After graduating from Granbury High School in 2022, Sarah Folsom attended the United States Military Academy. However, her strong passion for the Marine Corps pushed her to enlist the following year.

The Granbury community is in mourning following the unexpected loss of Cpl. Sarah Folsom — a fearless young leader whose vibrant spirit touched countless lives. At just 20 years old, Folsom passed away Aug. 13 while stationed at Camp Pendleton, California with the United States Marine Corps. Although details surrounding her passing are not yet known, it is evident that her loss has left a profound void in the hearts of those who knew and admired her. Folsom was well-known in the community for her success as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet at Granbury High School — proving from a young age that her heart was truly set on serving her country with unwavering dedication and integrity. Tamara Snodgrass, Folsom’s older sister, told the Hood County News that Folsom’s main reason for joining JROTC in high school was for the pair to engage in a friendly competition.“I told her that if she could do better than me, and she could show me up, then I would’ve gifted her something in regards to that,” Snodgrass said. “But she totally outdid me in everything. "As a high school cadet, Folsom was selected to represent Granbury High School nationally in her first year as a rifle team member. Her team won the 2021 Marine Corps Service Championships and the 2021 JROTC National Championship. Folsom was also the national individual champion for 2021 JROTC precision shooters. She was a vital member of the rifle team that won the 2021 American Legion Precision National Championship and was selected to shoot at the USA Junior Olympics that spring at the Olympic Training Center. "She was very military oriented,” said Isaiah Snodgrass, Folsom’s brother-in-law. “If you knew Sarah, she pretty much already had this stature of what needed to be for the military ... She was dedicated and committed to pretty much anything she set her mind to — especially if someone told her that she couldn't do it. She was the type of person that if you doubted her, she would do everything in her power to show you up, in a way, to actually embarrass you. She didn't do it out of spite, but she was extremely competitive. Folsom was the battalion commander for the GHS Battalion during the 2020-21 school year and also a founding member of the JROTC Robotics team, where she played a crucial role in its success at both the state and JROTC Nationals. She was also the team captain and highly active in the JROTC Academic and Physical Fitness Teams. Among over 100 females, she was recognized as the top female “Iron Woman” at the JROTC National PT Competition and led her team to a third-place national finish. Additionally, she completed the 2021 Daedalian Flight Training, where she completed flight ground school and eventually soloed.“She was a go-getter,” Tamara Snodgrass said. “She was bubbly, enthusiastic, adventurous and very outgoing. "After graduating from GHS in 2022, Folsom attended the United States Military Academy — also known as West Point or simply, Army — for a year, shooting for its NCAA rifle team. According to her brother-in-law Isaiah, Folsom had plans to become an Army officer. "She called me about it, because I was a Marine as well," he shared. “We started building a relationship because I married her sister and she would ask me all sorts of questions, like ‘What's the difference between enlisting and becoming an officer?’ ‘What do they do?’ ‘What do you think I should do?' "My answer to her was, ‘You need to stay an officer. You got the smarts for it. You got the passion for it. Go ahead, get your degree, get paid for it, make good money, and then go out there and do great things.' "However, Folsom’s strong passion for the Marine Corps pushed her to enlist the following year. She then completed boot camp and specialized in combat engineering at a Military Occupational Specialty school. "She did not listen to anything I was trying to tell her to do, because I told her, ‘Do not enlist.’” Isaiah Snodgrass said. “The Marine Corps is a whole different beast. "The bond that Folsom and Isaiah Snodgrass shared was marked by fierce competitiveness, with Folsom constantly striving to surpass her brother-in-law's achievements. With Folsom's strong marksmanship background and with Isaiah Snodgrass’ background as a marksmanship coach, the rivalry was intense — especially on the rifle range.“I used to joke with her all the time like, ‘Hey, all I know is, you shot pellets, I shot bullets, so we got to see who shoots better at this point,’” Isaiah Snodgrass said. “Funny thing is, she did beat me on the rifle range. I shot sharp shooter, my first time shooting, and she shot expert. She gave me hell about that for a while. ”I'd like to state for the record though that I was one point away from expert,” he added, chuckling. “But she was like 27 points past what she needed to be for expert, so she beat me by a long shot. "Isaiah Snodgrass noted that the duo also frequently competed over their promotions, with Folsom striving to keep pace with his own timeline of achievements. "I was highly successful in the Marine Corps as well,” Isaiah Snodgrass said. “I won a meritorious corporal before my first-year mark in the Marine Corps, so I would try to tell her what I got, and say, ‘This is your time. Can you beat me?’ And what's funny is she did exactly that. We actually picked up corporal pretty much on the dot at the same exact point in time in our careers. "A Marine Corps Commander can meritoriously promote a Marine to the rank of corporal if he or she believes the Marine has shown exceptional leadership and performance — an accolade Folsom received just last month. "It was a pretty big deal for Sarah to have won a meritorious corporal,” Isaiah Snodgrass explained. “When she picked up corporal, she became an E-4. An E-4 in the rest of the military is not a leadership position, but the Marine Corps promotes the youngest leaders, so when you pick up corporal, you are now entrusted with other Marines. You have to sit there and be able to make decisions on their behalf, to move them and advance them in their career, whether it's on the battlefield or in Garrison. Normally, it takes about two to two-and-a-half years for the average Marine to pick up corporal — she picked up corporal in her first year. "He described his sister-in-law as having an exceptional drive and dedication, distinguishing her from others in the Marine Corps. He emphasized that she was deeply committed and always strived to outdo her previous accomplishments. Isaiah Snodgrass explained that Folsom’s competitive spirit was not just about surpassing others but about constantly improving herself. "She was second to none, and either had to be the best or there was no point doing it. If you’re going to do something, you got to do it right — and she took that to a whole new level,” he explained. “Had this tragic event not happened, I wholeheartedly believe that Sarah probably would have done 20 years in the Marine Corps, retired out, and made it to the top. "Isaiah Snodgrass explained that winning a meritorious promotion places a Marine in the top 10% globally, highlighting their exceptional achievements and dedication. He emphasized that such a recognition is a significant accomplishment that involves a competitive selection process. "In the Marine Corps, they don't look at how long you've been out of high school; they look at your qualifications and how well you've done your job," he explained. "If they deem you fit to lead that way, you will lead that way because they will promote you — and that's exactly what Sarah was getting ready to do. She had proven herself already that way, and she would have done an excellent job. It wouldn't have surprised me, if this was the first of many meritorious promotions for her. She probably could have picked up sergeant in another year, and that's insane. "One of the coolest aspects of Folsom, Isaiah Snodgrass said, was her unique love for metal music — especially bands like I Prevail and P.O.D.“I tell you what, she'd be head banging in the back of the car all the time when we were together,” Isaiah Snodgrass said. “We'd be singing the same songs, listening to the same stuff, or heck even when she was still out in California, I'd send her a song, and be like ‘Hey, check this out,’ and she'd be like, ‘Dude, that is so good.' "Isaiah Snodgrass also reflected on how Folsom’s dedication to her faith set her apart. He acknowledged that, unlike himself, who had strayed from his spiritual path after enlisting, Folsom embraced her faith deeply. He said she actively sought to strengthen her relationship with Jesus by attending church, participating in Bible studies, and prioritizing her spiritual growth alongside her military duties. "If you want to talk about a great citizen of America, citizen of Texas, citizen of Granbury, that was her,” he said. “She embodied everything that any human being should want to be, and she killed it. She killed it in every step that she took. She didn't lose. She always succeeded. Failure wasn't an option for her. "Isaiah Snodgrass reflected on Folsom's remarkable trajectory, emphasizing that her journey was characterized by relentless growth and perseverance. "She was only getting better,” he said. “There was no wall that she hit. She broke through whatever wall there needed to be and just kept running. She understood that this wasn't a sprint; it was a marathon. But she was sprinting the marathon because she wanted to be the best that she could be. She was always faithful to the end. "While Folsom will be deeply missed by so many former classmates, family members and Granbury residents, her drive to excel and her unyielding spirit will continue to inspire and motivate those she leaves behind. As she leaves her mark in Hood County, her legacy will be sure to encourage others to reach new heights, proving that for Sarah Folsom, the sky was never the limit. 

 Posted Thursday, September 5, 2024 12:00 am 

By ASHLEY TERRY Staff Writer