Category Archives: Warrior Games

And a Rivalry is Born

Posted on May 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

“A-R-M-Y might stand for Aren’t Ready to beat the Marines Yet,” explained an anonymous Team Marine fan at the 2012 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs on Tuesday.

After a narrow Marine victory over Army in the first seated volleyball match, Marine Corps pride filled the room from wall to wall.

We all know about the rivalry between the two services, but the fan-induced Red vs. Black inferno that lit up the opening match was white hot.

The gym was packed with what seemed to be every fan and family member at the Games. Hundreds of red and black t-shirts filled the bleachers from wall to wall—sharply separated, of course—to witness what was both a first day rematch from the previous year and a tiebreaker to settle a medal stalemate from earlier in the day.

Team Army and Team Marine left the windy cycling course tied with six medals each. Day one bragging rights would surely go to the winner of this volleyball match.

Led by flag-waving, face-painted motivators, each team’s fans erupted in waves of grunts and cheers to egg on their side.  When the Marine crowd would chant, “U-S-M-C,” Army fans would interrupt after “U-S-“ and overpower with, “ARMY!”

By the end of the match, the rivalry had escalated to the point that each team was attempting to encroach into the other’s section with their flag.  After a grueling battle, perhaps one of the closest in Warrior Games volleyball history, the Marines came out on top.

“It was a nail-biter, especially there at the end,” said Army Col. Gregory D. Gadson, Director of the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), who sat front-and-center to lead the Army cheering section. “I was sure we would beat the Marines on day one, but this thing is far from over.”

Each team competes for three nights before playing for medals. The gold/silver medal game is scheduled for Friday night, May 4.

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For more information, medal updates and stories about some of the athletes competing in this year’s games, follow Warrior Games and the USO on Facebook. And see more images on our Warrior Games Flickr set. - Joseph Andrew Lee, USO Staff Writer

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Posted in Support, Troops, US, USO Warrior & Family Care, Warrior Games

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Warrior Spirit Revealed on First Day of Games

Posted on May 3, 2012 by | 4 Comments

Despite his tire blowing out, Retired Navy Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Jim Castaneda pushed his way to the finish line

The Warrior Games kicked off Tuesday with five cycling events here at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Both the Army and Marine teams finished with six medals. Army with two gold, one silver and three bronze, and the Marines with two gold, three silver and one bronze.

But the day was clearly not about medals. It was about teamwork and the warrior spirit, prominently demonstrated by the sea services after a couple of their athletes encountered mechanical woes.

After the first run of the course, Retired Navy Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Jim Castaneda had his left tire blow out on his recumbent bicycle.

With miles left to go, Castaneda kept on pedaling and pushed to the finish line, with his coach and teammates cheering him on.  He could have stopped when the tire blew, but says he wanted to show his son, “We don’t quit.”

For his determination to succeed, Castaneda was selected as “Athlete of the Day” by the U.S. Paralympics Committee and is profiled on their website.

Earlier, a cable snapped on another athlete’s bike, and the Navy/Coast Guard team couldn’t fix it.

“We didn’t have the parts, we didn’t have a cable, and we didn’t have a mechanic there,” said Master Chief Will Wilson, the team’s cycling coach.  “So we rolled down to the Marine Corps cadre and without hesitation they jumped on it, got the parts, fixed the bike and got the kid in the race.”

“That says it all,” said Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Michael Barrett to the Commandant of the Marine Corps after hearing what happened. “We’re doing it right.”

“Those [medals] you see hanging from the table over there, that’s not Warrior Games,” said Wilson. “What just happened down there, fixing that bike—that’s Warrior Games.”

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- Joseph Andrew Lee, USO Staff Writer

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Posted in Troops, US, USO Warrior & Family Care, Warrior Games

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What’s in a Name?

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | 1 Comment
NATHANS PIC

James Nathaniel Richards

A name is something that you get from your Mom and Dad.

It is something you hear when your teacher calls on you. You hear it when your brothers or sister want help with a chore or they want you to do something. You definitely hear it when you did something that was not good.

“James Nathaniel Richards!!”

You don’t realize how important it is till you miss hearing someone call it. My Dad has been deployed for almost a month. I would really like to hear him.

My sister, Bella, and I take turns getting the mail.

You are thinking, “no big deal,” but we live almost a mile from our mailbox. It is up and down a big hill, so when I went to the mail box and opened it up I was really excited.

There it was: My name!

It was on a big package letter. My excitement went up to Jupiter. Bella and I opened it up.

Wow, it was a book! I love to read. It was a birthday book which was good because it was Bella’s birthday and my Mom’s. The best part was inside the package was a disk with my Dad reading the book. Well, actually a couple of books.

He said my name!!

It sounded really good. You don’t know how important your name is till someone you miss says it! He read the stories before he left and United Through Reading® sent them to us. I think I am going to ask Ms. Diane [from the USO] if I can read my Dad some stories. It is a program they have for parents and kids so you can stay n touch and hear your name!

You can get the info at your USO or online.  I can’t believe we didn’t do this all the other times he was on deployment. Maybe I can read him the newspaper with all the Super Bowl news, or a book.

My mom got me the one about the boy whose Dad died in 9/11, where he left his kid a message. Or maybe I could read him an easy book so Bella could help. I don’t think it will matter what I read to him. I think that he probably be happy to hear me say his name.

So what is in a name? I guess it depends on who says it and how much you hear them say it.

So go say my name Dad!

