Operation Hardwood V begins in Kuwait

Photo By Spc. Howard Ketter | Spc. Travis Greenstreet and Sgt. William Solomon, both of 1st Battalion 52nd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, converse with basketball coaches visiting Camp Virginia on their way to Iraq where they will participate in Operation Hardwood 5.  

KUWAIT

08.06.2008

Story by Spc. Howard Ketter 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

KUWAIT -- Six basketball coaches from several different colleges around the U.S., visited service members in Kuwait, Aug. 6, 2008.

Operation Hardwood, an event sponsored by United Service Organizations, made a one-day stop in Kuwait before proceeding into Iraq for the first time in its five-year history.

Operation Hardwood is an initiative launched to boost the morale among U.S. service members serving in the Middle East.

"They're great guys and I'm glad they support Soldiers," said Spc. Travis Greenstreet, an Atascadero, Calif. native, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Richard C. Kell, the trip coordinator, said they are excited that this is the first time Operation Hardwood would take place in Iraq.

"We realize that Soldiers are athletes also," said Kell, the president of Operation Entertainment Inc. "We understand that sports play a vital role in keeping service members close to home."

"It's an honor and a privilege to meet the men and women who protect and defend our freedom," said coach. Barry Rohrssen, Manhattan College, Manhattan, N.Y.

The coaches participating in Operation Hardwood V include: Brian Gregory, University of Dayton, Ohio; Jerry Wainwright, DePaul University, Chicago; Tom Schuberth, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburgh, Texas; Jeffrey Jones, American University, Washington D.C. and Thomas Pecora, Hofstra University, Long Island, N.Y.

Also participating with the coaches are former Saint John's University head coach Fran Fraschilla, now an ESPN basketball analyst, and Reggie Minton, former U.S. Air Force Academy coach and current deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

• Date Taken: 08.06.2008
• Date Posted: 08.12.2008 06:42
• Story ID: 22385
• Location: KW