Photo By Lt. Col. Travis Dettmer | Sgt. Gregory McGuirk, a heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 201st Brigade Support...... read more read more
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FORT KNOX, Ky. – It seems that the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, “Duke” Brigade, have a knack for attracting attention from the world of professional sports.
During their deployment to Afghanistan last year, the Dukes threw out the first pitch at a NY Mets game “live” via satellite, met NBA legend Karl Malone in person, and video-chatted with boxing greats Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. But even with that stellar roll-up of sporting personalities, there remained a football-shaped hole.
That is, until Deon Grant, a safety for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, visited the Duke’s home station of Fort Knox, Ky., May 3, in order to bring attention to his Grant D Knowledge Foundation and show his support for soldiers.
“This would be a good experience,” he said. “It would be big for the foundation and at the same time be a chance to welcome the troops home.”
The Grant D Knowledge Foundation helps inner-city and disadvantaged children get a step up in education and athletics through many different programs.
U.S. Army Cadet Command facilitated the visit, but the key was Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Henry, a platoon sergeant with A Company, of the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, who has familial ties with Grant, and wanted the visit to inspire soldiers. It was Henry and his wife, Frankie, who initially extended the invitation.
“I wanted to motivate our troops and show them that our pro-athletes are looking up to us,” said Henry, “because we protect our country.”
He started early with some physical training alongside the Scout Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment. The workout included pullups, sandbags and sprints.
1st Lt. Michael Lambert of the Scout Platoon said he enjoyed the opportunity to do PT with a current Super Bowl champion.
“It’s an honor to meet Deon Grant and to have him come out and hang out with the guys and do PT with them,” he said.
Lambert also said he appreciated Grant’s service to the troops and the children supported by his foundation.
“Anytime somebody who is more fortunate than others takes that opportunity to help others, you have to appreciate that.”
After their workout, the group headed into a conference room where breakfast was waiting. The soldiers had the opportunity to chat with Grant and get autographs.
He was also made an honorary Duke, and given mementos for his visit, including a 1st Infantry Division football jersey, by the brigade deputy commander, Col. Todd Wilson, who compared the competitive spirit of a pro-football player with that of a soldier.
Like a football player, Wilson said, “a soldier is an ultimate competitor, who conditions his mind and body to go out and win.”
Before his visit to Fort Knox was complete, Grant took some time to visit soldiers assigned to the 201st BSB who took him through some of the significant functions that they provide such as medical support, logistics, and maintenance.
After all, in the end it was a BSB soldier who was the impetus that made it all happen.
“None of this would have happened without Sgt. 1st Class Henry, so let’s give him a round of applause,” said Grant’s official escort, Capt. D’Angelo Loyd of Cadet Command, to a crowd of cheering BSB soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2012 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 87927 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 361 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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