Story written by Nate-the-Great—A Military Brat, a 9-year-old blogger whose father is in the Navy.  Follow, like and share Nate’s blog about life as a military brat by navigating to http://natethegreatamilitarybrat.wordpress.com. United Through Reading’s Military Program can be found at more than 130 Command locations worldwide and more than 70 USO host locations. — Edited by Joseph Andrew Lee, USO Staff Writer.

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Nine-year-old USO volunteer Nathan Richards gets an autograph from Joe Townsend, a British Royal Marine after a track and field medal ceremony where Townsend took Gold in the 100m. Richards' mother, Lorraine, is one of dozens of volunteers from USO San Diego who supported the 2012 Marine Corps Trials in February.

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Posted in Centers, Families, Programs, Troops, USO Warrior & Family Care, Volunteers, Warrior Games

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Marine Corps Trials Build More than Just a Team

Posted on February 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

More than 300 wounded, ill and injured Marines are currently competing in seven Paralympic sports at the 2nd Annual Marine Corps Trials in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Marines are hunting for 50 of their best to represent them at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs later this year.

Travis Greene, a Marine veteran, serves the ball during a semi-finals seated volleyball match at the Marine Corps Trials at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Feb. 19, 2012. USO photo by Joseph Andrew Lee

The Corps won the Games for the last two years, beating out all other branches of the service.

“This year it’ll be no different,” said Col. Jay Krail, Executive Officer of Wounded Warrior Regiment. “The first year we didn’t even bring a complete team and we won. Now there’s more interest, and with more interest comes better athletes.

Krail realized right away the benefit of holding trials, and participation doubled this year.

“With trials we’re not only able to build our best team possible,” he said, “We’re also able to provide eight days of clinic where athletes get instruction from world-class coaches.”

The Marines even invited veteran athletes from seven allied countries to challenge them even more.

“We fight together and we recover together,” said Michael Wieger, Germany team coach.  “It’s good to get the experience from other countries, because things they are doing to recover are things we can do back home in Germany.”

Wieger was also impressed by the presence of USO San Diego, with more than 50 hard-working volunteers handing out protein bars, water, energy drinks and other snacks at each competition venue.

“Americans do it right. Troops are finding support by their families, by the communities, and volunteers who are doing this mostly on their own expense. That is a real good morale-booster. There are other countries who sure can learn from it.”

The trials conclude tomorrow, and the All-Marine team should be finalized and announced within a week. For results, information and photos, follow the Wounded Warrior Regiment on Facebook. - Joseph A. Lee, USO Staff Writer

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Warrior Games Wrap With Inspiration, Awards, Entertainment

Posted on May 23, 2011 by | Leave a comment

After five days of fierce competition that resulted in scrapes, bruises, malfunctioning equipment, teamwork, cheers and friendly needling among the 200-plus athletes competing in the second annual Warrior Games, it was time to tie everything up. 

Athletes, family and friends gathered at the Air Force Academy’s Clune Arena on May 21 to look back on the exciting and inspirational week. 

Emcee Charlie Huebner was occasionally moved to emotion, but kept the event moving while announcing the winner of the Chairman’s Cup, which the Marines claimed for a second year. After a tie last year, Huebner also crowned a sole Ultimate Champion, who was also a Marine. Jonathan Disbro earned 16 points in the events that comprise the Ultimate Champion competition: swimming, shooting, track and field and cycling. 

Perhaps the most moving moment of the closing ceremonies was when Huebner recognized Alfred de los Santos, a member of the Special Operations team who completed the last two kilometers of the mens’10-kilometer handcycle race by pushing himself with his hands after a chain malfunction temporarily sidelined his efforts. 

The evening wouldn’t have been complete without comments from Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Via a recorded message, Mullen offered his congratulations, praise and encouragement. A highlight video of the week and an inspirational talk from John Register, a former collegiate All-American in track and field, Army veteran and above-knee amputee concluded the closing ceremonies.

But the night had just started as Grammy Award-winning Colbie Caillat took the stage after taking time to meet with about a dozen wounded warriors before the closing ceremony began, calling them “inspirational” in a press conference that followed.

Hooah! Oohrah! Go Navy! Go Air Force! We’ll see you all next year! – Vyque White, USO

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Posted in Celebrity Entertainment, Warrior Games

Marines Making Noise at 2011 Warrior Games

Posted on May 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment
USMC

The Marines have certainly made their mark on the 2011 Warrior Games. (Photo: Samantha Quigley / USO)

After bringing home top prize, the Chairman’s Cup, last year, the Marine team’s competitive spirit is out in full force.

Ready to defend their title, the 49 athletes, 18 of which are veterans of the games, aren’t content to simply replicate their 2010 performance. They hope to exceed last year’s accomplishments.

At the opening ceremony reception, Sergeant Ricardo Bengochea, who participated in the discus throw, shot put and seated volleyball, was excited to get started.

“I’m looking forward to the camaraderie with my brothers in arms … getting to see friends from last year’s Warrior Games and getting to compete again.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Shawn Dunn, an avid swimmer, is excited for a different reason.

“I’m mostly excited for my younger Marines because we went through a lot to get them here,” he said. It’s a great experience for them. That’s my main benefit, watching my younger Marines overcome their obstacles.”

Warrior Games veteran Corporal Travis Greene, who took home two gold medals in 2010 as a member of both the wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball teams, has certainly overcome.

“Since hearing about the Warrior Games, I have gained a lot of motivation to get back in shape. I feel healthier and look better and I am still improving,” he said. “I’m looking forward to all the events, especially basketball and volleyball.

“I’ve been training hard, we’ve been here two weeks together working as a team.”

When asked if the Marines will kick some tail and win big this year, he smiles and said, “That’s our goal!”

Oorah! – Vyque White, USO

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Posted in Troops, Warrior Games