JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - For Soldiers and family members of the Warrior Transition Battalion, a trip to watch the Seattle Seahawks practice yielded memories of a lifetime.
Fifty-five Soldiers assigned to the WTB were given special access to visit the team during a practice September 22. Family members and service animals were also welcomed as the Seahawks unrolled the red carpet.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord AAFES General Manager Pat McGee said the idea for bringing wounded Soldiers out to watch the football practice can only be credited to one man.
"It started about six weeks ago when Pete Carroll visited us at (JBLM) for a book signing," McGee said. "He asked me to figure out some way to get wounded warriors to come out to practice and six weeks later, here we are."
McGee said when Carroll visited JBLM, he expressed an immediate desire to show the team's support for the troops.
"He got bitten by the bug," McGee said of Carroll's outreach. "He is very easy to work with. This is the easiest event I have ever done."
Soldiers and their families were transported to the Renton practice facility, given tours, memorabilia, a catered lunch and a chance to meet players, coaches and NFL officials.
The logistics of taking a group of that size would have been daunting if not for the support of another large franchise, he said.
"I think it's cool that Budweiser stepped up to the plate and supplied the buses and books," McGee said. "It was teamwork that made this possible."
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll said he was thrilled to host the WTB Soldiers and families.
"It's great to have them out here," Carroll said. "I hope they enjoyed it - I know our guys did."
Knowing that meeting the players filled some Soldiers with awe is humbling, he said.
"This is the kind of thing that goes in both directions," Carroll said. "My guys are lucky to be around guys that have been so brave and have done so much for the country."
The Seahawks enjoyed the opportunity to express their gratitude, he said.
"This community of Soldiers are so special and it is a special day for us, too," Carroll said. "We're always trying to connect the team to the people who support them."
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said seeing the Soldiers on the sidelines during practice was inspiring to him.
"It's unusual for us to have visitors during the regular season, so it was pretty cool to have them out here," Hasselbeck said. "It was definitely and emotional lift for us."
After going through a day of training with Soldiers at JBLM, earlier this year, players gained insight into the difficulties of Army training, he said.
"We know we'd better not slack on bag drills because we've seen how hard they work down there," Hasselbeck said.
It was an honor to have the Soldiers and families as guests, he said.
"I have friends who are serving," Hasselbeck said. "To see the sacrifice that they make - that their families make - really is inspiring and humbling."
Tacoma native cornerback Marcus Trufant said being able to have the Soldiers come out and spend time with the team was uplifting.
"It's a big deal, man," Trufant said. "They're tough guys. We think we're tough out here but they've got a real job to do. We take our hats off to them."
First Lieutenant Van Zallee said although meeting the players was incredible, it was living another dream that made his day.
"I asked one of the officials if they'd be a good sport and let me take a picture while chewing him out," Zallee said. "It was a once in a lifetime experience."
Specialist Todd Tipton said the chance to get up close to NFL players was a highlight for him as a football fan.
"It's great to be out here," Tipton said. "To be this close and get to meet the players is just fantastic."
WTB Commander Lt. Col. Daniel Dudek said he was grateful for the opportunity afforded to the wounded warriors by McGee and the Seahawks.
"It means that the community really cares about us," Dudek said. "The Seahawks are a big part of the community that help my mission as battalion commander."
Sometimes, part of the struggle for wounded warriors is simply going out into public and being part of society outside the base, he said.
"It gives us an environment to go out and do stuff outside the military," Dudek said. "It shows that we can act on a social level."
Including the 55 Soldiers, seven of whom are Purple Heart recipients, they were able to bring 111 people.
Bringing Soldiers and their families to the practice was very fortunate, he said.
"Family is a big part of healing." Dudek said. "We want to have events that encourage family to be a part of it."
Rick Wood is a reporter with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
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