Monthly Archives: May 2011

Navy/Coast Guard Say: Bring it On

Posted on May 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Coast Guard representatives enter the Warrior Games opening ceremony. (Photo: Samantha Quigley / USO)

The 35 athletes on the Navy/Coast Guard team are excited to start competing in the Warrior Games. Returning two-time gold medalist Navy Lieutenant Melanie Monts de Oca is feeling very prepared for her events, particularly swimming.

“This year I actually hired a swim coach and having been working with him for the past five months, perfecting my technique,” she said. “The team’s been working really hard. I hope that we have a strong showing this year!”

Teammate Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan DeWalt is confident as well.
“Team Navy/Coast Guard is gonna bring home the medals! Hopefully we’ll bring home the most and bring home the Captain’s Cup,” he said
DeWalt is competing in wheelchair racing, discus, hand cycling, and wheelchair basketball, and he’s excited to show everyone what he’s got. But more importantly, he’s looking forward to spending time with fellow warriors and developing memories to last a lifetime.

“This experience is something that only speaks for itself. You can’t put the feeling in words unless you’re in the competition,” he said.

Retired Coast Guard Lieutenant Sancho Johnson also emphasized the emotional journey that is participating in the Warrior Games. Returning for his second year, he credits Navy Safe Harbor — the Navy and Coast Guard’s wounded warrior support program — and the Warrior Games with motivating him to “get back out into society.”

“This competition showed me how much I can still accomplish. [It] showed me that I can still push myself,” he said.

The Army may be ready to compete, but the Navy / Coast Guard Team says, “Bring it on!” – Vyque White, USO

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Posted in Programs, Support, Troops, US

Spirits Soar Upon Arrival of Angelina Jolie at Ramstein Air Base

Posted on May 17, 2011 by | 3 Comments
Angelina Jolie and company at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Angelina Jolie, (center, in black), and company at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. (Photo credit: Phil Jones, LRMC Public Affairs)

Megawatt moviestar Angelina Jolie took time out to visit Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and talk with wounded warriors and stationed service men and women. Jolie also popped in on a departing Med Evac aircraft loaded with wounded soldiers that was set to depart for Andrews Air Force Base.

See how her visit affected some of those homebound troops in this video.

The Academy Award-winning Jolie is famous for her roles in films like “Girl, Interrupted,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Salt” and the Lara Croft films, but she is also known the world over as an active advocate of humanitarian efforts. Jolie was recently in Cannes, France, to promote her voice-over work in the upcoming sequel to the animated movie “Kung Fu Panda” and was also informed that her directorial debut, “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” has secured distribution in the United States and will be in theaters this December. – Christian Pelusi, USO

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Army Ready to Compete in Warrior Games

Posted on May 17, 2011 by | 1 Comment

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Captain Lisa Merwin, Retired Sergeant Robbie Gaupp, and Sergeant 1st Class Landon Ranker, all part of the Army team competing in the second annual Warrior Games took a few minutes out of their busy schedule to discuss their upcoming participation with with us.

In 2010, Army won the medal count, but the Marines the overall competition, so we were curious as to how they felt going in this year.

“We look a lot better than last year because of the [increased] prep time we’ve had,” said Ranker, who will be competing in the Ultimate Champion Competition, which will include the shot put, air rifle shooting, 100-meter sprint, 50-meter freestyle, and 30-kilometer cycling – wow!

Merwin, who is competing in the women’s 10-kilometer cycling and 50-meter freestyle events, noted that the team was ready, saying, “The enthusiasm of the athletes is very high.”

Gaupp agreed he was excited for his events: the 800-meter spring, 100- and 200-meter dashes, four by 100-meter relay and seated volleyball.

Having been at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the past week, the athletes have only a few hours left to prepare. “It’s time to start sizing up the competition,” Ranker said. Let the games begin! – Vyque White, USO

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Posted in Programs, Support, Troops, US

Warrior Games Opening Ceremony Honors Athletes

Posted on May 17, 2011 by | 2 Comments

The Air Force Team participates in the opening ceremonies of the 2nd Annual Warrior Games on May 16, 2011. (USO photo by Samantha L. Quigley)

More than 300 men, women, and children lined the U.S. Olympic Training Center’s Olympic Path on May 16, 2011 to honor 220 warrior athletes.

Representing the Army, Marines, Navy / Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations, each team proudly came down the path as the 4th Infantry Division’s Military Band played and the crowd cheered.

Then the torch relay began, with representatives from each team passing the torch down the path. The journey began with starting with Army Private First Class Joshua Bullis, a triple amputee injured in Afghanistan who will be competing in the 10 meter air rifle and 10 meter air pistol event. He handed off to Marine Corporal Travis Greene. Greene, a double amputee, will be competing in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and more. Carrying the torch for the Navy team was Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Lipscomb. Currently undergoing chemotherapy, Lipscomb is the first ever reserve component sailor to be assigned to the Blue Angels. Next was retired Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Mike Bell, who previously competed in the inaugural Warrior Games last year. For the Air Force it was Major Gwendolyn Sheppard, who was injured in combat in Iraq. Finally, Captain Ivan Castro took the torch for the Special Operations team. Active duty and visually impaired due to a mortar attack in Iraq, he’s an avid runner and cyclist.

