Marine Barracks Holds Valentine Lunch for Wounded Warriors

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 17, 2008 - It was a Valentine's Day lunch, and there was a lot of love in the air for wounded warriors at the Marine Barracks here yesterday. Retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his wife, Lynne, continued a tradition they started during his service as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Paces hosted picnics at their quarters for wounded warriors and their families, and hosted this at historic Crawford Hall – a beautifully restored section of the Marine Barracks founded in 1801. The Marine Band's "Free Country Quartet" – down to a trio due to sickness – provided the entertainment.

"This is quite simply to say that we love you," Pace told the warriors. "(This event) is in some small way a chance to tell you your fellow countrymen respect you and what you've done for all of us."

Pace told the servicemembers and their families, "There are no rules: just relax and enjoy yourselves."

And they did. More than 30 wounded personnel undergoing treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., enjoyed a meal donated by Franco Nuchese, owner of Café Milano – an A-list Georgetown restaurant.
"I'm not sure what I just ate," said Army Sgt. Brad Judd, a Utah National Guardsman undergoing treatment at Walter Reed. Told it was eggplant parmegian, he said, "Who'd have thought eggplant could taste so good?"

Vice President Richard B. Cheney's daughters Mary and Elizabeth turned out to help serve and to speak with the servicemembers and their families, and the Marine Corps leadership turned out in force. Marine Commandant Gen. James T. Conway, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, Assistant Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Magnus and Marine Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, the Joint Staff's strategy chief, and their ladies came to meet and mingle with the wounded servicemembers.

Enlisted aides from all services donated their time and expertise to the event. "We sent a e-mail out asking for volunteers, and everyone responded," said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Modreski, an enlisted aide who works with the Cartwrights.

Three of the wounded warriors had one leg among them – and that one had just had an operation.

"I was doing well; I was up and walking, but had a setback. They had to do the operation," said Marine Cpl. Chad Watson. "But that was it. I'll be up and walking again in no time." Watson's goal is to walk down the aisle in August for his marriage to his fiancée, Jillian.

Family was a big part of the lunch, and children soon hit a sugar high with the candied hearts and chocolate that decorated each of the 17 tables. Three-year-old Kelsey Hennagin was a perpetual motion machine, running between the tables and charming everyone in sight. When she finally ran down, she sat in her father's lap in his motorized wheelchair – he lost both legs to an improvised explosive device in June 2007. Marine Cpl. Ray Hennagin showed one and all a cell-phone picture of him standing on his new legs. "Just got fitted two days ago," he said. "Looks pretty good, huh?"

"None of these young men or women see themselves as victims," said Ambassador Lloyd Hand, who also attended. "They all want to get through recovery and move on."

In fact, Hand told Marine 1st Lt. Andrew Kinnard, a severely wounded platoon leader who is working in DoD's general counsel's office, to give him a call after he gets his law degree.

America Supports You: Troops Battle Pro Athletes Via Xbox

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 15, 2008 - Deployed troops have no doubt been in fights they'd rather have avoided, but thanks to a new program, they can now pick their battles, and have some fun doing it. "Pros vs. GI Joes" is a California-based troop-support group that's offering servicemembers deployed throughout the Middle East the chance to challenge professional athletes on their favorite Electronic Arts game via Xbox Live.

"(It's) not your typical 'support the troops' nonprofit organization that packages up all the good stuff that our troops miss when they're deployed," said Greg Zinone, founder of Pros vs. GI Joes. "I created (the program) with my wife, who's a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and currently serving her second tour in Iraq, for the simple reason of wanting to give a little something to our troops that they can only get because they are ... overseas."

At United Service Organizations centers throughout the Middle East, selected troops will sit in ultimate game chairs and play their favorite games against their favorite pro athletes back home. The games will play on a big-screen TV. Two additional sets will allow for live interaction between the two competitors, Zinone said.

Matches will be held on a rolling basis as the athletes make themselves available. Additionally, Pros vs. GI Joes plans to hold three five-week, cross-country tours that will coincide with major league sports seasons as well as special-event matches throughout the year, he added.

"Supporting our troops is a no-brainer," Zinone said. "Pros vs. GI Joes gives those people that love sports and video games, or those that just feel that it's a heck of an idea, a chance to do something for the troops that they ... would love to do while, at the same time, feeling a personal connection."

Pros vs. GI Joes recently became a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

The group hopes to gain some exposure from the affiliation, exposure they would gladly share with other troop-support groups, Zinone said. "There are a lot of amazing (troop-support) organizations out there, and each one deserves all the attention it can get," he said. "If some of that attention can run through Pros vs. GI Joes, well, then let it flow!"