"From Soldier to Survivor: One Man's Life-Changing Event" will be the subject of Green Beret Master Sgt. Mark Vomund on Jan. 23 as part of the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series.

The talk will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Owens Auditorium on the Sandhills Community College campus in Southern Pines. Admission is free and open to the public, with no tickets required.

Vomund is a senior noncommissioned officer in the brotherhood of Special Forces and has earned the right to wear the highly coveted Green Beret. Vomund has received five Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

He volunteered to serve in a high risk antiterrorist unit and has nine deployments into the Afghanistan combat zone in the longest war in the history of the United States. Although previously wounded and enduring many separations from his family, he was content with his accomplishments and career, a news release announcing the lecture said.

In March 2010, in >Kanda-har, >Afghanistan, he experienced a life-altering event. While on a combat mission, he and his German shepherd military dog, Herco, were severely wounded by a 50-60 pound improvised explosive device.

Vomund suffered multiple broken bones, lacerations and traumatic brain injury. Herco was medically retired and adopted by the Vomunds. Their story is one of >courage, tenacity and perseverance.

Vomund and his wife, Colleen, have two sons, Shane and Brady.

The Ruth Pauley Lecture Series is sponsored by Sandhills Community College, the Moore County League of Women Voters, the Sandhills Branch of the American Association of University Women and the Moore County Schools. Past speakers have included Sandra Day O'Connor, Newt Gingrich, George McGovern, Frank Deford, Jack Hanna and Jack Nicklaus.

The next lecture will be Feb. 20, "An Evening with Ernest Green: Civil Rights Pioneer and d Member of the Little Rock Nine."

For additional information, call (910) 245-3132.