Former Chicago Bears Football Star Leads New Year's Eve Celebrity Visit to Loyalty

Photo By 1st Sgt. Bronco Suzuki | Former football stars Jim McMahon and Kevin Butler share a photo with Spc. Aaron Holker, a Vikings fan from Minneapolis serving with the 2nd "Strike Force" Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, during the "Ringing in the New Year" celebrity tour at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in east Baghdad Dec. 31. Both players were part of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.01.2007

Courtesy Story

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

by Maj. Sean J. Ryan
2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – While many people back home are preparing for the New Year going to parties or getting ready to watch the ball drop in New York's Times Square on television, deployed Soldiers here were looking at another "Groundhog Day" of missions. Fortunately, two former football stars, one current weatherman and one television actress had another mission in mind – visiting Soldiers over the holiday season.

FOB Loyalty, a small base camp in eastern Baghdad, was the last stop on the two-day Morale, Welfare and Recreation-sponsored tour, but easily the most anticipated. Soldiers from the 2nd "Strike Force" Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division eagerly welcomed their first distinguished visitors from the civilian world.

The welcomed guests included former football stars Jim McMahon and Kevin Butler, actress Karri Turner of "JAG" fame and CBS "The Early Show" weatherman Dave Price. Accompanying them were CBS cameraman Robert Laforty and tour coordinator Judy Seale.

Soldiers not on missions came in droves to see two members of what many experts call the best Super Bowl team in history, the 1985 Chicago Bears. Jim McMahon, the brash and cocky former Brigham Young star, was the free-spirit quarterback who gave new meaning to wearing sweatbands, as he put them on his neck, elbows and forehead. McMahon said he was focused on coming to Iraq for quite a while and felt privileged to be a part of the tour and meet all the Soldiers.

While greeting Soldiers, McMahon was still wearing his trademark sunglasses that many felt added to his cocky reputation as a player. In reality, McMahon wears them for medical purposes, after severing his retina at age 6 in an accident.

McMahon signed pictures, footballs and ensured all Soldiers who wanted pictures with him received them. The former Comeback Player of the Year and two-time Super Bowl champion said he was grateful for the opportunity to see all the Soldiers and looked forward to returning.

Spc. Aaron Holker, a native of Minneapolis, and an admitted Vikings fan, was excited despite the fact the two teams are division rivals. Holker, a forward observer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, said it was great they are taking their time to support the troops, and that it was a huge morale boost for everyone on the FOB.

The other member of "Da Bears" was former kicker Kevin Butler. Butler, who starred at the University of Georgia, was a rookie on the 1985 team and the first and only kicker ever to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Butler said he was honored to get a chance to meet Soldiers and see first hand their sacrifices. Butler's son is one of the top place kickers and punters in the nation at the high school level and said he was amazed at the competence level of our young Soldiers only a year or two older than his own son.

Butler, who played 13 seasons in the NFL, said he was amazed at the progress the military has made in Iraq and felt proud of every Soldier here. Both Butler and McMahon ensured everyone who took a picture with them wore Butler's Super Bowl ring which was a huge hit with the crowd.

Staff Sgt. Roy Jackson, a civil affairs noncommissioned officer, said anytime somebody takes their time to come see troops is a big boost to morale.

"It's nice the stars make the time to come see us," the Rochester, N.Y., resident said.

The vivacious Turner, who played Lieutenant Harriet Sims Roberts for nine seasons on the hit series "JAG," is on her sixth tour overseas to visit with troops. Turner broke into Hollywood after attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and first signed on for the sitcom "Wild Oats." She later gained fame in her role in "JAG" and most recently appeared in two episodes of the new series "Heroes."

Turner said she is honored to spend time with troops and even gives some proceeds from her on-line store to help families affected by the war.

Price, the current weather anchor and reporter for the CBS' "The Early Show," said he, too, is privileged to come to Iraq and visit the troops. Price has a long resume in broadcasting after working in major markets including Chicago and New York. His dog Chance is known to many in the New York region as "Chance the Weather Dog." Price said he is filled with pride every time he sees and speaks with Soldiers. This is Price's second tour visiting troops. He also made a trip to Afghanistan his last tour.

The dangerous missions will continue for the Soldiers of "Strike Force," but the visits to FOB Loyalty helped raise morale to new levels.

• Date Taken: 01.01.2007
• Date Posted: 01.01.2007 13:55
• Story ID: 8716
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