Last but certainly not least, the honorary torchbearer of the evening was Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta.

Giunta is the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. Taking the final leg, he ran up several flights of stairs to light the Warrior Games cauldron.

“It’s an honor to have you here at our facility,” said Charlie Huebner, USOC Chief of Paralympics and Opening Ceremonies host. “The Paralympic movement started here, with injured service members returning from World War II, participating in sports as part of their physical activity in the rehabilitation and reconditioning of young men and women. So this, in a sense, home.”

“Perseverance.  It’s defined as the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition. And as I stand her today and look at this crowd, I think ‘Wow. This is what perseverance looks like to me,’” added Mark Goulart, principal at Deloitte, the Warrior Games title sponsor. “The fact that you are here at the Warrior Games proves that you have an extraordinary ability to see. Each of you looked into the future and saw yourself serving your country. And you saw that vision come true. Then, once injured, you looked in the future again and saw yourself recovering and competing in sport. And so here you are, seeing that vision come true.”

The emotional and moving remarks continued as USO President Sloan Gibson took the stage.

“To all of you athletes, you know that the USO’s mission is to lift the spirits of the troops and their families. And we work really hard to try to help do things like this to lift your spirits. We show up and you wind up lifting ours.”

No one can walk away from these events not feeling inspired by the triumph of human spirit. Let the games begin! – Vyque White

See more images of the ceremonies here.

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Sesame Street Winds Its Way to USO Naples

Posted on May 13, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The colorful characters of world famous Sesame Street are calling another international location home with a new Sesame Room at the USO Naples located in Capodichino Air terminal location in Naples, Italy.

The vibrant colors and smile-inducing Muppets brighten the center, as well as the spirits of military members and families transitioning to or from Naples. The USO Naples Sesame Room is an extension of Sesame’s ongoing partnership with the USO to provide support for America’s military children through their “Talk, Listen, Connect” program for military families.

“Thanks to the generosity of Sesame Street, the support of NSA Naples and the committed effort of the members of the USO Naples Volunteer Committee, children in transit have a very special place to spend their transit time,“ said Sabrina Pullido, Area Director of USO Naples and Rome.

In 2009, Sesame Workshop delivered a “room-in-a-box” to 35 locations across the United States, bringing the furry, familiar cheer of Sesame’s Muppet characters to enliven children’s spaces in places like military hospitals, libraries, child care centers and family support centers. The project was so well-received that Sesame decided to roll out a second round of rooms.

Sesame Workshop’s Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) program addresses the very difficult issues faced by military families: deployment, homecomings and changes. Military families visiting the USO Naples Sesame Room will be able to obtain a free copy of Sesame’s TLC DVD.

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Posted in Centers, Europe

Hire Heroes USA Aids Veterans’ Transitions to New Careers

Posted on May 11, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Searching for a new career is incredibly difficult, particularly for men and women who have served our country since September 11, 2001.  Challenges are abound during the transition from warrior to civilian, as 31 percent of all Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans aged 18-24 are currently unemployed.

The USO, in partnership with Hire Heroes USA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is connecting our nation’s best and brightest with potential employers through a series of workshops around the country, with the latest taking place at Fort Belvoir in Virginia through Wednesday, May 11.

To see results from these career fairs, look no further than Spc. Mac Griffin and his new bride, Spc. Chelsea Griffin.  The newlyweds have about two and four months left in the Army, respectively, and attended the April 14 workshop at Colorado’s Fort Carson with low expectations of finding jobs. 

Mac, 28, was more than happy to admit that he initially underestimated the power of the USO-Hire Heroes USA-U.S. Chamber of Commerce event.

“I walked in without a resume and not knowing what kind of skills I could translate from the military to civilian life,” Mac told the USO.  “In a couple hours I had a resume, and two days later I had my first interview.”

Chelsea, 24, had similar success at the job fair, and the Griffins, still beaming in the spring sunlight after recently tying the knot, didn’t see their good fortune end there. 

“Every company that I talked to has been calling me constantly,” Mac said.  “I’ve been offered some jobs, so all I have to do is finish up with the military and then step into a job.” 

Mac and Chelsea have both been through deployments to Iraq, experiencing stress that few outside the military can imagine.   As the Georgia and Arkansas natives plan to move closer to their families, who still live in the deep south, newfound clarity in their career paths replaces a major worry during their transition to post-military life. 

“Everything is just wonderful,” said Mac, who is overwhelmed with gratitude for the USO-Hire Heroes USA-U.S. Chamber of Commerce career fair that changed his life.

With wars and economic challenges gripping the United States, the USO and Hire Heroes USA is committed to helping more troops and veterans like the Griffins realize their dreams. – Tom Sileo, USO Director of Story Development

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Posted in Families, Programs, Troops