FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq- It was a long line for Soldiers and Airmen, but awaiting them at the end were legendary NFL coaches ready to sign photos, shirts or anything else you could scribble a signature on.
The coaches, who included New York Giants' Coach Tom Coughlin, Baltimore Ravens' Coach John Harbaugh, Tennessee Titans' Coach Jeff Fisher, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden, and former Pittsburgh Steelers' Coach Bill Cowher, were accompanied by Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq, as they visited Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 2.
During the visit, the coaches signed autographs and took photos with as many Soldiers and Airmen that could crowd around them, before eating lunch with service members.
"Even though there wasn't the Saints head coach, it was a good experience," said Pfc. Tad Letourneau, a St. Amant, La., native and a cook with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Letourneau was one of the lucky few who had a chance to put on Jon Gruden's victory ring from Super Bowl XXXVII while getting an autograph.
"It felt good," he said. "I know I will never be able to wear one on my own."
Odierno, who is a close friend of Coughlin's and has visited him during the Giants training camp, was very impressed by how well the coaches interacted with the service members.
"It's a tremendous group of coaches, incredible experience, and they've been tremendous with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines," he said. "They have been signing many, many thousands of autographs and taking hundreds and hundreds of photos and they've been wonderful so far."
During his visit, Coach Tom Coughlin reflected on how he feels about the service members serving in Iraq.
"I've been so impressed and so inspired by the attitude," he said. The men and women over here really believe in what they are doing, and we are always impressed by that.
"I know that the troops think that we're here to inspire them, but believe me, they inspire us as well," said Coughlin.
Coughlin also recognized the sense of teamwork that, much like in football, is so important for service members.
You have to serve each other in order to actually understand what the team concept is all about, he explained.
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