responsibly and Effectively). When September 11, 2001, took place, Ward said, “It was surreal…that it [this tragic event] hit home.” With that said, Ward and Patti Atkinson, former co-adviser, rallied HHS students together to collect supplies such as Gatorade, baby wipes, and water to help the first responders working at Ground Zero. Ward and Atkinson personally drove the supplies to the workers at Ground Zero.

Apart from being a fantastic teacher, Ward has done some amazing things with his life. From these events, he has gained pride in serving his country, and continues to do so through his work with SHARE.  To students who are considering joining the military he advices, “Make sure you know what you are going into…search which branch and talk to somebody.”