FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- In many ways, Jack Zimmerman of Hendersonville, Tenn., is like any other boy of 18. During his senior year, he loved being a third-string kicker for Hendersonville High School -- his first attempt at high school athletics. As a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, he enjoys his studies and hopes they carry him to a future in aerospace engineering, his decided major.
He loves his friends and Family, and is a die-hard fan of the Broncos, the NFL team of his birth city and home for the first 15 years of his life. His favorite television program is "The Amazing Race" on CBS. With his blonde hair and quick smile, Zimmerman is an excellent example of the all-American teenager.
There are things, however, that set him apart. Like his older brother, Kurt, Jack has cystic fibrosis -- a serious genetic disorder that primarily affects and causes damages to the lungs and digestive system. While medical science has improved the longevity of CF patients by leaps and bounds (a child with CF in the 1950s was not expected to make it to elementary school), it is a condition that demands constant attention.
While Jack does not define himself by his twice-daily breathing treatments and the struggle to maintain a healthy weight, the Middle Tennessee chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation wanted to make sure he was rewarded for enduring such hardships with grit and humility.
Working with other Make-A-Wish chapters around the country, the Middle Tennessee staff worked long and hard to assemble a road trip adventure similar to those had by contestants on Jack's favorite television program.
Given Jack's interest in aviation, it was decided that his adventure would begin at Fort Campbell with the Soldiers of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.
"We are so grateful to the people of Fort Campbell," said Shelley Freeman, director of programs and volunteer services for Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee. "They have been top-notch. They reached out to us several months ago asking if there was some way they could be involved in a wish."
On Friday morning, Jack arrived at the headquarters building for the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, to start his day of adventure. But he was not alone. In addition to Make-A-Wish volunteers and staff, he was accompanied by his parents, his brother and a multitude of high school friends and well-wishers. To start his afternoon, Jack was welcomed to Cav country by Lt. Col. Jack Murphy, commander of the 2-17th Cav. Regt.
After officially being announced as an honorary 2-17th member, Jack and his group were whisked to a hangar. A static display awaited him, featuring an AH-64 Apache, a UH-60 Black Hawk, an OH-58 Kiowa and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Jack was invited to inspect, explore and climb into cockpits as pilots and crewmen explained the mechanics behind their craft.
"The people who flew them and worked on them told me all about the helicopters," said Jack. "I learned a lot and got a lot of cool extra info. I even got to hear all of the pilots kind of dog on the others and say why their [helicopters] were best."
While the condensed lesson was a bit overwhelming, Jack still feels as though aerospace engineering is the right path for him.
"I was very interested in all of the things they were talking about, but it also made me realize that it's all very complicated," he said with a laugh. "It's going to be hard for sure, but I'm still up for it."
While Jack knew a little bit about his wish -- that he would be going on a trip that would lead him to Denver -- he was unaware of the surprise that would accompany the first clue of his adventure. Back at 2-17th headquarters, the group sat down to lunch. The room got quiet when it was announced that a video was going to be played in order to give Jack his first clue. With a huge smile, Jack soon realized that his first video clue was being delivered by Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race."
"The announcement was unexpected," said Jack. "I really didn't know what to think coming into this."
"We have things planned from him along the way -- it's basically a road trip scavenger hunt," explained Freeman. "Every day he will have a video clue that will tell him where to go and what to do. We're super excited to be granting his wish."
To conclude Fort Campbell's role in the granting of Jack's wish, Murphy and several Soldiers presented Jack with a commemorative certificate and allowed him to ring the ceremonial bell, announcing Jack's journey from the regiment and onto other things.
"The Soldiers have been absolutely fabulous, and he [Jack] obviously loves it," said Freeman. "This is why we love our jobs -- watching the faces of these kids; watching them grin from ear to ear. They have rough days, so we like to make them happy."
"This has been very cool," said Jack. "I really enjoyed the helicopters, and everybody here has been really friendly. It's just very generous of all the people who are working so hard to do this. I appreciate it very much."
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