That was the Olympics that a Soldier who served in the Massachusetts militia experienced in Greece in 1896. Thomas Pelham Curtis was an Olympic pioneer in the sense that he competed in the first games of the modern Olympic era. He won the 110-meter hurdles for the U.S. Others who have served in the National Guard -- including African-Americans Brig. Gen. Edward Gourdin and Col. Willie Davenport -- also savored the Olympic experience. For more information and news about our military Olympians, past and present, visit the Department of Defense's Military Olympians website.